Ballet Star's Homecoming: Breaking Barriers

0:00On March 7th, Nahum McLean, a 30-year-old professional ballet dancer from Mossside in Manchester, is returning home for his first major stage, performance there. After training at a school in Chester and touring the world, including Stinson Cuba and New York, he's starring in ballet nights at the Manchester Opera House on March 11th. Growing up, McLean danced hip-hop openly, but hit his new love for ballet starting at age 10. In his primary school, he kept his secret to avoid judgment in a neighborhood where ballet wasn't common. He faced tough bullying when classmates bound out, losing friends and feeling isolated over his choice. Even at boarding school, as the only black student from a low-income background, he dealt with elitism and comments about his so-called ghetto. Scholarship, these days, McLean sees progress with more initiatives bringing diverse kids into ballet, though he calls for better arts funding in state schools. His show aims to make ballet welcoming for everyone, shaking off its stuffy image. Looking ahead, he's excited yet nervous for this homecoming debut,

1:04and urges young dancers to ignore the noise, stick with their passion, and keep. Moving forward.