A ballet dancer is accusing the Royal Winnipeg Ballet of kicking him out of its school because he was taking part in pornographic videos.
Jeppe Hansen, 22, had danced on stages around the world and studied in Montreal, New York City and his native Denmark before joining the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. He was enrolled in the school’s professional division from September 2012 until this spring, when school administrators asked him to sign a letter stating that he voluntarily withdrew from the program.
“They told me … they didn’t have any space for me because I did porn,” he said.
Hansen appeared in his first pornographic video in February with the website CockyBoys, under the performance name Jett Black. He accused the ballet company of unfairly trying to define what constitutes art.
Royal Winnipeg Ballet officials told CBC News they cannot comment on personnel issues due to privacy concerns.
The school has a code of conduct for students and “the organization has policies and procedures in place for the benefit of all,” a spokesperson said.
After he left the school in late March, Hansen moved to New York City to pursue adult entertainment full-time. He said he hopes to return to professional dance one day, performing with a company that allows him to be the artist he wants to be.
With files from CBC.
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