“I don’t want to be working in ballet, or opera, or things where it’s like, ‘Hey, keep this thing alive, even though like no one cares about this anymore.” Those are the words of Timothée Chalamet as he discussed the future of cinema in an interview with actor and podcast host Matthew McConaughey. While his curt comment might have been made light of during the Variety and CNN town hall, the arts community has had a different reaction.
Celebrities including ballet icon Misty Copeland and opera legend Andrea Bocelli were quick to fire back, arguing that traditional forms of entertainment like ballet and opera have an important relevance to the world as a whole. Similarly, others have expressed surprise with Chalamet’s total disregard for ballet considering both his sister and mother are former dancers in the New York City Ballet, a prestigious ballet company where Chalamet spent much of his childhood.
While Chalamet’s comments sparked controversy and debate on the internet, they also brought the performing arts community together, demonstrating the power these so-called “dying” art forms possess. Here at Mamaroneck High School, performing arts play a huge role in the community, allowing the school environment to thrive as a result.
PACE gives students an outlet to express themselves, a place where they can leave the worries behind and instead enjoy the freedom of self expression. On stage, dance brings people of all ages and walks of life together, and there is magic in witnessing people bare their souls to the audience.
Allison Parsley, dance teacher and department chair of PACE, believes that dance has had a profound impact at Mamaroneck. “I think for a lot of people, it allows them to tap into a creative side of themselves… A lot of the time, people really struggle to be able to communicate or express themselves through words. Sometimes, dance is just an easier way to do that. They’re able to express that emotion or to express that feeling through their movement,” she explained.
Parsley touched on the unique power live performances command. She highlighted that “the performing arts, dance, music theater, often just happen in the moment… The power of live performance is that you really have to allow yourself as an audience member and as a performer to live in that moment.” She also mentioned the excitement that live performances cultivate: “you can perform a piece 100 times, and it’s going to be different every single time. And so that magic of what that piece is, that one moment that you’re performing it, there’s nothing like it.”
In all honesty, the arts community owes Timothée Chalamet. Without his input, society would not have come together in the same way to show appreciation for ballet, the opera, and all performing arts. If humanity doesn’t recognize the importance of these arts, they won’t stay alive. Yet despite these challenges, they have survived over 400 years, illustrating their firm grasp in the population.
Jemima Dirs (’29), a dancer and performer, shared her view on Chalamet’s comments mentioning that “Timothée Chalamet exhibited terrible behavior when he couldn’t respect people who are doing arts they love. It’s honestly amazing… and it’s a way for people to connect to their past. I really love to watch dance, it makes you feel alive.” She also remarks that “performances give people the opportunity to show how much they love the art they are performing and the dedication they have put into it in order to get so far in their passion.”
No matter what any Hollywood actor says, at Mamaroneck High School, performing arts are not going anywhere. They are engraved in the culture and are present in the lives of countless students and staff members. Together, as a community, we can keep these arts thriving.
