Judge denies Richmond Ballet’s effort to toss out former dancers’ $11.5 million lawsuits

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – A judge has rejected the Richmond Ballet’s attempt to have a pair of $11.5 million lawsuits accusing it of a “culture of physical and psychological abuse and exploitation” dismissed.

Two unnamed former dancers — one who was a minor when she was a student at the Richmond Ballet’s school and another who was in the trainee program for those who want a professional career — filed similar civil lawsuits accusing the institution of making them keep “dangerously” low weights.

The lawsuits, which seek a total of $23 million in damages, claim the institution’s environment led the former dancers to develop eating disorders and other health issues, including one who alleged they lost their menstrual cycle.

The Richmond Ballet, the state ballet of Virginia, has denied the allegations and filed motions to dismiss the lawsuits, known as a demurrer , arguing the plaintiffs did not adequately plead their allegations and that cases don’t have a cause of action to go to trial.

One judge found last year that the lawsuits did not support most of their claims, but left a window open for changes . The plaintiffs filed amended lawsuits against the ballet last December, each seeking $11.5 million in damages and laying out their own accusations.

The ballet filed demurrers and motions to strike to have the amended lawsuits dismissed and a hearing was held in early July.

On July 30, Richmond Circuit Court Judge Clarence N. Jenkins Jr. issued an order overruling the demurrers on every count alleged in the lawsuits. In the order, Jenkins wrote that the motion to strike remained “under advisement.”

“Demurrers test the legal sufficiency of the pleadings,” Jenkins wrote, adding that, when ruling on a demurrer, the only question is whether the claims in the lawsuit are legally sufficient to state a cause of action and not the merits of the allegations.

Both lawsuits accuse the Richmond Ballet and members of its artistic staff named as defendants of gross negligence, willful and wanton negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress and more. Specific artistic staff members are also accused of assault and battery in the suits.

“We are pleased that the Court has validated our clients’ claims that the harm caused by Richmond Ballet’s unreasonable standard to maintain a medically dangerous low BMI can be pursued under Virginia law,” said Melissa Hague, one of the attorneys representing the former dancers, in a statement Thursday.

A Richmond Ballet spokesperson did not comment on the lawsuits’ allegations, only sharing a statement mostly identical to one provided to 8News and other outlets last year.

“We note only that we will continue to vigorously defend the exceptional reputation of Richmond Ballet and our extraordinary artistic team, who, for more than four decades, have provided a safe and supportive environment for aspiring professional and recreational dancers alike,” the Richmond Ballet said in the statement Thursday.

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