First-Ever Body Shaming Lawsuit in Dance Settles—No Gag Order, No Silence

In a first-of-its-kind legal case, a former dance student at The Hammond School has reached a civil settlement over years of alleged body shaming and abuse by teachers that derailed her professional dance ambitions and left her with lasting psychiatric injuries, including body dysmorphia.

Despite numerous offers from elite schools, the claimant chose the Hammond School in Chester on scholarship—only for her dream to turn into a nightmare. After reporting the abuse to the school and being told it didn’t qualify as a formal complaint, she turned to Dino Nocivelli, an abuse claims lawyer and partner at Leigh Day, to take legal action.

Because the issue of body shaming in dance had never been tested in court, Nocivelli had to break legal ground: proving that the abuse occurred, that it caused psychiatric harm, and that the school had failed in its duty of care. The case was filed in the High Court, and settlement talks began in early 2024.

The school settled without admitting liability and without NDAs, confidentiality clauses, or gag orders. Although the claimant has chosen to remain anonymous, she hopes her case will pave the way for others to come forward.

Nocivelli said, “The conclusion of this matter—and at such an early stage—supports my view that not only did my client have a strong case, but that body shaming is wrong and can cause significant and long-lasting psychiatric injuries. The demand for an inquiry into abuse in dance continues to grow every day. We urge the Government to act.”

A BBC interview with Nocivelli on the wider issue of abuse in dance aired on March 12.

More Here: https://www.leighday.co.uk/news/news/2024-news/former-dancer-settles-first-body-shaming-legal-case-in-dance/