Big Ballet is a 2014 British documentary program that follows Wayne Sleep and prima ballerina Monica Loughman[1][2] as they help a troupe of amateur plus-size dancers realize their dream of dancing Swan Lake.
[3] The three-episode series, produced by Rare Day[4] and broadcast on Channel 4, premiered on February 6, 2014.
The dancers, referred to in the show as "fat" or "real women", range from UK size 12 to 24 – significantly larger than the norm in classical ballet.
[5] Big Ballet features Matthew Bourne, Derek Deane, Patricia Doyle, David Plumpton, Tamara Rojo, David Nixon and the English National Ballet.
It was predominantly filmed at the Northern Ballet;[6] its final performance was staged at St George's Hall, Bradford[7] in front of 1,500 people.