Richmond Ballet faces fourth lawsuit as former student alleges emotional, physical abuse

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A fourth lawsuit has been filed against the Richmond Ballet since 2023 from a former student alleging emotional and physical abuse, with the plaintiff saying the exploitation began when she was nine years old.

First reported by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the complaint, seeking $11.5 million, was filed on Tuesday, March 17, by an anonymous former student filing as "Jane Doe," who reportedly enrolled in one of the company's training programs around 2019. She has accused the company itself, as well as several specific staff members, of physical, emotional and psychological abuse that has resulted in permanent injuries.

Throughout her time in the program, the former student alleged that she lost a dangerous amount of weight -- at 13 years old, she allegedly weighed just 91 pounds -- as a result of encouragement from Richmond Ballet staff to participate in excessive exercise and shame surrounding gaining weight.

Due to the weight loss, the plaintiff alleged she lost her menstrual cycle and developed an eating disorder as well as anxiety and depression, which required her to attend an intensive outpatient eating disorder program and landed her in the emergency room with a heart rate measured at under 40 beats per minute.

According to court documents, Richmond Ballet staff members would poke and prod the plaintiff's ribs, spine, arms and tailbone while forcing her stomach in. At one point, she was allegedly forced to wear a costume made and fitted for an eight-year-old at the age of 12.

The lawsuit lists three specific staff members that allegedly either perpetuated or supported the plaintiff's abuse -- School of Richmond Ballet director Tara Penick, Professional Training Program director Judy Jacob and Trainee Program coordinator Deanna Seay. As of reporting, all three remained listed on the company's staff page.

The defendants allegedly left the former student with "permanent physical, emotional and psychological injuries and scars; she will never again be the same," the suit said.

This is the fourth lawsuit filed against the Richmond Ballet since 2023 -- two former dancers filed lawsuits in 2023 originally seeking a total of $21 million and a third former student filed an $11.5 million suit in 2025 -- all claiming similar instances of emotional and physical abuse resulting in eating disorders and health issues.

The Richmond Ballet has attempted to have all previous lawsuits dismissed due to either a lack of a cause of action or based on the statute of limitations -- because of how long ago the alleged abuse took place.

8News has reached out to the Richmond Ballet for comment, but as of reporting, they have not responded.