In sour news for tall ballerinas, a dancer in the US has lost her contract because of her height.

How tall is too tall for a ballerina? Sara Michelle Murawski, a Principal Dancer with Pennsylvania Ballet in Philadelphia, was told at the end of last year while performing as the Sugar Plum Fairy in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, that her one-year contract was not being renewed for the 2017–18 season. The reason, apparently, was that she was too tall.

^{Sara Michelle Murawski as the Sugar Plum Fairy, photo © Alexander Iziliaev}

The 25-year dancer, who is contracted until May, suggested in a Facebook post that she was being let go because at 5’11”, before going en pointe, her height was an issue.

“Did they only just notice that she’s 5’11”? Did they audition her sitting down?” asked Slipped Disc.

Artistic Director Angel Corella was out of the country and could not be reached for comment, but the Ballet told the Philadelphia Inquirer that letting Murawski go was about ensuring the right fit for the dancers who make up the Company.

In a statement, the Company’s Executive Director David Gray said: “Building...