That was in 2023. With the ballet scheduled for winter 2026, Stanley, who uses he/they pronouns, asked again — and again was told no. He took matters into his own hands, an uncharacteristic move for a dancer known offstage for his gentle demeanor. “In very Carabosse fashion, it stirred up a fire in me,” Stanley said. “So I went straight to the source. I went to Peter.”