America’s most prestigious ballet company has become embroiled in a sexual harassment row as one of its dancers sues the company over a “fraternity-like atmosphere” that left ballerinas vulnerable to abuse.

Barely a week before the curtain goes up on its autumn and winter programme, the New York City Ballet (NYCB) is at the centre of a fresh scandal amid claims that it harboured a culture where male dancers shared pictures of naked ballerinas, abused drugs and degraded women.

One dancer has resigned and two more have been suspended amid the fallout from a lawsuit brought by Alexandra Waterbury, a 19-year-old ballerina.

The allegations are merely the latest twist in ballet’s #MeToo moment amid dozens of accounts around the world of abuse at the hands of bullying directors, who pressure young women to lose weight or sleep their way into leading roles. “The chickens are coming home to roost,” said one veteran ballet writer.

Miss Waterbury’s lawyer said he expected more women to come forward. Jordan Merson said: “I believe that we have only scratched the surface of these allegations and we are hopeful that other women have the courage to come forward and speak out about these allegations.”