Demonstrators disrupted a performance of the English National Ballet and shouted "ballet, not bigotry" outside a London theatre to protest a dancer's membership in the ultra-right British National Party (BNP).

The group United Against Fascism organized the protest after a newspaper outed principal dancer Simone Clarke last month as a card-carrying member of the BNP, known for its anti-immigration stance.

'There is no place for fascist ideas in the arts.'-Donna Guthrie, United Against Fascism

"There is no place for fascist ideas in the arts," said Donna Guthrie, a member of the group, who called on Clarke to resign from the party or "leave the company."

Friday night's performance of the classic Giselle was briefly interrupted by a handful of protesters in the audience, who were quickly taken out of the Coliseum auditorium. 

Outside, dozens of demonstrators urged ballet goers to give up their tickets.

"[Simone Clarke] shouldn't stand down because of her views," said June Mitchell, who had tickets to the performance.

But one patron returned her ticket in protest: "I couldn't go in there and clap and enjoy the performance," said Judy Chan.

The 'BNP Ballerina'

Clarke has said that she won't back down.

"I will be known as the BNP ballerina … I don't regret anything. I will stay a member," she told the Mail on Sunday newspaper.

"I have been labelled a racist and a fascist because I have a view on immigration — and I mean mass immigration — but isn't that something that a lot of people worry about?"

Clarke's unmasking has stirred up a touchy subject in Britain as nearly all parties have heeded calls for the tightening of immigration rules. But the BNP remains a pariah party.

Conservative Leader David Cameron has said that BNP members "thrive on hate."

The English National Ballet has released a statement saying that "any personal view expressed by one of our employees should not be considered as endorsed by the company."

It also said that it supported "the democratic right of people to mount a legal protest."