Promote positive body image in your dancer!
Written by Miss Meghann
In an art form that, historically, had defined the “perfect ballet body,” how can we encourage the next generation of dancers to view all body types as perfect and valued? With so much focus on aesthetics and perfection, dancers often fall victim to comparison and harsh negative thinking regarding what constitutes a dancer’s form. While the dance world has begun to move away from the historical “ballet body,” it was common for many dancers to hear negative body comments in the studio until very recently. For years, the dance industry promoted a specific “ideal” body type for professional dancers, telling many artists that they would never “fit the mould.” I am very grateful to be involved in a dance generation that has become more accepting and open to all body types, heights, and characteristics. However, many aspects of the dance world can still evoke negative feelings about one’s body. At TDC, we are passionate about ensuring that all our students feel loved and valued in and out of class. We aim to promote healthy body image in all of our dancers and firmly disagree with making comments about our student’s bodies. We believe that all bodies are “dance bodies.” Body image can be a sensitive subject – one that many children may not feel comfortable talking about. So let’s talk about it as parents, guardians, and teachers – finding ways to promote positive body image within our young dancers!
what is body image?
Body image refers to how someone sees themselves when looking in a mirror or picturing themselves in their head. It involves what you believe about your appearance and how you experience moving your body. Dance studios often contain mirrors, making it easy for dancers to become overly fixated on their bodies and appearances. From a young age, dancers can begin to internalize negative comments made about their bodies, which can lead to many harmful outcomes, such as eating disorders.
body image resilience
Body image resilience differs from body positivity by shifting the attention away from how your body looks to how your body feels. As a dancer, this is something that I struggled with for many years and seems easier said than done. However, once we focus on what our body can do for us rather than how it looks, we can gain a more profound love and appreciation for ourselves.
what can we do?
The best thing we can do for our dancers is to promote healthier and more conducive thinking methods. As dancers, it’s normal to critique yourself when you want to improve. However, there is a difference in what types of self-comments are beneficial to our improvement and others that are harmful. Pointe Magazine uses this example: “I should square my hips more in arabesque, but my line would look much better if my legs were smaller.” The first part of the statement is an objective correction, but the second part only contributes negative and unhelpful thoughts. Another technique could be asking our dancers to experience movement with their eyes closed. This would shift the focus from the body and dance aesthetics to the feeling of movement. These techniques tend to depend on the dancer recognizing their maladaptive thoughts and feelings, making promoting these techniques difficult. The most significant difference we can make is to lead by example! Avoid talking negatively about your body or appearance in front of your dancer; kids pick up more than we think! By appreciating our bodies, we can inspire positivity in those around us.
Overall, this is a very short summary of body image and how to build resilience. If you want to read further, please check out our sources below! TDC wants to support you and your dancers in all fields of life. If this is not a subject you are comfortable discussing with your dancer, encourage them to talk to their instructor; we are always here to listen!