I stop in my tracks, trying to process this comment without crying or letting on that I heard. But in that moment, my spirit is crushed. So many thoughts swirl through my head on the rest of our trip. These thoughts eventually crystallize into confusion, questions. Why had I been blessed with these talents in this body? What does it mean when your body is your art? Can a thicker brush not make just as beautiful strokes? I come late to dance. Later than most anyway.
As a naturally quiet, introverted person, dance is a revelation. I discover a world beyond words, where movements tell stories in ways that words only ever dream of doing. Soon, I am training for two to four hours a day. Homeschooling means I can be driven to studios an hour from my home to take classes multiple times a week with more advanced teachers. Finally, I am living with other families or my dance teacher during the week so I can train at the best school in the region. I am getting better and better.
I revel in my ability to balance en pointe forever and turn with ease. I once did five rotations in a single pirouette turn. The typical maximum for women is three. When puberty hits at 15, weight begins to stick to me. I begin to sport fleshy hips, meaty thighs, a blossoming bosom. In this profession, rarely is anyone bigger than a size 4. Ballerinas are supposed to be beyond human: to evoke ethereal, otherworldly beings that toe the line between the sensual and the virginal.
To have noticeable breasts and hips is to interrupt this fantasy with grotesque sexuality, to remind the audience that you are indeed human. Because these requirements are so strict, creating an influx of underweight ballerinas, eating disorders are often linked to the ballet field.
Just how perfection in ballet technique does not exist, perfection in the ballet body does not exist either. Despite this fact, dancers still consistently strive for the technique and the body. Perfection is perhaps the key term that ballet is centered around. It is the nature of ballet i. Perfection is expected of ballet dancers more so than of any other profession because dancers are supposed to be able to do what no one else can; they are sublime, airy, and spiritual like ghosts.
Also, because ballet is meant to entertain audiences, the performance must meet specific standards. Because of this semblance, dancers generally feel out of control for they know no matter how hard they work, perfection will never be fully obtained. So, one way to feel in control and, as an added bonus, as some say, a way to benefit their career, is to control their food intake and become thin. Eating disorders in the world of ballet are secretive ; no one likes to talk about them.
Is it worth it? The next set questions that must be asked are: What drives dancers to believe that the only solution for success is to become rail thin? Who is to blame, if anyone? And what are the warning signs of eating disorders among ballet dancers? These directors are simply doing their job; trying to remodel their own performing company to make it the best in the nation and, in return, raise more money. It is unfortunate that this can cause so much pain for dancers who are more vulnerable and easily affected by harsh words and criticism.
My argument is not to change the ballet body, but to change the way we perceive it. During the first few months this year, I was in and out of New York City auditioning for summer ballet programs, professional ballet companies, and college dance departments. I remember specifically auditioning for a company in the South.
Standing in a room with 25 other girls and 2 boys, I felt confident for this was a smaller audition than most. I realized right away that the company director had been watching me at the barre. I was executing each movement correctly, trying to show my clean technique and passion for dance. This is super common among dancers and something that might keep you up at night. My goal with this video was to share some realities about those numbers on the scale and to assure you that you can support yourself maybe with a bit of outside help to reach your healthiest, most powerful dancing weight.
As you go through the guide, remember that taking the pressure off weight actually helps a lot. What would it feel like to focus on just dancing full out and with energy?
Dance makes it extra hard to stop worrying about your body. Your teachers and artistic staff have told you that the thinner you are, the better off you are…especially in ballet. What you weigh does not determine your worth, nor does it decide your future in dance. This will help you build confidence!
Today, without good strong and aesthetically pleasing feet en pointe, girls have little chance of entering the pure classical arena. Boys on the other hand, need to be strong and physically capable of lifting girls with consummate ease and with little or no strain on their body during the execution.
The girls in general also need to be shorter than the boys due to their increase in height en pointe. Most companies will have a standardized physique from which they will try to be consistent. Corps de ballet members need to be very similar in height and shape, as with the traditional classical ballets, a company will have the corps appearing to be the same. There may be a variance in heights within the one company but in general they would still maintain a commonality with the group and henceforth a standard physique is required.
Even though the training physique ideally needs to conform to the standards as previously stated, the professional dancer really can come in all shape and sizes — short, tall, wide, narrow, buxom, large hips, or long torso.
What is important at this level is their ability as dancers. The males at a professional level should all generally be strong enough to adhere to all the rigors required of lifting. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
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