Eating disorders creep around dance studios, waiting for the next victim to tightly latch on to. Society hears about eating disorders quite frequently, however the dance world encounters them almost every day. People who truly care about ballerinas and young women in the ballet world understand the struggle to avert dancers from eating disorders. When dancers are told they look “too womanly” a dancer’s mind automatically takes a hint to lose weight (Hamilton 28). Choreographers, directors, and manages repeatedly voice such a comment towards their dancers, pressuring dancers to do whatever they have to in order to please the people with the power to fire them. One dancer went so far to say, “I am determined to lose the weight before it hurts
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Many wonder why exactly eating disorders within the dance world aren’t discussed more. Some believe the fact that ballet has always been this way lessens the severity for the general public. Others don’t think ballet interest enough people. Tackling a problem of hundreds of years appears daunting, but nonetheless, the problem must vanish. A subproblem exists among dancers and the public. Dancers fail to admit they are dealing with an eating disorder. For example, in one study within a company only one dancer admitted eating an unhealthily low amount (Benn 9). In reality, many dancers suffer with an eating disorder, but won’t admit it because companies may kick them out until they are healthy again. Although this seems backwards, it’s true. Many choreographers and directors request thin figures when the company as a whole doesn’t support this requirement. Luckily, some companies take precautions to keep all dancers healthy. Today, companies are aware that up to 84% of their dancers find it difficult to be confident in their skin (Ringham 503). The positive note for modern dancers stands as the hope that all companies will realize healthy dancers are the best dancers. Around the world, dancers have come together to support each other through the demanding world of ballet. Even reluctant companies have dancers who won’t give in to the “ballet body”. Dancers are thankful …show more content…
The unglamorous story behind the curtain reveals the truth about the pain ballerinas suffer through. Eating disorders attack ballet from studio to stage. The pressure to be thin wins the battle among many ballerinas. In spite of this, as years pass, the ballet world has evolved to accept dancers for who they are. Ballet dancers are beginning to to receive the support they deserve from choreographers, however much more support must be given. May ballerinas be as beautiful and natural as their works of art. Skill wins a role, not a tiny
Many wonder why exactly eating disorders within the dance world aren’t discussed more. Some believe the fact that ballet has always been this way lessens the severity for the general public. Others don’t think ballet interest enough people. Tackling a problem of hundreds of years appears daunting, but nonetheless, the problem must vanish. A subproblem exists among dancers and the public. Dancers fail to admit they are dealing with an eating disorder. For example, in one study within a company only one dancer admitted eating an unhealthily low amount (Benn 9). In reality, many dancers suffer with an eating disorder, but won’t admit it because companies may kick them out until they are healthy again. Although this seems backwards, it’s true. Many choreographers and directors request thin figures when the company as a whole doesn’t support this requirement. Luckily, some companies take precautions to keep all dancers healthy. Today, companies are aware that up to 84% of their dancers find it difficult to be confident in their skin (Ringham 503). The positive note for modern dancers stands as the hope that all companies will realize healthy dancers are the best dancers. Around the world, dancers have come together to support each other through the demanding world of ballet. Even reluctant companies have dancers who won’t give in to the “ballet body”. Dancers are thankful …show more content…
The unglamorous story behind the curtain reveals the truth about the pain ballerinas suffer through. Eating disorders attack ballet from studio to stage. The pressure to be thin wins the battle among many ballerinas. In spite of this, as years pass, the ballet world has evolved to accept dancers for who they are. Ballet dancers are beginning to to receive the support they deserve from choreographers, however much more support must be given. May ballerinas be as beautiful and natural as their works of art. Skill wins a role, not a tiny