Body Size and Inclusivity in Dance
"If a dacer is a bit "over" ideal Ballet weight, what do you suggest, if not loosing weight? What if it's a fantastic and strong dancer, but can't get a job in a company because of those few extra pounds? I saw that you stand for HAES - how does that apply in the Ballet world where you don't get a job otherwise?"
This is a question I received from a dance teacher.And I believe there are many other teachers, parents, dancers and health professionals who work with dancers that have the same question on their minds.
So here is my thought.
Hint: It’s never OK to tell a dancer to lose weight.
Dance Nutrition 101 - Thinness does not define your worth as a dancer
Your value as a dancer lies in being YOU.Losing weight doesn't automatically make you a better dancer.And this may be a challenging concept to acknowledge at first because of the limited dance-body ideals out there.But if you truly appreciate dance, you would know that ballet was never about thinness.