Giving Thanks to Our Bodies this Holiday
How a holiday that revolves around food can trigger disordered eating and body dysmorphia, especially among dancers - and what to do about it.
Written by Cali Wery, University of Minnesota Class of 2021
TW: disordered eating & body dysmorphia
Let’s be clear: Dance is something that should be enjoyed by people of all ages, abilities, backgrounds, races, shapes, sizes, gender identities, and sexualities. However, we cannot ignore that (historically and currently) the physical standards and norms for the “ideal dancer’s body” have been exclusive and contributed to significant mental and physical challenges for dancers including body dysmorphia, and the normalization and even encouragement of disordered eating and excessive exercise. Because Thanksgiving is a holiday that often centers around food and can intensify anxiety around eating and body image, I want to share how I learned to combat these societal pressures and unattainable expectations that are placed on dancers and many other athletes in hopes that dancers and dance teachers can help bring change to the dance world.
My personal experience in dance has been a bit of a rollercoaster, and I’ve learned a lot. From 2nd through 10th grade, I danced at a studio in my hometown. My dance teacher held a very limited view of what constitutes a “perfect dancer’s body.” For example, I remember when someone in my class asked if we could wear a cropped top for our costume, and our teacher said that we could not wear it unless we had the abs for it. She was implying that we needed to have defined ab muscles showing on our stomach to wear the tops we wanted.
This perspective and these types of comments impacted me for years to come. I already had low self confidence and struggled with body dysmorphia and restrictive eating habits (which is extremely common among young people and dancers), and these comments reaffirmed my thoughts: that I was only worthy and deserving if my body pleased other people. These comments drove me to quit studio dance, but the damaged relationship I had with food and with my body stayed with me. I feared gaining weight because I thought it would make me less valuable as a dancer and as a person. This fear is very common, especially in the world of competitive dance.
On my high school dance team, I was introduced to an entirely different perspective on body image and health: include and value all body types in dance. Through the support and guidance of my coach, I gained confidence in myself and began to abandon the unhealthy habits that I had been falling into.
While I’ve made a lot of progress with my own relationship with food, food pressures, diet-culture, and Thanksgiving still drum up feelings of anxiety, I want to encourage coaches, teachers, and dancers everywhere to make sure their programs are body-positive, anti-racist, inclusive, and welcoming to all dancers.
Dancers, we can influence the future of dance. On an individual level, it is important to separate the concepts of healthy bodies and body image. As dancers, we need food and fuel to build muscle, improve flexibility, advance skills, and prevent injuries. But you know what - you’re just as deserving and worthy of eating even when you’re not actively dancing! When it comes to Thanksgiving - eat what you like, and pass on what you don’t. Here is some helpful language to have in your pocket if weight or diet comes up at your family Thanksgiving.
On a collective level, we need to bring the body positivity movement into the dance world. There is no one ideal “dancer’s body;” all bodies are dancer’s bodies. There are so many social media influencers who dedicate their pages to spreading body positivity and inclusivity. An easy change yet impactful change is to unfollow the accounts with toxic, unhealthy, and unrealistic expectations and replacing them by following accounts dedicated to body positivity, inclusivity, and self-love. Side note: If you’re not ready or able to embrace body positivity - try thinking about it on a spectrum. You don’t have to hate your body, but you don’t have to be falsely in love with your body either. See if feeling “body neutral” is a helpful stepping stone (that can free you of pressure to be overly positive about your body).
Teachers and coaches, your words and actions influence your dancers in more ways than you know! You don’t have to wait until your body-positivity journey is complete... Here are 3 things you can do right now to be a more inclusive and body-positive coach:
Do not comment on the appearance of dancers’ bodies. Be mindful that your words become the inner voice of a dancer - what do you want that voice to say?
Choose costumes that are comfortable for a range of body shapes and sizes. If a certain costume is not available in sizes that are comfortable for your dancers or in colors that match your dancers’ skin tones - find a new costume or new company!
When you share dancers on social media, bring in guest teachers and choreographers, or consider adding staff members - make sure they value inclusivity and representation of all backgrounds and body types in dance.
Dance is for everyone and we need to make sure that our programs are accessible for all dancers by eliminating barriers and facilitating inclusion.