I came across an interesting article that brought up many interesting issues regarding body image in dancing. Throughout dance, specifically ballet, images of an ideal body type are portrayed. This is reinforce in movies like Centerstage, where the ballerinas are plagued with eating disorders, and the recent Black Swan, where Natalie Portman admitted to dropping an unhealthy amount of weight to prepare for her role. In this article (http://www.danceusa.org/ejournal/post.cfm/my-eyes-your-body) the author explains the shock she felt towards herself when she reacted differently while watching a dancer who was larger than the typical performer. She explains the problem: "Our eyes have grown lazy. We simply don’t see enough professional dance with a variety of bodies on stage. And I have interviewed numerous artistic directors in the ballet and contemporary genres over the years who claim they love all kinds of bodies. Sure, they hire a few shorter and taller dancers, but it’s rare that we see even average weight dancers in professional modern or ballet companies." In the article, she discusses why we are conditioned to think this way and vows to work towards creating a culture where we are accepting of all body types.
After reading this article and thinking about body images shown in the dance world, what do you all think of the authors argument? Do you think you are more receptive to dancers with the ideal body types? Do you wish to work towards a culture where we are more accepting of larger body types? How can we achieve this?
Body image is definitely an issue in today’s society, especially in the world of dance. In working with elementary through high school age kids, it is very obvious to note their obsessions with weight and body image as well. While the issue is mostly attributed to females, I have found that males also take part in the body image battle. While many girls feel the need to be smaller and lose weight, boys may spend lots of money on protein supplements time lifting weights at the gym.
ReplyDeleteIn the case of the article the author points out that our brains trigger these body obsessive thoughts, and often make it impossible to focus on what we are doing because we are too focused on what we look like doing it. This is definitely a problem in our culture, but it is furthered by the media, especially advertisements, magazines, and stars in our society that may not be giving off the best messages (Miley Cyrus? Just a thought!). It is important to send clear message on a daily basis to fix these negative obsessions, but it is definitely a battle that is mostly controlled, in my opinion, by the market and unfortunately what will sell and be most profitable.
Katie --
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting blog post. I think unfortunately, we are definitely trained to look for a better looking body image, particularly on stage. Unfortunately, this is due to medias portrayal of the ideal body image that is completely unrealistic for the common person.
As a society, we must be more accepting of all body types. In order for it to change on stage, it must start with the audition process. Ballets must accept people of all styles and begin setting people on stage who are qualified for their technique not their body type. Some of my best dance instructors were larger women who couldn't dance professionally because of their size however they held themselves stronger that anyone else I have seen.
I hope we can change this image in the future!
I found an article in which one dance critic deemed a ballerina dancing the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker "too fat."
ReplyDeletehttp://jezebel.com/#!5701401/dance-critic-thinks-ballerina-is-too-fat
Jezebel reported in a later article that "After considerable and justified outrage, the critic — Alastair Macauley of the New York Times — tried to explain why he would make such a comment: the body matters to ballet, an overweight body inhibits performance, etc. What he failed to do was explain how the ballerina, one Jenifer Ringer (who absolutely is not overweight), performed in a manner that suggested she was off her game and how that might be because of her weight."
I couldn't believe this when I read this, but then I realized just how body conscious dancing is. It is the emphasis, the movement, and the signification of the body combined with today's cookie cutter standards for beauty that has turned dancing into a hyper-critical notion against the body. Personally, I would hope that at one point, all body types would be accepted in all genres of dance. It's gotta be all about the talent.