Living in the Caribbean, I had expected less concern around size in dance class based on the multitude of different bodies seen in and out of dance class. It seems that as a dancer, whether here the US or in Europe, shape, size and body image are issues, yet some of my reading directs me away from this, where my own data through interviews leads me towards it. (Hamilton, L. et al)
My dancers in Barbados discussed issues of low self body image but in research taken out in the US with black ballet dancers, it showed black ballet dancers to have no major issue around weight or body image as compared with their colleagues who were white female ballet dancers.
Although I am putting this very simplistically, many questions have arisen for me because I had "assumed; that the majority of professional ballet dancers would have issues around weight and body image. My dancers in Barbados, are modern dancers who I would have 'assumed' would have less negative body images. In my very limited study, the emerging data has proved my assumption to be wrong.
Why do the Black US ballet dancers have less issue around weight and body image than their white counterparts and my dancers in the Caribbean?
With such a diverse range of shapes and sizes in Barbados why is the aesthetic of the European dancer preferred. Even (according to my participants) in Caribbean folk dance?
Given the make up of audience to be a majority, Caribbean, why would the typical European aesthetic be preferable? Whose choice is it? How does that reflect within female Barbadian dancers confidence and relationship with their bodies?
Then there is the male perspective of weight and body image in dance U.S.A, Caribbean, Europe).
Does anyone have any stories to share around any of these areas? Or any interesting literature that you feel would be worth reading?
Although my research is centred around what is prevalent in the dance studio, post pre and during movement, I am realising that participants back stories strongly influence everything within the session. The way they enter the class/audition or rehearsal, how they approach class overall and what they get out of class. I am noticing that their cultures and personalities colour everything from preparation to execution
I look forward to hearing from you
Bibliography
Sociocultural Influences on
Eating Disorders in Professional
Female Ballet Dancers
Linda H. Hamilton J. Brooks-Gunn, Ph.D. Michelle P. Warren, M.D.
Linda H. Hamilton J. Brooks-Gunn, Ph.D. Michelle P. Warren, M.D.