Body and self-perceptions

The article I chose to do my journal topic was on The effect of Ballet dance attire on body and self-perceptions of female dancers.  This article was written by a student at Mercyhurst college in PA. 

While reading this article, It really opened up my eyes to the kinds issues dancers have to deal with.  In the article they were trying to prove that the kinds of attire dancers wear can have and effect on the dancer themselves.  I think the main question was, what kind of effect would it have on the dancers?  I have heard most of my teachers talk about the pressure and technique that comes with Ballet.  I think the teacher teaching Ballet only wants you to get the concept of the technique and what they are looking for in that particular style.  In the article is says that when the dancers were in “skin tight” dance clothes it effected the way they performed.  I found that very interesting because, on only are you trying to understand what the teacher is wanting from you, but if you are uncomfortable with the way you look in the mirror in those close it will make it harder for you to focus on what you should be doing.

I thought that their idea of having half the class wear the “skin tight” clothes and still dance in front of the mirror vs. the other half of the class who wore the so called “junk” clothes (referring to lose fitted clothes) and danced without  mirrors was a great way to see what an effect the different dance attire will have on the individual dancers. They had the dancers in the “skin tight” clothes that stared at themselves in the mirror for extended periods of time didn’t perfrom as well as the dancers in the “junk” dance attire.  They also stated that the dancers in the tights and leotards started to develop a higher self-surveillance and eating disorders.  Now by wearing tight clothes it helps the teacher see the dancers form and their alignment. There was an last question that was left open for the reader to think about is, how will tight-fitting attire effect young dancers. 

After reading this article I had many questions.  I never took and Ballet while I was growing up.  I didn’t know that this style of dance was so strict in their technique and style.  If I have a little girl I always wanted her to be a ballerina, but if that would mean her possibly developing a view on her body image I’m not so sure if that something I want.  I also makes me nervous because I really don’t like to look at my body in the mirror at all, so I hope I can over look that issue and perform to the best of my ability.

Add a comment September 22, 2006