Why Is Body Image So Hard? | Healthy Body Image Series Part 1 of 5

In today's culture and in the dance world, we are constantly confronted with body image.

Examples of the "ideal" body image are plastered all over the media. In the studio, dancers are faced with self-critique in the mirror, or even worse, from teachers and peers as well.

The School of Ballet 5:8 believes that there is no specific body type for ballet, but that God created each unique body on purpose and with care, and that this topic is important to address with dancers for their mental and physical health.

We interviewed Ballet 5:8 founding company member and former Lead Artist Lauren Ader-Cumpston for insight and advice. Here is the first part of this five-part series.

School of Ballet 5:8: Why is body image so hard in the ballet world?

Lauren: I think it is important to acknowledge that body image in and of itself is simply the way that we perceive our own bodies and how we feel about them. We can have a positive body image! However, many of us hold a negative body image, meaning we feel that our bodies do not measure up to perceived standards that may be created by our family, social groups, media, etc. Research findings suggest that having a negative body image is very common in society in general, and it usually increases with adulthood. It also is shown to be more common in athletes, and especially dancers. This is something that many people are struggling with, but I think that there are certain characteristics of the dance world that unfortunately can perpetuate the development of a negative body image.

What Feeds Unhealthy Body Image? Read part two of this series.