Body image is the perception that an individual has of their physical self, but more importantly the thoughts and feelings the person experiences as a result of that perception. It is crucial to understand that these thoughts and feelings can be positive, negative or a combination of both and are influenced by individual and environmental factors.
As dancers strive for physical perfection, their body image can become distorted, leading to feelings of worthlessness and triggering unhealthy habits in areas such as diets and eating disorders. Negative body image is a critical issue for dancers as it …show more content…
Dancers pay too much attention to the image they see of themselves in the mirror, further damaging their self-consciousness and hindering their potential to perform to the best of their ability. Being a substitute dance teacher and frequent student, I am able to observe the body language associated with having an issue with body image, and address these problems accordingly. Although there may be less of a problem in rural dance schools (such as the one I teach at), it is still common to see a student standing in front of the studio mirror in a leotard with hunched shoulders, looking down at their ballet slippers, seemingly feeling bad about …show more content…
It is not uncommon to see a girl with a “larger” build comparing herself to some of the naturally more petite girls in classes. This may be the cause of the development of eating disorders, for dancers both at amatuer and elite levels.
Overall, the effect of mirrors on dancer's body image may be dependent on varying factors such as performance skill level, comparing oneself to others, and level of material taught. The relationship between these individual factors is complex and unique for each