The Elephant in the Studio

If you don't understand the picture I've added, I'll sum it up for you, eating disorders. Its the elephant in the studio for a reason, every studio has had a problem with eating disorders at some point. The balance between maintaining proper dancer weight and becoming obsessed with losing weight is a hard line. In my profession I've heard several girls complain about their weight and a smaller number coming forward to tell me they have a problem and need help.

From my personal experience a skewed view of yourself is very easy to come by. I was bulimic for years without my parents knowledge. Its not like they weren't paying attention either. Teenagers are very adept at hiding things they don't want you to know about. The studio atmosphere I grew up in very focused on how much you weigh, girls would argue over whether or not they should have an entire serving of Wheat Thins or just half almost daily.

One person who was very close to me was borderline anorexic for years without anyone knowing. Our teacher gave us a diet that literally consisted of about 300 calories a day. The person in question stuck to it as much as possible but once her mother realized how little she was eating, she put a stop to it. The girl in question then started to develop anorexia, which she suffered with for at least three years. Why? Because her breasts developed to a B cup size and her teacher told her she'd never get a job working for anyone if she remained that "heavy looking."

Dance is a hard field to understand. The typical body type for dance has been the Balanchine ballerina for almost four decades, however recent dancers are learning more and more about how to protect themselves from the harsh ballet world's view of what they should look like and are becoming more womanly looking over the years. Look at Misty Copeland of ABT, yes she is still skinny, but look at her thighs and her chest. She has the body of a woman and not the body of a prepubescent woman-child.

Many studies have been conducted on what a dancer should eat verses what they typically do eat and its still a hot topic for most old school teachers too. For every new age teacher, there are fifteen old school teachers that say "Back in my day...." Unfortunately for the die hards, they won't be around for forever and while most take this as a sign to force their ideals onto their students, smarter teachers realize the world around them is changing. Don't get me wrong, a plie is still a plie and a tendu is still a tendu, but our bodies have changed since America's golden age of ballet and moving into the second decade of the 21st century our perspective on the human body is changing with it.

One look at each season of SYTYCD proves my theory. You can't do all these amazing feats of athleticism without having stronger, larger muscles. The ballet world is changing and its time to stop putting so much pressure on children and young women to remain unhealthily tiny.

As always, Message me or comment on here, My Lovelies! I'd love to hear some feedback! -Ms Ivy

Musicality Musings

I know its strange, but sometimes I wonder where my brain comes into play when I'm teaching. A parent recently asked me why I sometimes use classical music for my young students and other times use whatever the latest Disney movie's soundtrack is. I actually told her I don't know, it just seemed like the thing to do each week.

Then I got to thinking about it. (I don't like not knowing why I do somethings.) Its easy to figure out why some people use Disney Music, its easy for the kids to communicate to and they generally love listening to it so they want to come back. The other side of the board is using classical music for their students. I know using classical music helps children's minds to expand, bolster creativity and a better understanding of broader concepts later in life.

My reasoning for not always using classical music though is fairly simple, I'm a control freak. When you're working with a three year old its hard to teach them how to count music and understand it's different rhythms. They generally have a better understanding of Disney Music or pop because its simple. The beats rarely drastically change within the song and words really help them identify with each songs quirks. A child will be able to clap their hands to the beat of "Under the Sea" a lot easier than Beethoven's 5th. I also think its important to choreograph to the words of a song for children. Its a skill that they have to have for the rest of their dancing lives, so why not teach it to them young?

This is not to say I don't agree with using classical music, I obviously do from time to time or this blog would never have needed to be posted. I generally use classical music when doing warm ups with my kids. It teaches them there is a rhythm to each song, just watch me to understand it. Classical music is the basis of ballet. If a child cannot count to 8 they also cannot be choreographed. Its important for children to start learning these skills young, so it doesn't impede them in the future. Trust me, nothing is more frustrating than a fifteen year old who still doesn't know how to count music or hear the different tones in each piece. I also use classical music for freeze dance and other games like that so children really have to listen to
what they're dancing to.

Once a child has made the transition from "split level" classes into "full hour" classes, the entire game changes. The only time they get to listen to music with words in a ballet class is if their recital dance is to one. I guess I also use classical music so little ones are more used to it when they make the transition into older kid's classes. It seems like quite a shock on the system to be listening to music you've never heard on top of doing an entire hour of the same thing each week, when you're tired from school and maybe even have a different teacher.

I suppose you could compare it to having a child do Tendus properly every time but letting a few step points across the floor slide. It doesn't harm them to not force them to be perfect every time they do something, but in a controlled atmosphere, its crucial. The barre is the most important place for children to do things properly and later learning to take the thing your learn at the barre to the center or across the floor are important. Music is the same way. You can't rationalize expecting a three year old to understand music they aren't immersed in any more than you can expect a child to always do something unnatural to them without help.

As always, Message me or comment on here, My Lovelies! I'd love to hear some feedback! -Ms Ivy