One thing that happened over the weekend was a very surreal realization. The "skinny dancer" fad is no longer in place. I knew that before, but it came even more to life when I was speaking with Nan Giordano herself about how I had become sick and had lost weight. She, with much concern and care, said as she looked down at my thin frame, "You need more meat on your bones." I loved it! As I stood there hearing her, I thought of countless girls who think they're overweight as dancers. I also thought of myself as a young teen and my struggles.
When I was 14, I battled poor eating habits because I thought I was too fat... instead of taking a healthy approach, I started eating all the time. Ironically, as that young teenager trying so hard to be accepted as a dancer, I gained weight in my fear of being overweight. Also in a growth spurt, my muscles expanded rapidly before my bones knew what to do with them. My legs were like rocks and I felt "chunky"... devastating to an aspiring ballet dancer. I was a sneaky kid, and never told anyone my feelings so my unhealthy habits were unnoticed... (Horrible.) It happened again at 18 when I was injured on and off for nearly a whole year and fell into depression, thinking I could never dance again. I turned to food for comfort: again, some weight gain, but only drastic in my own mind... For the most part, I generally was pretty good at waving fads all into the breeze to just strive to be healthy, and besides those two hiccups in dieting history, I've had relatively uneventful "weight drama" in my dancing years... Yet this past year, I lost way too much weight and became tiny against my will. I wasn't starving myself at all and sought medical help as to why I was loosing weight without trying. I'm much better now as doctors are keeping an eye on it, yet still I'm too thin.
It's funny how times change... just years ago, Balanchine had it set that dancers were thin and frail-looking, and that was "beautiful". Now dance has turned to the "healthy athletic look". I don't really care about fads, but what is healthy, and I want my students to know and believe that about themselves. I tried twice obsessing over food: it doesn't work and only hurts you more as a dancer and individual person. Strive for health, and you'll get it right. Nan Giordano likes healthy, and I like her for her honesty.
Now excuse me while I go eat a burger....
Eating Chicago Deep Dish Pizza... never skip that when you're in Chicago!
Us from TDAC with Nan Giordano
Make that deep dish pizza whole wheat dough and add some veggies for a "healthy" treat! :)
ReplyDelete