1. E A T I N G D I S O R D E R S I N
T H E B A L L E T W O R L D
2. – J O H N N Y A P P L E S E E D
~ 3.5% of the U.S. population suffers from an eating disorder *
~ 13.5% of athletes suffer from an eating disorder *
* Eating Disorder Hope
3. As many as 83% of dancers meet lifetime criteria for Anorexia Nervosa,
Bulimia Nervosa, a combination of these two eating disorders, or OSFED
(Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder). *
* Brooks-Gunn, J., Warren, M. P., & Hamilton, L. H
8. M Y M O M ’ S
G I F T
• Healthy food is delicious and
life-giving
• It’s not about the rules
• Understanding the biology of
how food breaks down —>
informed decisions
• Being skinny and having
strength, energy, and stamina
are not mutually exclusive
• Diets don’t work
9. P A S S I N G O N T H E G I F T
Key goal: To equip young dancers with the knowledge
and psychological tools that they will need for the rest
of their ballet careers
10. I aim to decrease the prevalence of eating disorders in the
ballet community by improving prevention and treatment
efforts in preprofessional ballet schools. Specifically, I
advocate for a holistic approach to nutritional education that
addresses the unhealthy pathology perpetuated by the
aesthetic and physical demands of this athletic art form.
M I S S I O N S T A T E M E N T
11. P L A N O F A C T I O N
1) Improving dance
nutritionist training
standards
2) Creating a Task Force
on Dancer Health for
preprofessional ballet
schools
3) Initiating ballet school
reform
* I N D E P E N D E N T S T U D Y
12. E X T E N D E D E D U C A T I O N F O R D A N C E
N U T R I T I O N I S T S / D I E T I T I A N S
• Psychology/Counseling - body image, weight, and food issues
• Eating Disorders - prevention, early recognition, and treatment
• Ballet - adjusting diet to meet varying physical demands
13. • Support health and wellness of the individual dancer
Encourage health screenings
Create a support network of dance health professionals
T A S K F O R C E O N D A N C E R H E A L T H
14. B A L L E T S C H O O L R E F O R M
1. Summer program: short talk series
• Survey before and after
• Observe dancers’ eating habits pre- and
post- talk series
• The book
2. Work with current nutritionist on
year-long course curriculum
3. Interview director and artistic staff
4. Improve dining hall standards
5. Assess methodology; expand to
other boarding schools
16. “It was on this festive occasion that General Washington danced a
minuet with Mrs. Willis. . . The minuet was much in vogue at that
period, and was peculiarly calculated for the display of the splendid
figure of the chief, and his natural grace and elegance of air and
manners . . . As the evening advanced, the commander-in-chief
yielding to the general gayety of the scene, went down some dozen
couple in the contre dance with great spirit and satisfaction.”
~ G E O R G E W A S H I N G T O N P A R K E C U S T I S
Now how do you think this compares with the statistic in the dancer population?
Now you may have heard of the legislation that has been passed in various countries in recent years, stipulating that modeling agencies can’t hire models unless they have at least a BMI of 18%. Unfortunately, there is no such law for dancers.
Because dancers know all this stuff. Their unhealthy eating behavior is NOT the result of thoughtlessness or ignorance.
I’d like to work with these organizations to add online resources specifically for nutritionists who want to work with dancers. These resources would equip nutritionists with an understanding of how to tailor a diet based on the fluctuating demands of a ballet season.
This is the “fieldwork” component of my initiatives.
THere are 5 main components.
To conclude, I’d like to pay tribute to a dancer who has really inspired me as I work on this cause
I want to sit in the audience and know that the dancers who have dedicated their lives to this art form aren’t doing this at the expense of their life-long health. I want to sit in the audience and know that these incredible athletes and artists are getting as much joy out of their work as they are giving. And that’s why this is my cause.
Thank you.
