Hadding, Gillian

"Ballet: A Starving Art"

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Major: Film and Television

Freshman; College of Computing and Digital Media

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Abstract

Ballet is a beautiful art form made to look effortless, but it is quite the opposite. This paper includes research that sheds light upon eating disorders and the struggles that ballet students face due to the stereotype that all dancers must be lean. This stereotype not only affects the dancer’s body, but it also affects their mental health. Once dancers develop an eating disorder, dance is no longer fun for them. The lean stereotype completely distinguishes what dance is supposed to be: powerful. Therefore, eating disorders must be addressed to emphasize that dancers are beautiful no matter what.

Class: Honors 100

Rhetoric and Critical Thinking

Professor: Jennifer Finstrom

College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences