Dance as an Artist

For dancers, food neutrality means viewing food as simply fuel, not as “good” or “bad,” and making choices based on hunger and satisfaction, rather than guilt or restriction, to support physical and mental well-being. Viewing foods as “good” or “bad” (whether for health or performance) evokes anxiety and guilt, making us vulnerable to an all-or-nothing mindset. In this article, we uncover the benefits of a food-neutral lens for dancers.

Dance educators are on the frontline: from cultivating an environment that supports the longevity of a dancer’s career to identifying challenges that occur inside the studio. Dance educators have the upper hand in helping to reduce rates of disordered eating, eating disorders, and body image challenges in the industry. This article will break down 5 specific strategies that dance educators can implement to cultivate a healthier environment in their studios.

Diet culture is a system of beliefs that idolizes weight loss. In diet culture, it’s believed that thinness equates to health, and in this pursuit of thinness (or “health,”) certain foods are either demonized or glorified. Diet culture also imposes moral value upon our food choices and as a result, we’re “good” for eating “healthy” and we’re “bad” for eating “unhealthy.” Removing the weight diet culture can help dancers flourish in physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.