30+ habits of The Healthy Dancer®

Becoming The Healthy Dancer® means challenging ideals— those dictating how dancers should and shouldn’t look, how much dancers should and shouldn’t train, what dancers should and shouldn’t eat, and how much dancers should and shouldn’t eat. Most importantly, it embodies the journey towards redefining this term: healthy.

What are some characteristics of *healthy* dancers? In this blog post, we’re listing the most common among dancers who are actively supporting sustainable careers.

The most common habits of healthy dancers

1. Add carbs to their meals.
2. Pack snacks.
3. Count fouettés, not calories.
4. Practice food flexibility.
5. Eat a variety of foods rich in fats.
6. Add colorful produce to meals/snacks when it’s accessible 
7. Recognize that NOT adding colorful produce to meals/snacks is fine.
8. When accessible, prioritize foods they enjoy.
9. Eat more carbs than their non-dancer friends.
10. Practice food neutrality.
11. Appreciate their time inside the studio.
12. Appreciate their time OUTSIDE the studio.
13. Implement proper warm-up and cool-down routines before and after dancing.
14. Make space for days that feel less than ideal.
15. Acknowledge that perfection doesn’t exist.
16. Remember that self-worth isn’t tied to one class or performance.
17. Remember that self-worth also isn’t tied to your body weight, shape, or size.
18. Is confident in their mealtime decisions.
19. Recognizes their hard work, even on rest days.
20. Dedicate time to rest.
21. Prioritize sleep each night.
22. Remember to hydrate!
23. Make space for constructive feedback.
24. Focus more on their eating habits, not others.
25. Eat at least 3 meals with multiple snacks each day.
26. Remember that another’s success is not your failure, but rather, a motivation.
27. Make space for a good cry if and when it’s needed.
28. Manage their schedule to prevent burnout and over-training.
29. Practice strategies to build resilience through supportive self-talk.
30. Implement coping strategies for periods of emotional distress.
31. Listen to their body— whether it’s to eat, rest, stretch, etc.
32. Lean into support and resources when it’s needed.

Remember, every dancer’s healthy is unique and what works for one dancer might not work for another. Working with a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist is encouraged if you’re struggling to identify YOUR healthy.