Ballet Dancers - Weight

Ballet Dancers - Weight

Hi I weigh 175 and I'm 5'6 and I'm auditioning for an art high school do u think that my weight will be a problem I've previously had 9 years of dance.

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Reply by Odette

To:- Ballet Dancers - Weight

Hello,

Thank you for contacting me, it is great to hear from you.

Some schools are more lenient on weight and body image than others, so it would depend on how rigorous your school is to whether your weight will be a problem.

How do you feel? If you feel your weight will not be a problem, then do not worry. Perhaps ask your teacher's guidance to your concerns.

The BMI calculator is a good way to check if you are a healthy weight. BMI stands for Body Mass Index and it can measure whether you are a healthy weight for your height. You can easily find a site online to do this.

The key to a healthy weight is to have balanced diet full of nutritious foods. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, complex carbohydrates, whole grains and lean proteins.

All the best,

Odette

Ballet Dancers - Am I Fat?

Ballet Dancers - Am I Fat?

i am 13 years old 14 in july and when i am older i want to be a ballet dancer i love it i dont no what i would do in life without it it means the world but i keep thinking am i too fat? i weight 7.5 stones. i think im not sure if my weighing scales are right. i have had them for years, i want to have a six pack with muscles everywhere. and to be really skinny i look at my legs in discrace because i think they are to fat but sometimes i wonder if they are just muscle?.. please right back. i am really worried!:?

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Reply by Odette

To:- Ballet Dancers - Am I Fat?

Hello,

Thank you for contacting me, it is a pleasure to hear from you.

As hard as it may be, try to overcome those feelings thinking you are fat. Every person, even non-dancers, get bothered about their body, but these negative thoughts do nothing but bring you self-esteem down even further. Body image as a dancer is a very conscious element, but dancers have to remember they are also athletes. You have to be strong and lean with a considerable amount of energy.

Therefore, you should aim for strength and tone as oppose to skinny. Dancers need muscle for strength. Dancer's bodies are very much like athletes, so they are not weak and skinny, but strong and and toned.

The BMI calculator is a good way to check if you are a healthy weight. BMI stands for Body Mass Index and it can measure whether you are a healthy weight for your height. You can easily find a site online to do this.

A healthy, balanced diet combined with exercise should keep you trim and toned for ballet. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, complex carbohydrates, whole grains and lean proteins.

Listen to these great quotes by successful ballerinas to inspire you:

"My body is my tool. In ballet, it's not about being slim and slender, you need to aim for muscle. " -Lauren Cuthbertson, Principal, The Royal Ballet

"You have to be your own icon." Laura Morera, Principal, The Royal Ballet

"I want young dancers to know that, yes, you have to make sacrifices, but at the end of the day we're not models - we need strength." Laura Morera, Principal, The Royal Ballet

Keep positive and knock out those negative thoughts!

All the best,

Odette

ps. To become the best dancer you can be, learn the Seven Secrets ..... go to my 'Seven Secrets of Ballet' page