Career Development Plan - Ballet Diet for Vegans

by Teneal
(Johannesburg, South Africa)

Career Development Plan - Ballet Diet for Vegans

Hello Odette, Teneal again!

Quick question. Do you think my diet will affect how quickly I progress in ballet? For the last few months I've been vegan, which I aim to be permanently, and my teacher's been concerned as I've lost a considerable amount of weight in the last half a year. I'm still slightly overweight but my teacher is a bit worried that my diet might affect how quickly I gain strength. Any tips?

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Reply by Odette
To: - Career Development Plan - Ballet Diet for Vegans

Hi Teneal,

Thanks for keeping in touch. I understand what both your teacher and what you are saying, so you must listen carefully here.

Firstly, you must realise how important your body is to you in ballet. It is not just how you look, it is your strength ( as your teacher says) and how you work your muscles to progress in your technique. From now on, you must take this frame of mind forward with you in your classes. You are an athlete and your body is your tool.

I discuss more about this in my new eBook series "7 Virtues of a Professional Ballet Dancer". You must look at "Virtue 3: Physicality" which is ideal for you. Each virtue is just $2.99 and it is all in one place for you to save and retain my advice. There is so much I want to tell you, but it's not possible to say it all here! That's why, my eBooks are the perfect solution.

Anyway, the answer to you, is yes I think your diet will affect how you progress in ballet. However, there is nothing wrong with being a vegan since one of my best friends who is a male professional ballet dancer is a vegan and has been since as young as 11.

However, what is important is that you are getting enough of what you need especially in sources of protein. This will make more of a difference to how quickly you progress, because a body which is feeling weak and lethargic will not improve as much as one which is fueled enough and ready to go.

You can get your protein from nuts, beans, legumes, lentils, egg, yoghurt.... just make sure you are restoring your body and eating enough to let it strengthen and repair.

You have to be careful when loosing weight at a younger age in ballet, especially when your body is still developing. I would say, put your technique and goals to strength before anything else.

Anyway, I continue all of this advice in "Virtue 3: Physicality" so don't forget to take a look!

Best wishes,
Odette