How can the Dance Industry prevent Eating Disorders and support the longevity of dancers’ careers?
I had the pleasure of being interviewed by ABC Brisbane for this article: Dancers call for body image overhaul to protect next generation from eating disorders.
There is a high prevalence of eating disorders in dance - 1 in 8 dancers, and 1 in 6 ballet dancers. Since the COVID19 pandemic and the way it changed our lives, there are studies indicating this rate has gone up even more.
There are individual strategies to prevent eating disorders, however, there is a limit to this if the industry as a whole isn’t supportive of it.
So what can the Dance Industry do to prevent eating disorders in dancers, that can ultimately result in the longevity of dancers’ careers?
I think there are three important themes when it comes to organisational strategies.
(If you want to know more about individual factors and strategies, visit our Resource Page for free resources)
Education
Invest in having nutrition classes run by experienced dietitians, regularly available for dancers. Eating is such a personal matter, and having a professional available to discuss this throughout the year is extremely helpful for the dancers. The classes should also focus on performance and overall health, not making a particular weight or size.
Provide nutrition and eating disorders training to teachers and staff of the school / company / organisation, with the dietitian. It’s vital that all teachers and staff are informed and know how to approach these subjects, and know how to screen for risks and make referrals for team management, for early treatment which has the most success rate for full recovery. From my experience, many teachers are eager to know and do the right thing - teachers deserve these training so that they can work safely and effectively with their dancers.
Representation
Employ diverse dancers. That includes dancers in larger bodies; different races; various gender and sexual orientations; abilities and disabilities. The only way the next generation can see themselves included in the dance industry is when they can see people that look like themselves on stage.
Duty of Care
Have policies and guidelines in place to ensure that you know what to do. This can be in the form of a Nutrition Policy that indicates staff’s, teachers’, and dancers’ roles in nourishment; you can also have an Eating Disorders Guideline (or Procedures) to screen dancers, make referrals and create pro-recovery environment.
I’ve seen so many dancers leave the Dance Industry because they weren’t supported by their school/company when they needed treatment, or when they were actively in treatment.
This is really unfortunate in both ways because the dancer loses their job that they’ve so passionately worked for, and the industry loses talented individuals.
At DDD Centre for Recovery, we are committed to supporting dancers recovering from their eating disorders, as well as offering teachings and support for schools and companies. If you are an individual seeking help, please feel free to contact us on info@dddcfr.com.au for treatment. If you are an individual from a school or company wanting to improve the support system for your dancers, please reach out to info@dddcfr.com.au for our service information pack and we can guide you through the best options for you.
