☙ Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners. ❧
~ William Shakespeare

From the outside, dance culture is stunning.  Social media is continually streaming beautiful, gorgeous, extraordinary images of bodies and abilities that seem too good to be true - and then demands self-comparison.  It can feel that you don’t measure up to these ideas of ‘perfection’ very often.  

So much of your training asks you to go beyond your limits.  You can begin to equate your validity or sense of self-worth with your ability to achieve. 

Even though it can be difficult to forget that photos do not always reflect reality, Instagram is not the only culprit for defining what is thought of as 'normal’, acceptable, and attainable for every dancer.  

There are accepted truths within dance culture that normalize pushing through personal limitations such as fatigue, pain, and injury, sometimes to the point of irreversible damage.

Your physical appearance, technical abilities, who you know, who knows you, and how fast you can prove that you are a ‘good dancer’ can influence your sense of self-respect, or how you imagine people view you.  Peers, parents, teachers, environments, and even physical buildings can play on your self-esteem and confidence.  

Healthy challenges vs unhealthy situations

There will be times throughout your training and career when you doubt yourself.  Yes, fatigue, pain, and injury will most likely be part of the process, but facing these obstacles should not diminish your passion.  In fact, working through difficulties often generates great strength and resilience.  It can be most satisfying to dance your heart out in class or onstage when you are feeling particularly low, because dance can, and should be, transcendent. 

However, you may find yourself in unhealthy situations where your mind and body are being abused, rather than empowered.  It will be up to you to decide when and how to step back - even if only for a short while.  

Making decisions, such as withdrawing yourself from situations that are unhealthy, can be hard.  People in your dance sphere may tell you that they are disappointed in you.  They may become angry, or threaten your place as a dancer if you come to them with the information that you are injured, sick, or have other reasons that prevent you from performing at your usual standard.  Although no one wants to feel as though they’ve let another down, it’s important to remember that you are worthy and valuable just as you are, even if someone thinks you haven’t met their expectations.  It is also helpful to consider that an adverse reaction may have nothing to do with you at all.  

When Too Much Is Too Much

Dancers negotiate these difficult challenges on top of the everyday stuff, and the stress can add up.  Some debilitating responses to stress include denial, harmful behaviours, and burnout.

Burnout has severe and damaging health effects.  There are thresholds that every human has, some higher than others, and so it’s not always easy to know when the amount of stress is reaching its limit.  But when it does, the body and mind go into survival lockdown mode, and things get worse.  

Burnout can look like ongoing fatigue, illness, prolonged injury and chronic pain, to the point where dancing is no longer an option.  Psychological breakdowns and episodes can present themselves as lack of motivation, a change in personality, becoming withdrawn, antisocial, and depressed.

Your health is, and always will be, the most important thing.

If you have reached burnout status, or are close, you need to know that all is not lost.  If you put yourself first, burnout can be temporary, and there are strategies that you can implement to help you out of this. 

1. Alter Your Program

If you’ve taken on too many classes, chosen classes based on external (or internal) pressure, and you’ve realized they are making you sick, drop them.  You can start by letting one go.  Sometimes it’s not easy to admit something isn’t working - but this is about you.  In the long run, that’s who your training needs to work for.

2. Access Your Social Support Network

Open up to your family and friends.  If you’re not ready to talk about how you’re feeling with them, try investing more time in relationships outside of the dance training environment.  If you have a teacher you believe is a source of support, approach them.  Chances are, they know what you’re going through.  Schoolwork can be a great area to focus on; or you might spend time discovering new hobbies.  You are a dancer, but you are many, many other things. 

3. Look After Your Health and Well-Being

Find a great physiotherapist, massage therapist, chiropractor, reiki energy healer, osteopath, or mental health professional.  These people know what they are talking about, and seeking early treatment can be fundamental in detecting early-stage traumas that could develop into more serious problems.  They can also reinforce that taking time out from dance training and enjoying other activities not only feels great but is necessary for a balanced lifestyle.

Practicing self-advocacy, and not giving up on yourself, is always worth the challenges.  Researching tools for stress relief and mindfulness practices, and incorporating them into your life, can be of great support when you’re feeling unsure or unsteady.

How do you take care of your mental health? Leave a comment!