Tips from a Ballerina

Tip #1

DON'T LET WEIGHT DIFFERENCES DEFINE YOU
Everyone is different. That's a known fact. People have different body types and metabolisms, so if you are bigger than another ballerina, don't be discouraged, just prove that ballet is for everyone...no matter what size!
Fact: Ballet was originally meant for plump and figured women until being larger was disapproved. That's when ballerinas started to starve themselves, binge and purge, and go on extremely low calorie diets to achieve the "ultimate ballerina body." Over the years society has said larger women shouldn't participate in ballet because it was "unbecoming and unflattering", but now people are finally starting to realize that while ballet is sometimes more difficult for larger women, ANYONE can do it. You just have to have the willpower and confidence to do it.
Myth:All ballerinas starve themselves. This is absolutely NOT true. It is commonly believed that all ballerinas starve themselves or are bulimic, but this is a stereotype. Most ballerinas, though thin, may eat quite a bit more than you'd think. Ballet is in fact a sport, a vigorous one at that. As you may know, anyone involved in sports needs to higher their caloric allowance for the day because most calories are being burnt off during the sport. A few reasons ballerinas are thin could be because of metabolisms, the amount of exercise done throughout the day, and pure genetics. Also, another stereotype is that because ballerinas are so skinny, they must be confident. That as one of the most common stereotypes given to prima ballerinas, and one of the most untrue. If you ask three ballerinas if they wished they looked differently, odds are that two out of those three would answer yes. Ballerinas undergo a lot of criticism from people who aren't dancers and have to idea what their talking about when they assign these stereotypes, and it is very damaging to a ballerinas self-esteem.