"We train dancers to develop extraordinary awareness of their bodies... yet culturally we have often asked them to ignore what their bodies are telling them." - Terry Hyde (@counsellingfordancers_official )
We ask dancers to be the most body aware people in the room... then tell them to push through the pain anyway. It's time to change that. 💙
#DancerWellbeing #HungryToDance #DanceCulture #MentalHealthInDance
‼️ WE NEED DANCERS AGES 18 - 25 ‼️
Take part in our research project and shape the future of dance. Link in bio 🔗
You can either...
👉 Take a short anonymous survey
AND/OR
👉 Join a creative consultation workshop
Tell us your thoughts and opinions on all things dance training. 🪩💭📝
🔗 Go to the bio 🔗
Research in collaboration with University of Worcester and approved by Education, Culture and Society Research Ethics Panel.
💃 8 out of 10 young dancers have thought "I don't look like a dancer."
Last year, Hungry 2 Move worked with 339 young people across dance education settings - from GCSE to university, ballet to breakin' - to explore how dance training affects body image.
The findings were striking. Body surveillance, harsh self-criticism, and pressure to meet narrow aesthetic ideals were widespread - even among children as young as 11.
But the research also revealed something hopeful: young dancers aren't passive recipients of these messages. Many are actively developing their own resistance strategies, reframing comparisons and countering their inner critic.
This is exactly why this research matters - and why we're continuing it.
🔗 link in bio
#DanceEducation #BodyImage #YoungPeople #CommunityArts #hungrytomove
Illustrations by @chloe.fluff.studios
✉️ A Letter to My Body
"Sometimes it stresses me out because I put all of my pride into my hair."
This letter was written by a young dancer to their own body - and it's just one small moment from a much bigger conversation we've been having with young people about dance training and body image.
Behind the technique, the corrections, and the costumes, young dancers are carrying so much. And we think it's time more of their voices were heard.
If you're a dancer aged 18–25, we'd love you to be part of our next research project -whether that's taking our anonymous survey or joining our online creative workshop (and getting paid £15 for your time 💛).
The more voices we hear, the more we can change.
🔗 Link in bio!
A quick team appreciation post ❤️
We've had an amazing team of people working on our Arts Council Funded project over the past year.
Romy Ashmore-Hills - Project Lead
Katie Holtom - Project Producer
Natalie Thompson - Producer and Marketing Officer
Milly Best - Creative Collaborator
Kate Rice - Trainee Artist
Lauren Brennan - Research and Evaluation Consultant
Laura Gwilt - Wellbeing Consultant
Sarah Lou Murray (EDNE) - Wellbeing Consultant North East
Karen Miller - Safeguarding Consultant
Natalie Haslam - Income Generation
"When dancers feel that their value is tied only to body shape, they begin to disconnect from their bodies rather than developing a healthy relationship with them." - Terry Hyde (@counsellingfordancers_official )
What are we telling dancers if we value their bodies over their wellbeing, their performance quality over them as a person?
#BodyImage #SizeInclusivity #HungryToDance #DanceCommunity
A few weeks ago I attended ‘In Conversation: Body Image & Dance’ and I’ve been sitting with it ever since.
Huge credit to @romywhai and the @hungry2move team for creating such a powerful and necessary space ❤️
As someone who isn’t a dancer, but has always been connected to movement (from street dance as a teen to using it in recent performance), I found the conversations really eye-opening.
One thing that stuck with me…
The mirror.
Dancers train with it constantly.
Watching themselves. Adjusting. Analysing.
As an actor, I rarely do that. I rely on direction, instinct, feeling.
It made me wonder, how much does that shape how performers see themselves?
And what happens when the mirror is taken away… and it’s just you and the stage?
I’d love to hear thoughts from dancers on this 👀
#BodyImage #Dance #CreativeConversations #PerformerLife #Wellbeing ActorsLife
"In order to optimise performance I really think we need to prioritise well-being first and then we can build on it." - Melissa (@movementtired )
Wellbeing isn't the soft option. It's the foundation everything else is built on. 🌱 Our expert panel discussed how we can focus from performance centred to a wellbeing focussed training culture in dance.
#PerformanceWellbeing #DanceEducation #HungryToDance #YoungDancers
Human first. Dancer second. 🤍
Before the training, the technique, the corrections, you were already enough. Your value doesn’t begin when you step into the studio, and it doesn’t disappear when you leave it.
Dance is something you do, not who you have to prove you are.
If you’re ready to reconnect with yourself beyond performance, we’ve created free resources for dancers and teachers to support healthier, more sustainable relationships with dance.
Follow the link in our bio to our resources for dancers.
✏️ Illustration by @marykeepsgoing #DanceCommunity #DancerMentalHealth #DancerWellbeing #DanceCulture #DanceEducation #BodyImageInDance
More of this ✨
More people who care, who want to make a positive difference, who want to have the conversation, who want to learn and grow, who want to challenge and discuss, who want to be in the room 🙌👏
🎥 - Anthony Shintai
#bodyimage #mentalhealth #dance #bodyacceptance
