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Every Body Can Dance: Body Positivity in Dance Education

People often assume that dance training is at odds with the ideals of body positivity. I can understand why – at the professional level, dance has a longstanding reputation of requiring a very narrow ideal body shape and size and dance class…

Serena Williams’ Inspiring Letter to Her Mom is a Win for Body Positivity

Athletes, BIPOC, Body Image

After giving birth to her first child, tennis star Serena Williams has posted a letter to her mother publicly on the social platform Reddit. In the letter, Williams writes about the admiration she holds towards her mother now that she has become…

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Identifying Eating Disorders in Athletes: It’s Okay to Say You’re Not Okay

Athletes, Understanding Eating Disorders

August generally marks the start of school, back to hectic schedules and anticipation of what the new year might bring. To some this may bring about memories of triumphs; however, for others it could serve as a reminder of how far is left on…

Overcoming My Addiction to Control: A Dancer’s Story

Athletes, Recovery

It was my senior year of high school. I had spent countless weekends traveling up and down the east coast, auditioning for dance departments at prestigious colleges in the hopes of solidifying a plan for my future. I’d sit in the car, usually…

Going the Distance in Eating Disorder Recovery

Athletes, Recovery

Training for a marathon is exhausting. I don’t mean just physically; that one’s obvious. But mentally and emotionally, too. There’s the time commitment, having to plan each week out in advance to ensure I can fit in every workout…

#NEDAchat: Eating Disorders and Body Image in the Dance Community

Athletes, Body Image, Recovery

Today’s #NEDAchat will be focusing on eating disorders and body image in the dance community. We have an incredible panel lined up, and we wanted to introduce you to them. Read on to see who they are and what they are doing to tackle this…

Former American Elite Gymnast Vanessa Atler Speaks Out About Eating Disorder

Athletes, News & Culture

I have always been entranced by gymnasts: they are agile and strong, graceful and confident, fluid and fierce. Come the summer Olympics, I am always eager to see the gymnasts tumble, flip, twirl, and seemingly defy gravity. As a dancer, I understand…

Challenging Disordered Norms in Running Culture

Athletes, Special Topics

I remember the magic of my first cross-country season back in 7th grade. I remember how running felt more like playing. How I literally laughed as I ran, because I was having so much fun. How races were adventures between me and my teammates. I…

Yes, I Had an Eating Disorder

Athletes, Recovery

For some, this may come as a surprise, but for the majority of my teen years, I was consumed by an eating disorder. It has been difficult for me to speak about it openly because I kept it a secret for so long. Part of the reason I was able…

Using Dance to Raise Awareness About Mental Illness

Activism, Athletes

It seems as though I’ve been dancing almost as long as I could talk. I can still remember the days of pink tutus and ribbon-tied tap shoes. The unmistakable smell of hairspray on show days, and the adrenaline rush that a successful performance…

Athletes

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