Vulnerability in Ballet, expanding further on Helen's post

 Vulnerability in Ballet

It has been shown that when one can be vulnerable in the way they show up for themselves and others, they often lead more successful authentic longevity prone relationships and outcomes. Brené Brown is a key researcher in this field, and her study spans over ten years of data collection on the subject. What I find interesting is how this relates to the studio for professional students and dancers. Often, growing up in professional dance schools, we experience incredibly rigid environments in terms of the expectation of conduct and schools that are often biased and divided at their core regarding gender, race, expression, sexuality, dress code, and more. Although we may see representation on ballet company media pages recently, companies are continuing to fire dancers of differing aesthetics to imperial ballet standards.

It is one thing to be disciplined and to be a beautiful technician; it is another to be void of personal expression and respect to your core because of what you've been told. It is essential that our hierarchy or our ballet "masters" understand their privilege in tone at the front of the room. Words and verbiage account for a large majority of how young dancers formulate opinions of themselves and the world. When they are subliminally being told that being yourself is not welcomed in this environment, this psychologically becomes a disadvantage to even the most technically strong type A dancer.

At the end of the day, dancers need a space where they feel they can ask for a day or an hour in some cases to rest so they can perform better, where they can wear their hair short/colored and still be a beautiful dancer, where they can try a different gender variation class or a different teacher who resonates with them for the benefit to learn or grow for themselves, where they can feel accepted for being a beautiful technician who is fit but happens to be curvy, where they can grow up and not feel fear-stricken for making a small mistake in class. Because where there is fear, there is less growth. The best, grow by being able to make mistakes by actively working hard and failing some days. Trying to look perfect but not actually getting technically better because you are afraid is a disadvantage. 

Most importantly, dancers should be able to have space where they can speak up and share their ideas. Just like in college environments where students can give feedback to their teacher or professor after a semester, students should be able to do just that autonomously at large ballet schools. That is one way to have active growth, by listening to the new generation's personal needs and acting upon them as teachers.

This notion that if you are not in a rigid, suppressed environment, you cannot flourish as a professional ballet dancer is entirely disheartening, in my opinion. We need vulnerability with ourselves, our craft, and our "leaders" need to understand how important that is. It is my hope and goal as a teacher to curate an environment that continues to advocate for dancers to grow, to be strong, to respect ballet. However, to also have those dancers feel they can be unafraid to be themselves and to feel they have the power to evolve ballet while being gentler and more vulnerable with themselves. In conclusion, I hope there is a future for ballet where we can all come to ballet as a safe space, a beautiful one, a demanding one but a welcoming one that can accept you at your core and appreciate you for your own unique vulnerability! Utopia? Maybe, but I believe in the potential and optimistic movement happening in dance.

Data:

Brown, B. (n.d.). The power of vulnerability. Retrieved February 17, 2021, from https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability

Father, M. (2020, February 06). 5 life-altering lessons FROM BRENÉ Brown's the power of vulnerability. Retrieved February 17, 2021, from https://www.goalcast.com/2018/06/18/5-lessons-brene-brown-the-power-of-vulnerability/

Schawbel, D. (2013, April 21). Brene Brown: HOW vulnerability can make our lives better. Retrieved February 17, 2021, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/danschawbel/2013/04/21/brene-brown-how-vulnerability-can-make-our-lives-better/?sh=7c72685b36c7

(In addition to my own (Julianna Donadio’s) ethnographic experience and reflection)