Dancers with a heavy message

Perhaps some of you will remember this headline from 2003: Bolshoi Theater fires 109-pound ballerina because she is too fat.
(I have not weighed 109 lbs. since fourth grade, but I digress.)

So that Russian dancing debacle came rushing back when I recently read a New York Times story about Danza Voluminosa, a Cuban dance troupe comprised of overweight and obese men and women that has been receiving a great deal of national and international acclaim. The prima ballerina of this dance company weighs in at 286 pounds.

“I always liked to dance,” Mailín Daza told the NYT. “I wanted to dance in the classical ballet, but my mother told me fat girls could not dance. I always dreamed of being a ballerina. With this group, I feel I am a ballerina.”

The members of Danza Voluminosa leap, twirl and roll, weaving together themes as heavy as the sadness of gluttony, love between an obese couple and the prejudice that overweight people face day in and day out in our society. I read that one of Danza’s more recent – and quite successful - performances, entitled “Sweet Death,” portrays the story of a woman who attempts suicide by eating ridiculously large amounts of candy after being rejected by her family.

Stereotype-shatterers? Of course. And to hear these dancers speak, it’s obvious that this activity is injecting their self-esteem with a much-needed boost. But part of me had to wonder what was going on when the choreographer of the troupe made the express comment that they are not trying to sanctify obesity, adding, “Although we are obese and dance, we are against obesity…We are always trying to lose weight.”

So now I am majorly confused.

Are these dancers pro-size acceptance? Or are they, in a sense, being extremely self-deprecating? (There are other words for it, yes.) I know this is going to open a big ol’ can of worms, but so be it. It gets back to the whole, ‘Can you be fat and fit?” debate.

Take, for instance, Sarah Watson, 27, at ‘Fat Girl on a Bike,” a self-described “typical high-energy fat chick who doesn't listen to people who tell her what she can't accomplish.” This woman competes in triathalons at a weight much higher than what one would typical peg a triathalete at. She does so in her own fiery, angry way, as tracked on her blog. Sarah actually makes a point to say that she doesn’t describe herself as “fit” but she does believe fat-fit is possible. I would say, judging by the fact that she can swim, bike and run more than I can at any given moment, that she certainly seems to have more endurance than I – a major component of fitness. But she is also quick to point out that often, compliments can sounds pitying or obnoxious (she particularly hates “You go girl!” and “You’re such an inspiration!”)

Like it or not, Sarah is breaking stereotypes, too, just like the members of Danza Voluminosa. But why do each have this sense of reluctance? The dance choreographer is saying they’re always trying to lose weight. At the risk of sounding awful – really? And why? What’s the point of calling yourself (loosely) "Large Dancing" if you want to be small?

I’m all for the benefits of regular exercise and a healthy diet, and whether that puts you at 130 lbs or 170 lbs depends on a number of factors, including heredity, muscle mass, height, etc. At this point, I’m sort of rambling. I wanted to introduce you to two entities that seemed to be breaking boundaries and I suppose we can open it up for discussion. It’s 1am..sorry if I’m babbling…

Hopefully I’ll dream of the Sugar Plum Fairy…

Comments

I think it's possible to be fit and fat -- to an extent. My doctor has told me that every pound of extra fat that you carry on your body is like putting an extra 6 lbs. of pressure on your knees. Because weak knees run in my family, I work hard to keep my weight in the low-average range.

Also, with the ballerinas... ballet is an art, and although I haven't seen the obese dancers, I just find it hard to believe they are performing all the moves the way they are meant to be executed. At the same time, I remember from when I used to take ballet that dancers are encouraged to eat a healthy diet -- otherwise they might not have the energy to perform for a few hours several nights a week, plus rehearsals.

I think it is a matter of certain people having the appropriate body type for ballet, which is very thin with a high metabolism. Women who have curvy bodies or trouble keeping weight off just sort of have to accept that a career as a ballerina may not be right for them.

Boston Ballet lost a dancer to anorexia a few years ago. Most companies say they encourage healhty lifestyles, but then their instructors call girls thunder thighs. I speak from experience. I quit ballet at 16 to swim because I was too curvy and muscular to be a professional dancer despite being competent. There is a lot of truth to "the dancer's diet" - Diet Coke and cigarettes. A lot of dancers suffer from bulimia and osteoporosis. It is a beautiful art form with a very dark side.
Brava to Danza for breaking out.

Vixen, I hear you - I was a dancer for years and always felt the pressure to be thinner like the other girls (though I was never, by any stretch, a ballerina, and I'm so sorry you had to go through what you did.) I interviewed a 50-something woman in my book who was a ballerina for decades and it robbed her of But I do agree, congrats are in order for anyone who breaks the mold.her self-esteem: she saw women subsisting on amphetamines and, as you said, diet coke and cigarettes. It is incredibly sad.

Of course, at the other end of the spectrum, obesity is not healthy. No one can debate that. But someone who can sustain hours of vigorous activity, like these dancers of this triathalete, clearly has certain components of physical fitness.

But I agree, congrats are in order for anyone with the courage to break the mold.

The "fat and fit" debate is what really interests me in this whole obsession over the perfect body type/size/shape. It's athletes like the Danza dancers and the triathlete who seem to prove that every body is different and capable of great things regardless.

Of course, it still leaves the question of "what is healthy" unanswered. Can or should it be answered based on your abilities? shape? BP and cholestrol levels?

Sometimes I wish I could just turn off the media completely as my brain is getting fried from all this information. Though I guess I do that when I dive into the water and only hear bubbles around my head :)

I like Roses's question of "what is healthy?". I mean, I am very impressed for people like those mentioned offering a different view of fitness than super skinny. We do need to accept that not everyone can or should be a size 0. but that said, I also agree that obesity is generally unhealthy.

I was doing a show at Lincoln Center many years ago, and we'd eat lunch in the cafeteria at the same time as the ballet students. The girls would heap food onto their plates, eat, then go, en masse, to the restroom, where the unmistakable sounds of retching could be heard. Afterwards, they'd all go outside and smoke. It sort of ruined my enjoyment of ballet. Like modeling, it often requires a certain body type. But, also like modeling, it forces people to use drastic and unhealthy measures to maintain that body type. Yes, obesity is unhealthy, but so is being underweight. the main difference is that underweight women are rewarded with lucrative modeling and acting jobs, while overweight women (and men) are pun ished.

Alyssa - I can completely relate to that sad picture - seems to be universal with the big companies.
Leslie - I would definitely agree that being obese in also unhealthy. But people's ideas of what healthy actually looks like is way off. There's gotta be a happy medium. No worries about leaving my pointe shoes behind either - I was much happier as a swimmer. On the good news side - Boston Ballet takes a much more hands on approach after Heidi Guenther's sad death at 22. They've become very proactive in helping their dancers lead healthy lives.

Hi there! Your site is cool!

Hi there! Your site is cool!

I am an adult recreational irish dancer. I started this as an adult to change up my exercise routine. Most of us in the class are 20 to 50 Lbs heavier than we should or would like to be, but we all go to the gym several days a week, and perform on a regular basis. I might be more graceful lighter, but I challenge many thin fit people to do what we do weekly.

Hi. Im 14 5' 4" and 140 pounds. I struggled with my weight as a little child. I have been Scottish Dancing for 5 years and I just started ballet. I love to dance and the only job i could dance in would be to join a company. I would love to do that. When I heard about Danza i was amazed. It gave me hope for this crazy, shallow world we live in.

I do want to lose weight. I can lose weight which is good so its not like i am going to be skin and bones if i lose weight. I hope if I can learn ballet and pointe and excel at it I can join a company. I want this sooo bad!!! Thanks for listening... wish me luck!

P.S. Seanan, I have friends who do Irish Dancing. Its awesome!!!!

Just pointing out, the majority of ballet dancers DO NOT have eating disorders. The eat healthfully and exercise a bunch, which keeps them thinner. They often have to be more mindful of what they eat than others, but they do not starve themselves. Eating disorders in dance tend to be highly publicized, but it is a horrible stereotype to say that all ballerinas are anorexic or bulimic.

I am an adult recreational irish dancer. I started this as an adult to change up my exercise routine. Most of us in the class are 20 to 50 Lbs heavier than we should or would like to be.

i have to say that i weigh 102 and im only 25 i am a dancerand its so hard cause i have to be really fit so please help on tips