Dancers Bodies

Sagitta raised a really interesting question in another thread. The question of women's bodies, what's allowed to show, what's attractive, and how important physical attractiveness is to dancers. Anybody have thoughts?

I have many, but I'll throw out one to get the ball rolling. I wear a dress size six. When I go to department stores to buy clothes, that translates into a size small, sometimes extra small. When I go to buy dance clothes, that translates into a large, sometimes extra large. Why the seeming bias toward skinny, skinny women? And is it just women? Or do very thin male dancers have an advantage too? If so, why?

Well essentially being thinner helps your body move more quickly and theoretically more gracefully (hence ballet dancers). It's one thing that I have always been very uncomforatable with, but will say no more in a public forum.

So I don't know how much real truth there is in the idea that thinnest is the best. But our society seems to place a certain value on it. :?

I'm uncomfortable with it too, Boo. And being thinner may make it easier, but folks with a few extra pounds can still dance. One of the best Viennese waltz ladies I saw at my comp last week was VERY heavy. And Viennese waltz is one of those dances that rquires serious balance, lightness, and some good use of the physics. But you should have heard some of the comments people made. "I'm surprised she can move so well." was one of the least offensive things I heard. And there were other things said, for sure.

And I think about Paula Abdul, who developed bulimia because she had coaches who told her she didn't "have a dancer's body." What the heck IS a dancer's body?

It's someone who's on the verge of collapse because they are walking around in a skeleton covered with a semblance of skin.

A dancer's body [Man/Woman, lead/follow] is one that is in sync. with the music! So there

Hey. I mentioned attractiveness but I swear I wasn't talking about people being thin, or even thinking of that. It's interesting that you bring this topic up as my lindy teacher was just talking about this past wednesday, when referring to John Lindo, from NYC, who is down in Ithaca this weekend. That is if I remember correctly, since Wednesday is eons ago.

As you have said there are certain stereotypes out there!! [These are western stereotypes by the way!] However, I have seen "big" leaders who are wonderful dancers and never get a rest as they are in such high demand. I've also danced with "bigger" women who are dream follows and put me to shame They probably were taking pity on me!

If you know how to dance and are having fun I love dancing with you.

As a dancing newbie I do find it easier to dance with people or are closer to me heightwise/body type. Unfortunately, due to my own inadequacies I find it very hard to dance with newbie followers who are "big" in either respect/aspect.

I should mention one of the ladies that I know here who must be in excess of 250lbs and yet she is very light on her feet when she dances. :wink:

Being tall and trim really helps body lines, no question. C'est la vie.

Being tall and trim really helps body lines, no question. C'est la vie.

Click to expand...

I dunno. I think you have a point. I wouldn't be so surprised if the "bigger" dancers had to work it a little more to achieve it. But also, there's the idea that if a person ISN'T a stick, they may very well become one because of all the exercise.

Leading from the anti-skirt campain that I was on in the P A N T H O S E thread, it does have something to do with my thighs. I'm a race mutt (Hispanic and "white") and I've decided that it came into play in my body type in the sense I'm white from the waist up (skinny arms and tiny wrists and small waisted) and Hispanic from the waist down (larger thighs, a butt, and larger hips). (hope there aren't any geneticists in here...) and my avoidance of skirts has a tiny amount to do with the fact I have thick Hispanic thighs.

But there is something to be said about the uber-skinny girls. They look like twitching sticks in my opinon... there's a problem there too.

I don't think that I know any guys who actually perfer bony women. There is something to be said for vulumptuousness.

As I gather, A LOT to be said about it!

:lol: True. I've never met a guy who didn't appreciate my lumps and bumps! :lol: But msc has a point. Those clean straight lines that dancers (especially ballroom dancers) are trying to creat ARE much easier to hit if the lumps and bumps are of manageable size. Isn't there a happy medium somewhere, I wonder. Hmm. :?

I say if you're healthy and happy what else can you possibly ask for?

a kitten.

too true!

Are we talking about social dancing or performing? If you are a performer and are over weight it takes away from what you are trying to achieve. It is so because we are visual beings, it calls our attention and think to ourselves he/she shouldn't look that way and wearing the clothes they wear. It is a sweeter eye candy to look at Josie Neglia in a tight dress doing cuban motion during a performance than an Anna Nicole Smith look alike doing the same. That is where our sexual nature takes over our judgment.

Now, social dancing is a different topic all together. A greater number of the best followers, most flava dancers I've danced with have been the Mambo mamas in NY City( a group of larger salsa dancers). They seem to translate their passion into their dancing. They are light on their feet and have flavor that many skinnier ladies do not even come close to. They shake and wiggle like snakes, while their skinnier counter parts sit and wonder how in the world do they dance as they do... My answer to them is usually heart. I've even seen people laugh at them because of their size, yet their are a 100 times more pleseant to dance with.

The skinny girl is worrying about what she looks. OMG, is this move right? do I look good doing it? she looks better than I do! blah blah blah. I've heard it all.

Over weight girls seem to only care about dancing and getting their groove on despite what anyone thinks. That turns to great followers and lovers of the music. I love dancing with the not as skinny girls because they display passion in their dancing instead of 5 years of classes. However I agree that it is easier to lead a skinny girl through some moves and their body makes them look "Hotter" dancing.

something else to point out.

Remember I am saying this IN GENERAL! I am not a genetisist, or an anthropologist! this is just observation!!

Salsa is often considered a "hispanic" origins dance. (Along with merengue, cumbia, etc.) And hispanic women tend to be thick, meaty women. (I know i am. Well, at least from the waist down) So when they shake that thang (tee hee), that's whats "in their blood," and it looks more natural to us than the skinnier women. (Not that there aren't skinnier Hispanics. But, I haven't seen to many as of yet. Yay refried beans diet!!) So, social dancing these "hispanic" dances is more in place for people, and the body type of that culture.

Before my mother converted to pentecostal and stopped dancing, she was the one who taught me how to shake my hips. And she is well over 200 pounds, but she still could move!