Ballet, Body Image, and Perspective Anonymous

I was twelve years old the first time my ballet teacher looked at our class and told us she could see our lunches through our leotards. Before her comment, I had never really thought about the way my body looked in the mirror, I just enjoyed going to dance class and seeing my ballet friends. Although it seemed like such a casual comment, her words stuck with me for years. And after hearing dozens more little critiques at dance class, which often felt like disapproving attacks on our bodies disguised as innocent corrections to our techniques, my self-confidence took a nosedive.

In ballet, no matter how much you practice, push through your injuries, and exercise, there is always something about you that is not quite good enough. And when you’re wearing a skin-tight uniform facing a wall full of mirrors, you can never really escape the self-scrutiny, especially with the constant external criticism and corrections. My lack of confidence led me to act in a way that was quieter and more subdued, just to show less of myself and my personality.

This lack of confidence translated into different aspects of my life, including at school and in my community. I was trying to look and act in specific ways that would fit into the expectations...