Ballet is a performance art that requires dedication and sometimes sacrifice to reach a professional level. Researchers at UNT Health Science Center's Performing Arts Medicine Clinic in Fort Worth are studying why such sacrifices are made at the expense of health.
“Especially bone health,” said Dr. Yein Lee, UNT Health Sciences Center performing arts medicine fellowship director. “From a sports medicine and other medical perspective, we see these conditions a lot in the clinic.”
“During this fellowship, I saw a lot of dancers with stress injuries and stress fractures,” said Performing Arts Medicine Fellow Dr. Stephen Huang, DO. “My question is, why?”
Soh Huang, a former DanceSport competitive dancer with a bachelor's degree in dance from the University of California, San Diego, began research to find risk factors and solutions.
“It's important to focus on women,” Huang said. “Because men and women are biologically different.”
Traditionally, female ballet dancers had to be strong, but not too muscular.
“Before they become professionals, they know their look and aesthetic very well,” Huang said. “So they do everything they can, which manifests itself in body dysmorphia and eating disorders, and restricts calories.”
“You know, not all dancers experience eating disorders,” Bethany Bailey said. “But it's pervasive enough that many dance departments are taking steps to combat that mentality.”
Bailey studies and teaches dance at TCU. She has devoted most of her life to ballet.
“My mom made me learn to dance when I was three years old,” Bailey said. “It’s a beautiful thing to experience and a beautiful thing to incorporate into every part of your life.”
“I think there's already been a huge cultural shift in the dancer world around health in general,” Lee said. “We just want to be helpers.”
One of the research goals is to create a self-assessment checklist that female ballet dancers can use to identify their risk factors. It may be applicable more broadly to female athletes.
“It's so they can stay healthy while dancing and have fun doing what they want to do,” Fong said. “And everyone is happy!”
