hungry 2 dance

A project exploring body image in vocational dance training.

Why this project matters?

of dancers feel pressure to lose weight

%

0

*Reel, J. 2005

In 2014, research revealed that the average professional female ballet dancer weighed over 20% less than the average healthy weight for their height—a statistic that, for many within the dance community, is sadly unsurprising.

When we speak to dancers about body image and vocational training, we’re often met with a knowing nod—a quiet recognition of personal experience, or of stories shared by peers. These conversations underscore what many have long felt: that body image pressures are deeply embedded in the culture of dance.

x

dancers are

more likely to develop an eating disorder than the general population

0

Recent 2022 BBC Panorama investigation into the claims of previous students of two prestigious ballet schools, titled ‘The Dark Side Of Ballet Schools’, further echoes these findings of negative body image which can lead to eating disorders & hospitalisation.

The consequences of negative body image are serious—both physically and mentally—and they’re lasting. It's time to reimagine what safe, supportive dance training can look like.

Want to read more on body image... start here!

"The reality is our body is our instrument, it’s our tool.”

- Steven McCrae, ROH Principle Dancer

about the project

Hungry 2 Dance is a creative action research project funded by Arts Council England, exploring the relationship between vocational dance training and body image—through the eyes of young dancers.

Running from May to October 2025, the project combines creative workshops, focus groups, and survey research to better understand how young people experience body image within dance training. By centring their voices, Hungry 2 Dance aims to uncover the unspoken pressures that shape these experiences and begin co-creating meaningful change within the sector.

This is more than a conversation—it’s a call to action.

Through collaborative, creative inquiry, we’re working alongside young dancers to imagine a healthier, more inclusive future for dance.

Our Goals:

To open up honest, supported conversations about body image in dance
To amplify the voices of young dancers in shaping the future of dance training
To develop creative and practical resources that schools and organisations can use to support positive body image
To contribute meaningful research that influences policy and practice in dance education