Letters to Our Bodies: What I’ve Learned Reading with Dancers

Content note: This article discusses body image in dance but does not include weight, dieting, or eating disorder details.

The power of writing things down

When dancers write to their bodies, something powerful happens. Words on a page can give voice to feelings that are hard to say aloud. They can carry gratitude, frustration, or even apology. Most of all, they open a space for honesty.

Letter-writing is one of the tools Hungry2Dance use in their research project. Young dancers are invited to write “A Letter to My Body” — sometimes for themselves, sometimes to share. These letters are not about polished prose. They are about creating a bridge between movement and self-understanding.

Research into expressive writing suggests it helps regulate emotions, reduce stress, and improve self-awareness (Pennebaker & Smyth, 2016). When applied to dance, it can shift the narrative from how a body looks to how a body lives and moves.

What dancers say

In my work with young people, I’ve seen letters that begin, “Dear body, I’m sorry…” and others that start with, “Thank you.” Both carry weight.

Writing provides a container where dancers can put feelings that might otherwise remain stuck inside.

Some letters are full of humour. Others are tender or fierce. But all of them reflect the truth that body image isn’t just an abstract idea — it’s lived daily in tights, leotards, mirrors, and rehearsals.

Three gentle prompts

If you’d like to try writing your own letter, here are three safe ways to begin:

1. “Dear body, thank you for…” – Start with gratitude. It might be as simple as “thank you for letting me balance today.”

2. “When I move, I notice…” – This focuses on sensation. It shifts attention from appearance to feeling.

3. “One way I can support you this week is…” – This looks forward with kindness and responsibility.

None of these prompts are about critique. They’re about connection.

Keeping it safe

Because body image can bring up difficult emotions, it’s important to set gentle boundaries:

- Write for just five to ten minutes at a time.

- End each letter with one note of appreciation, however small.

- Share only with someone you trust — or keep it private if that feels best.

Research in youth wellbeing shows that journalling is most effective when it is framed around growth and gratitude, not rumination (Bono et al., 2020).

Why this matters in dance

Dance culture has often been shaped by silence: unspoken rules about bodies, appearance, or what is acceptable to say out loud. Letter-writing interrupts that silence. It gives dancers permission to express feelings, rather than carry them alone.When letters are shared — with peers, teachers, or projects like Hungry2Dance — they can spark empathy.

A dancer who reads another’s words may think, “I’m not the only one.” That recognition can itself be healing.

An invitation

If you feel ready, consider writing your own “Letter to My Body.” Keep it short, keep it kind, and notice how it feels. Hungry2Dance are creating a safe space for these reflections as part of their Arts Council-funded project.

Your words could add to a growing chorus that changes how dance culture talks about bodies.

Final thoughts

We are all still learning how to live in our bodies. For dancers, that journey is especially visible — every rehearsal, every audition, every performance.

Writing a letter may not change everything overnight, but it can begin to rewrite the story you tell yourself.

Try it. You might be surprised by what your body writes back.

Try this week:

Write a short note to your body beginning with “Dear body, thank you for…” and end with one thing you appreciate.

References

- Pennebaker, J. W., & Smyth, J. M. (2016). Opening Up by Writing It Down: How Expressive Writing Improves Health and Eases Emotional Pain. Guilford Press.- Bono, G., Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (2020). “Gratitude interventions in youth: A review and future directions.” Journal of Positive Psychology, 15(2), 188–200.

© 2025 Terry Hyde