Psychology for Dancers

Hey guys!

I'm excited for today's post because I am going to report on an interview I conducted recently with the Psychologist, Vincenzo Tarantino.

I heard about him through a family friend and took advantage of a great opportunity. I have always been very interested in matters of the brain and wanted to see what a real psychologist had to say about my questions concerning dancers. Check out the interview below. 

1. Many pro dancers have a perfectionist mentality; they obsess about their bodies and are constantly trying to be thinner. If a dancer is struggling with his/her body image, what are a few of the first steps they should take to feel more comfortable in their skin?

Great question! I would like to start by saying that it's not uncommon for individuals in your industry to feel this way. Society, particularly in the media, promote standards of beauty that are usually impossible for most people to attain without taking drastic measures.The best advice I can give is to stop setting yourself up for failure. Don't set goals that are impossible to achieve. Instead, take smaller steps towards your goal and build from there! Not only will your self-esteem increase but this technique will pave the way for your future success. Focus on establishing healthy habits, not weight management.

If you, or anyone you know is struggling with an eating disorder don't hesitate to get help. Clinical eating disorders and/or disordered eating habits can severely threaten the physical/emotional health without the proper treatment.

2. Male dancers, young and old, usually have some type of experiences with bullying. As a psychologist, what would you tell a male dancer to help him cope with other boys making fun of him?

Bullying can occur in a variety of different places, contexts, and/or locations. It can be verbal, physical, relational, social and/or electronic. Being a victim of bullying can lead to types of emotional distress such as: anger, anxiety, shame, and isolation. Solutions to bullying are not simple. It is important to find a safe/supportive environment to address your feelings.

Assertive communication is one of the many skills one can practice. Assertive communication is a form of expressing “what you want” without being too passive or too aggressive. Use “I” statements and let him/her know how you feel. For example: “I would like you to stop calling me___.” or “ I feel __ when you do __”.  Be clear and direct!  It is important to set boundaries. What is “you” and what is “not you”; between what “they” think and what “you” think. With a strong boundary, there’s an acceptance that just because they think it/feel it/say it/do it doesn’t mean you have to as well.

3. Auditions and audition season are very anxiety provoking! Do you have any techniques that a dancer could use to calm themselves down before the big day? Or, what would you say to them if they came to you for help with this issue?

I too, would be nervous!  Anxiety is a normal, adaptive reaction, and is one of the most common experiences of children and adults. You can’t control the audition situation, but you can control yourself! Stay calm and take a deep breath. Allow yourself time to relax when your anxiety becomes too high. You've likely been preparing yourself for this event and you shouldn't let your nerves get the best of you. Set clear/reasonable expectations. Know what/when to expect on your big day and give it everything you've got.

 4. Dancers must learn how to cope with rejection. They are constantly being told no by choreographers and directors. What would generally say to client who is coming to you with serious problems with never feeling good enough?

Inadequacy or “not being good enough” is experienced by everyone at once point or another. But when these feelings begin to interfere with the ability to maintain relationships, succeed in your career, and/or lead to long periods of unhappiness, then exploring the underlying issues that stimulate those feelings may help. Acknowledge your strengths and minimize your weaknesses so that you can feel confident and adequate, regardless of your limitations. Ask yourself what is in your control to change? Are you willing to make the changes? If not, then do what you can to let go and move on. 

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.”  - Buddha.

I'm so glad that I was able to speak with Vincenzo. Many of the things I believe were reiterated by him in this interview. It was nice to talk with a Psychologist without having to pay a couple hundred dollars for a session. It was awesome. We can all learn from what he had to say!