My body and its reflection: a case study of eight dance students and the mirror in the ballet classroom

This qualitative study investigated the impact of the mirror on a dancer's body image. Two groups of students enrolled in beginner ballet classes were taught the same classroom material; one group was taught with mirrors, the other, without. At the end of the semester four students from each cl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Research in dance education 2014-05, Vol.15 (2), p.161-178
Main Authors: Radell, Sally Anne, Keneman, Margaret Lynn, Adame, Daniel D., Cole, Steven P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ballet
Ballet dancers
Body composition
body image
Case Studies
classroom performance
College Students
Dance
Dance Education
Educational Equipment
Feedback (Response)
Females
Influences
Interviews
Kinesthetic Perception
Mirrors
Qualitative Research
Self Concept
Self-awareness
Student Attitudes
Teaching Methods
United States (Southeast)
Visual Aids
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Summary:This qualitative study investigated the impact of the mirror on a dancer's body image. Two groups of students enrolled in beginner ballet classes were taught the same classroom material; one group was taught with mirrors, the other, without. At the end of the semester four students from each class were randomly selected to participate in a private interview. Students were asked questions alluding to their experience in the classroom either with or without the mirror. Most students felt that the mirror is a necessary tool to facilitate their technical growth in a ballet class. However, further analysis of the interviews suggested that the student dancers experienced body objectification as they compared their physical selves to the images they saw in the mirror. Opportunities to take advantage of their kinaesthetic sensations to stimulate technical growth were not always possible as their concentration was focused on the reflection of individual body parts in the mirror. Researchers concluded that the mirror in the dance classroom can be an instigator of poor body image.
ISSN:1464-7893
1470-1111
DOI:10.1080/14647893.2013.879256