Competitive dancers' social identities and experiences of harm

The purpose of the research was to explore competitive dancers' experiences of harm in the dance environment with a focus placed on dancers' social identities. Limited attention has been given to instances of harm in competitive dance. In addition, the impact of social identities on experiences of harm has yet to be discussed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 competitive dancers. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis leading to four generated themes, including the higher value of boy dancers, Whiteness as the standard, the impact of socio-economic status, and the sexualization of young girls and women. Competitive dancers reported that their social identities impacted their dance experience and at times influenced their opportunities to be showcased in choreography as well as their instructor-dancer relationship.

Automated summary

The purpose of this research was to investigate the experiences of harm in the dance environment among competitive dancers, focusing on their social identities. Limited attention has been given to instances of harm in competitive dance, and the influence of social identities on these experiences has yet to be discussed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 competitive dancers, and thematic analysis revealed four themes: the higher value of boy dancers, Whiteness as the standard, the impact of socioeconomic status, and the sexualization of young girls and women. Competitive dancers reported that their social identities influenced their dance experience, affecting their opportunities to be showcased in choreography and their relationship with instructors.