Date of Project

4-27-2025

Document Type

Honors Thesis

School Name

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Health Professions

Major Advisor

Dr. Madeline Tomlinson, PhD, MPH

Second Advisor

Dr. Lyndsey Blair, PhD, MPH

Abstract

Dance is an athletic art form in which the body is trained repetitively to perfect sequences of movement. The training regimen for dance requires a lot of time and dedication; this training can have an impact on self-esteem, especially when aspects of dance become detrimental to the dancer.

Maintaining a high level of self-esteem is important for dancers because self-esteem impacts a dancer's ability to grow in their artistry as well as life outcomes outside of dance.

Current research on dancer self-esteem highlights a very specific issue: body image. Dancers are expected to execute technique and fulfill high standards; oftentimes, these high standards in relation to body movement lead to negative perceptions of a dancer’s body. Negative views of one’s body will impact self-esteem negatively.

The current study - Life in Dance: Relationship to Self and Dance Environment - pivots away from body image and focuses on foundational dance issues and their impact on self-esteem.

Through mixed-methods exploratory research design, this study aims to gain further insight into dancers’ self-esteem outcomes based on the impact of three exposures: motivational climate, perfectionism, and use of comparison. This study will contribute to the current body of research regarding dance and self-esteem by exploring the impact of all three exposures, especially perfectionism - the primary exposure - and how they connect to a dancer's self-esteem. Through investigating the exposures a better understanding of dancer self-esteem is developed, pedagogical standards are better informed as well as ideas on avoiding burnout in dancers. Lastly, this study could contribute to meaningful intervention not only for a dancer's self-esteem in the context of a dance environment, but in life overall considering the impact of self-esteem on life outcomes.

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