Boobs and Ballet

a group writing experience for women

Has living in a female body ever been challenging, mysterious, confusing? Ever wonder what you really think about your breasts? Felt slightly confused by that thing called ‘being feminine’?

Ready to start a conversation
with your boobs?

Google ‘boobs’ and you get a page of websites about breast shape, lingerie sizing and maternity clothes. All of which seems to have everything to do with having breasts, but in fact does not.

Or does, but only in the sense that shape, size, and feeding babies as the biological purpose of breasts (which one of the websites leads with) are all concepts with which those of us who have breasts have to deal with, because they are imposed upon us. Because we have breasts.

Yes, it’s circular. Therefore, foggy and dense-brain making.

“Pretty as a Picture”

Like breasts, ballet carries several wagonloads of preconceptions, impositions, stereotypes. You don’t need to be an actual ballet dancer. Just think about taking a ballet class and you’ve already stepped squarely into the dream. Who doesn’t want to be beautiful like a ballerina? Toned! Slim! White tulle! Carried overhead like a feather! (Forget, please, how often the ballerina dies for love.)

Also usually forgotten: Ballerinas are strong as hell. Tougher than a football player (there have been studies), capable of huge feats of endurance and a prime example of extreme athletics plus consummate artistry. Not top of mind for people gushing about the pretty little pink-clad girls in their sequined tutu skirts.

Why I created this class

I was a ballet dancer and teacher. I also had boobs. This was a problem, as the two are not, conceptually, supposed to go together—even though most women in tutus also have breasts, of some size and shape.

Background

I had the privilege of running 3 workshops with professional ballet and contemporary dancers based in the Netherlands, ranging in age from 18 to 70. Some still performing, some teaching, some retired. Some had children.

I realized that:

This topic deserves exploration, and not just inside the dance world.

Dancers can’t escape body scrutiny. But—what they experience is simply a heightened version of what most women in western contexts live inside of.

Right now there are so many people exploring body image, fatness, trans bodies… Finally! some space is growing between the ‘rules’ and the people those rules were designed to control.

How can you take this moment of freedom and run with it?

Let’s explore your:

dreams, rages, ideas, colors,  words, fragments of poetry, senses of self

What’s living in your cells and brain?

What is shy and tender. Afraid and in hiding. Let’s learn about YOUR boobs!

Ready to join?

Yes!

Click the red button below and we’ll discuss the options.