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The prima ballerina of the Danza Voluminosa troupe weighs 286 pounds, and as she thumps gracefully across the floor, she gives new meaning to the words stage presence. Her body is a riotous celebration of weight — of ample belly and breasts, of thick legs and arms, of the crushing reality of gravity.
I thought the article was intriguing - the world of dance (particularly ballet) is one of the most body conscious fields in existence, the idea of an all plus-sized troupe is quite daring. I honestly can't recall ever seeing a dancers on stage who weren't very lithe. I found the opinions of the dancers themselves to be very open and honest - they all seemed to feel as though they were struggling with their weight and expressed concern about that but at the same time they felt uplifted by their ability to use the power of dance to empower themselves and others.
For the dancers, working with Mr. Mas has changed their lives. Several said they suffered from constant embarrassment and guilt over their weight before they began dancing. But dancing has taught them to accept, if not love, their bodies. They also say that after a performance, they feel self-esteem that is foreign to most them, having suffered from the gibes of their peers since childhood.
Barbara Paula, 29, who weighs 275 pounds, has been dancing with the troupe for five years. She said it still felt strange at times to be on stage, as if she were constantly discovering the potential beauty hidden inside her body, which for years was a source of shame for her.
“It’s something new,” she said. “I don’t have this complex anymore that because we are obese, we cannot dance, we cannot walk in the street.”
Full NYT Article
Admittedly I do not come from a dance background so perhaps someone could speak more on the subject of body politics within dance? I'd be quite interested to hear opinions or experiences with regards to that.
Special thanks to Rosa for sending me this article
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