For Decades, Thin has been very In in the dance world. The stereotype is especially prevalent in ballet, where young dancers can feel huge pressure to be as skinny as possible. But dance's body-diversity problem isn't limited to the realm of leotards and tights—it's an issue that dancers of all genres encounter. Those who don't fit the thin ideal often find themselves shut out of professional dance, sidelined not because of a lack of talent, but because of a body directors and choreographers deem "too big."
Thankfully, long-overdue change is—slowly but surely—coming. And we'd like you to meet five of the gifted, determined, stereotype-shattering performers leading the way. They're living proof that talent knows no size.
Allison Buczkowski
Growing up, commercial dancer Allison Buczkowski never faced body-image issues. At her studio, she was accepted and treated the same as everyone else—just as she should have been. "Nobody said anything about me looking different, nobody made me feel any type of way," she says. That supportive environment helped her develop a deep-seated confidence in her abilities.
But once Buczkowski entered the professional dance world, rejection became an everyday battle. In those times of frequently hearing "no," her strong sense of self served her well, reminding her that opportunities would come her way when the timing was right. And her perseverance paid off: She became a staple in choreographer Tricia Miranda's YouTube videos, performed with Ariana Grande, and is currently on tour with Janet Jackson. "There is no normal," she says. "We're all just people. I think there's actually a spot in the industry for every single person and every single dancer, believe it or not."
Akira Armstrong
Akira Armstrong's stellar resumé includes two Beyoncé music videos, but for years she was unable to find representation at a dance agency. Tired of dealing with blatant size discrimination, she decided to make her own opportunities. In 2008, she founded the full-figured dance company Pretty BIG Movement.
"I'd always been a chunky girl," Armstrong says. "What really fueled me was the rejection. Hearing 'no,' hearing 'You need to lose weight'—it pushed me to find motivation within myself. I never let the negativity of others deter me."
Now, she and her company are making waves in the international dance community. "I'm ecstatic that Pretty BIG Movement has become a trailblazer in the plus-size industry," Armstrong says. "No two bodies are built the same. It's very colorful for people to have their own identities." Her advice for dancers struggling with their body image? "Dancers are so accustomed to labels, but people are ready for change," she says. "Find love within yourself first, and once you do, everything else will fall into place."
Erik Cavanaugh
Contemporary talent Erik Cavanaugh has become a mainstream sensation since appearing on "America's Got Talent" and having his Instagram videos go viral. But as a student, he was frequently looked down upon for being heavier. One teacher told him he'd never find success because of his body. "I had those inner demons, the inner monologue that said, 'You know they're talking about you,' " Cavanaugh says.
Thanks to helpful mentors and role models, he was able to persevere. "I was definitely inspired by dancers like Mia Michaels," he remembers. "Watching her on 'So You Think You Can Dance' really motivated me. I loved what she was doing, and I loved that she wasn't your typical dance body."
Now, Cavanaugh wants to remind plus-size dancers that "we can look past the body and see how talented a person is," he says. "Don't let your body define you. Define who you are by your dancing."
Sarah Hay
Sarah Hay has danced with top-level ballet companies and recently earned a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in the TV series "Flesh and Bone." Despite her obvious talent, for much of her early career, she felt at war with her body—which, though thin by non-dance standards, was considered too voluptuous for ballet.
"After my body started developing, teachers would say, 'Maybe you should try modern dance,' " she remembers. "I was told I was distracting." One teacher went as far as to force a sports bra on Hay. "She took me offstage in the middle of a dress rehearsal, removed her own bra, and made me put it on," Hay remembers.
These days, Hay has embraced her status as a role model for womanly ballet dancers. "The old-school mentality that you have to look like a baby bird is just not productive for anyone," she says. "When I'm teaching, I tell my students to focus on getting better at dancing, not on their bodies. If you're an exceptional dancer, people will make space for you."
Cathleen Meredith
Growing up, Cathleen Meredith was deeply involved in musical theater and the performing arts, recalling that "dancing was so freeing." But it wasn't until she reached adulthood that she realized "there was a difference in how people perceived me when I walked into a dance studio because of my size," she says. Despite the obstacles she faced as a plus-size performer, she "had a lot of support and a lot of love" that helped her through the dark times—including moments when costume pieces weren't available in her size, and her mother stepped in to sew her custom looks.
The outspoken talent started her company, FATGIRLSDANCE, in 2016 as an outlet for fellow plus-size performers, and it quickly transformed into a global platform for all plus-size women, featuring videos of both trained and untrained dancers. "Sometimes it really is a matter of breaking that glass ceiling," she says. "It may be harder to imagine a man lifting a plus-size girl, but that doesn't mean she can't dance. If the doors you're trying to open are shutting in front of you, you have to build your own door. Be willing to fight your way through."
A version of this story appeared in the November 2018 issue of Dance Spirit with the title "Dance Is For Every Body."