Grace Under Pressure Documentary

I hope you all enjoy my Senior Research Project. Inspired by the hard work of collegiate dancers.
Created By Me :)
Shot completely on iPhone 15 Camera!
My research project is seeking to shine the light upon the athleticism of dancers. In the documentary that you will watch, it features the North Texas Dancers here at UNT. I have chosen to look the through the lens of collegiate dancers because of my own personal connection and also the rigorous amount of training and time they put into their sport and the lack of acknowledgement they receive.
Key concepts I have focused on are biases placed upon dancers and how they have affected the dancers on NTD. Specifically body image, race and gender. Also the mental and physical toll it takes upon them and the importance of support.
Since the days of George Balanchine, the ideal dancers body has been the image of a perfectly thin, long legged, short torso dancer. The classic layout of a dance studio consists of floor to ceiling mirrors that a dancer looks into for hours on end self criticizing their body's image. Research shows that 70-80% of dancers have dealt with body image issues.
Race and Gender throughout dances history has been a topic of contention. Although we hear of the accomplishments of a handful of successful dance artists of color , it is still found that 10% of dancer in major US ballet companies are Black, Indigenous or a person of color. There is an increased rate of burnout among dancers of color due to lack of mentorship and representation. Experiences of feeling discriminated, left out, or being the token person of color can take a toll on mental health.
The mental health of dancers is affected by their lack of support whether it is emotional, financial, institutional, or societal. The time commitment it takes to be a dancer is on average 30+ hours a week. The financial stress plays a factor when you are providing for yourself and your education, the emotional stress of a perfect performance, and the physical exhaustion often lead to injury, mental illnesses, or burnout.
Many dance teams around the country operate on a limited budget with a low amount of support from their institution, no matter the accolades they've received in their field. This documentary was inspired by the stories of those dancers, those who are front and center and yet still find themselves in the shadows.
Thank you and enjoy the film.