O Corpo moldado: padrões do Balé Clássico e suas marcas na auto imagem de bailarinas

Abstract

This study investigates how the historically constructed aesthetic standards of classical ballet impact the formation of professional ballerinas’ self-image. Through theoretical analysis and interviews with three dancers from the Dance School of the Alberto Maranhão Theater (EDTAM), located in Natal/RN, the research reveals that the idealized body — thin, long-limbed, and disciplined — remains a benchmark of value and belonging in the classical dance world. The interviewees' statements reveal emotional impacts, self-criticism, and feelings of inadequacy, while also pointing to paths toward a more critical and inclusive practice in dance education. The study highlights the importance of valuing body diversity and rethinking methodologies that continue to reproduce exclusionary standards.