REAL TALK: My "Today Show" Appearance | Body Image & Mental Health in Ballet | Kathryn Morgan

REAL TALK: My "Today Show" Appearance | Body Image & Mental Health in Ballet | Kathryn Morgan
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TODAY SHOW INTERVIEW: on.today.com/2T89N9V
Today we dig deeper about the topics I discussed on my recent "Today Show" segment. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to share my story and discuss some very important issues in ballet. Things need to change. And so I really dig deep today.
Today Show Interview: on.today.com/2T89N9V
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I am a former soloist with the New York City Ballet and Miami City Ballet. When I was a young student, I was always looking for insights into the ballet world and how to improve my dancing as well as beauty and lifestyle tips. Now that I am a professional, it is my turn to share.
On my channel I make ballet, beauty, and lifestyle videos for everyone of all ages. My goal is help dancers improve and achieve their dreams as well as open up the ballet world to non dancers. You will see many different kinds of how-to videos here including makeup, hair, ballet workouts and exercises, Q and A sessions, lifestyle advice, and DIY on this channel. I hope you find all of my videos helpful!
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[@kathryn_morgan]

I want to thank you all for so openly sharing your stories in the comments. It's amazing to me how many people have been affected by this. That breaks my heart even more. I know it must be scary to open up, but your comments are meaning the world. And this is what we need! This is what brings about more awareness. So much love to you all! xoxo

[@gracechen2813]

ahhhh i watched the show on the website 😁👍

[@Star2Be5394]

We love you too Katie! Thank you for all that you’ve done and will continue to do ❤️

[@user-xg9tv4vu3k]

Your heart and your passion for merely strangers (is) touches me. Thank you for your compassion. I developed an eating disorder at age 22, I struggle with it everyday still.

[@angelasimons3473]

I appreciate you speaking about this issue and being an advocate. I really should have known better than to read the comments, though. People stating that they don't want to see thin dancers, that it's disturbing, scary, disgusting. As one of those "late bloomers" in high school, those are same things that were directed at us then; we don't look good, we're undesirable, no guys will ever be interested. It's the same cruel attitude, directed at a different group of people. Body shaming is body shaming.

[@cece121234]

While I can't speak for your other followers, I started following you for the dancing but continued to follow you both for your openness and honesty, as well as the incredible strength and courage you have shown at every turn. You have so much love and care for all the dancers out there and I'm just incredibly grateful for all that you do. You may not think you are the "best dancer" out there, but you are a household name at my local ballet studio!

[@kennydreadfuls861]

This isn’t inspiring,. This isn’t brave, this is LIFE SAVING INFORMATION! Your voice has reached so many. Speak loud. Speak proud. We are with you.

[@kathryn_morgan]

Thank you!

[@carolclaibornemumey8919]

So very true! Katie, please consider partnering with experts on eating disorders to help spread the real data on the issue. Eating disorders are among the most fatal of all mental health diagnoses, if not the most fatal. Having been involved in treatment for them, I can also say it takes a "village" of health care workers and the sufferer's family working closely over time to treat successfully.

[@danceandmore88]

I'm literally speechless you didn't perform in Firebird because of your body...you got the contract with Miami City Ballet looking the way you looked...were they silently expecting you to loose weight? It's mind-boggling. I think we all support you on your journey regardless of whether or not you're dancing with a company. You have been through so much, I think you know your worth. Using your voice to speak for those who were crushed by the industry is a wonderful purpose. It's time for things to change, ballet needs to catch up with reality. I'm writing this as a former pre-professional ballet student who couldn't cope with the pressure to be thin. Thank you for speaking your truth.

[@annadenys127]

^^I agree so much. This is not okay in the slightest.

[@nuriatolsa]

I agree! I am shocked as well that they don't let her perform!

[@veganbeth]

I agree!

[@abc-yg6tk]

It's not just ballet, same with the film industry. People of certain body size or skin colour often get cast into stereotypical roles or not cast at all. The films then reach out to billions of people in the world, enforcing stereotypes from a young age.

[@cbart5678]

I agree too. I honestly am shocked at the “Firebird” issue. Kathryn looks beautiful and strong not to mention thin as well. What was the issue??? Omg...How “skinny” does Firebird have to be and for what purpose?

[@flutistnotflautist4740]

Imagine how many talented dancers were rejected unnecessarily because of their body. It's stupid. Thank you for your advocacy!

[@gabypineda6939]

This situation has to stop.☹️

[@elizabethlarose3632]

I'm 67 and still remember when I was taking ballet lessons that I was told "she needs to lose weight". It was not body shaming then. Weight issues still haunt me. I'm so proud and happy You are representing ballet in such a positive way. Thank you.

[@kathryn_morgan]

And that is exactly what I want to change for this generation. I don’t want these young dancers haunted for the rest of their lives. ❤️

[@marymohagheghi4875]

Please don,t let those losers affect you anymore ... 🌺🌺🌺🌺🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝

[@SP-kk5nj]

Elizabeth LaRose It was body shaming, only the term ‘body shaming’ hasn’t yet been coined.

[@Therika7]

Elizabeth LaRose Same here.

[@redsloane879]

@@SP-kk5nj I think thats what she meant.

[@roomonger]

I agree with so many of the comments saying that I don’t think ballet directors and producers know what people want to see anymore. Eating disorders and the look that is often associated with them are very well known in our culture now. And I think for many people, seeing extreme thinness in a dancer (or anyone else) is no longer linked to beauty. It now culturally signifies illness and unhealthy conditions. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that dancers like you and Misty Copeland are the ones getting known by people outside of the ballet world. The world wants to see something different now

[@danceballetacro]

it is an absolute tragedy to see even the great Zakarhova wasting away. Even the greatest ballerina is "not good enough" unless she restricts more and more food. This is abusive and the neurological damage from eating disorders actually programs the brain to dysfunction, delusion and psychotic behaviors. Children grow up thinking it is OK and fear opposition to teachers at the cost of their own safety. We must encourage children that no one has permission to comment about our weight and it will not be tolerated. A new form of ballet will emerge if we continue to use our voices for change.

[@ameliagreg6566]

Strong is so beautiful. It’s muscle that I love to see on a dancer. The discipline, strength and passion that’s displayed on the body. When I see the skeletons I think of pain, stress and pressure.

[@Iflie]

I went to see a russian traveling company performance of a ballet and how skinny the dancers were was completely distracting from the dancing. They didn't look like dancers, they looked starving, all the bones in their chest visible and frail pale looking women. The males were not much better. It turns something beautiful into a horrorshow, there is absolutely no reason to be that thin, even if can now "stop on a dime" who wants to see you do that? Your ballet teachers who have seen these bodies for 20 years and have no clue what we see.

[@strawberry1025]

@chima chibi great post.

[@ai1een876]

So well said

[@starflower666]

who wants to aspire to being the thinnest dancer! i woud aspire to being the best dancer! or really the happiest dancer!

[@meikusje]

Many think you need to be as thin as possible to be as good as possible.

[@kathryn_morgan]

Yes! Exactly!

[@HarmonicaSolo]

I vividly remember being so stressed about going through puberty, because once it started, all the comments from one of my dance teachers in particular, came rolling in. "Your thighs jiggle when you relevé, you need to cut out dairy" was one that really stuck with me. I was 13 years old, 5'3", and about 88 pounds, very much considered underweight, and I was being told to watch what I eat, because my body was doing what a lot of female bodies do during puberty and storing a little extra fat in a couple of places. Madness. I ended up dropping dance classes entirely about a year later, but never lost my passion for it. I now, ten years later, attend an open ballet class once a week, and even though I am definitely the biggest in the class weight-wise, I don't let that stop me or make me feel bad throughout the whole class anymore. All I care about is whether or not my dancing is good, and I'm enjoying myself. Thank you for speaking up, and acknowledging that it is not okay that there are teachers out there that are putting people down for their size, when that size is not affecting their stamina, technique, or artistry.

[@amyw9360]

First of all, I can’t believe you were taken out of Firebird. That shocks me. Not to mention, I thought you have been looking very fit and healthy so it REALLY shocks me your body was the reason. I hope you don’t get backlash from MCB for speaking up about this. Second- I have always followed you for your personality, nice nature, and determination. Your tutorial videos got me following you but your dancing itself is not what made me stay. You have a wonderful presence and are so kind. I think that’s why we all follow you 💜

[@thebookwyrmslair6757]

I hope YOU don't get backlash, Katie, but I hope to hell MCB feels some heat for that decision. "Aesthetic art" does not mean "only the leanest may apply!" After all, what was Misty Copeland's breakout role?? FIREBIRD! A mythical creature who is STRONG, BEAUTIFUL, SPIRITED. Yeah, all three of those words apply to you, too.

[@sewingstoryprojects6178]

Also, are we absolutely positive that audiences need to see waif-thin dancers? I saw a ballet once that cast dancers who were considered normal to overweight. They practiced and danced their hearts out. It was beautiful. Perhaps I am the minority.

[@pilargarcia9465]

I an an old lady always loved ballet and dancing I am a Cook and live in Peru and believe me you are my inspiration you are beautiful outside and inside. Time os passing for all of us and when you dance and teach to.people like me you glow and time, bodies images etc dont care. A hug from Lima Perú

[@esstown]

When a 12 year old is told to lose weight - this is child abuse. It's nothing less and nothing different than full on, full frontal child abuse. Let us call it what it is - so that we are not confused. Just as you said, "for what?" It's a whole different thing when an adult professional chooses to maintain a low body weight for the sake of roles. A child is not the property of the institution of ballet. Now.....moving on to adult professionals who understand the choices that they make: Being thin does not always equal being unhealthy. A lot depends on how it was attained. I do believe that there are healthy ways to get there, having been there before, dancing at 100 pounds and feeling great. It has to happen very slowly with strict attention to excellent nutrition. Starving oneself won't get you there, and neither will cocaine. Cocaine is how you get a heart attack. Thanks for talking about this.

[@ClaudiaDeanWorld]

You’re amazing Katie ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@kathryn_morgan]

Thanks Claudia! Definitely still want to collab with you! xoxo

[@katiefulton9456]

I concur. ❤️

[@head_in_the_clouds]

I remember being a young dancer in the early 90's. I was barely 98 pounds. I was constantly reminded that I should not gain an ounce of " more" weight. It made me feel horrible and worthless. Thank you Kathryn for being so outspoken about this important Issue! Remember ladies you are beautiful and good enough regardless of body type♥️

[@KiraHelenRose]

It’s heartbreaking when you watch videos of dance schools, especially out of Russia, where they are literally screaming at the kids and telling these young girls, who are already very clearly emaciated, that they are fat and need to lose weight. And calling them cows and pigs and things like that. One of my ballet teachers told me that when she was in a company back in the early 2000s, they would verbally and physically abuse them. Not just when they were students, but as professional dancers. They were being slapped and hit by their directors.

[@Therika7]

Kira Helen Rose This is abuse. My sister as a teen was in ballet at an arts camp and was called a cow by the teacher in class. Ironically, my sister’s photo, in class and onstage, was in the camp’s promotional materials.

[@Caroline-jt6ez]

I'm pretty sure this happened in that Vaganova documentary-it's called Dance of the Little Swans if I remember correctly. On social media too, there's young girls crying in pain while they do splits on a chair.

[@PlantBasedBride]

This video is SO important. I remember having meetings, one at a time, with our artistic director in our pre-professional program, being given individual feedback on our technique and our weight. The number of girls who were told to lose weight and developed eating disorders that year (and even years later) was staggering. I was one of the lucky ones who skated by without having my body commented on, and even I developed an eating disorder 3 years later due to constant pressure and comparison to other women who did have EDs, being told what roles I could play based on what costumes I could fit into (which typically had been worn by much shorter and smaller framed dancers in the past) and struggling to accept my adult womanly body after being forced into an ideal of a prepubescent body from a young age. I consider myself about as recovered as someone can be 6 years later, but I don’t think I’ll ever be fully free from this mindset that was drilled into me as a young girl just trying to dance because I loved it more than anything. I am so shocked and disgusted to hear the stories you shared about the 12 year old girl and your friend being told to do cocaine to lose weight. How are we still in this place in 2020?? I am also very upset about MCB pulling you from a role for your body (which is beautiful and incredibly capable). It’s so wrong on so many levels. I hope MCB learns from this and becomes more progressive and realistic in their casting, and I hope the entire ballet industry is able to take a step back and consider if their desire for an aesthetic of waif thinness is worth the lives of their dancers. Because EDs kill more than any other mental illness. Thank you for your bravery, Katie. We follow you because you are such a strong beacon of light within an industry that is so often shrouded in mystery and classism and unrealistic expectations. We may love ballet, but we love YOU for your openness and genuine kindness.

[@theperson5205]

god when I realized that the prepubescent body is the ‘ideal’, I shuddered. Even though I’m not a dancer, a lot of my struggles with eating came when I started to grow into a teenager or a..’young woman’. since I’m still growing, well, it’s still tough. A recent doctor’s appointment told me that I needed to watch the scale, telling I need to make sure it wouldn’t go down, but instead to slowly go up. All this while, I was trying to make my weight lower, when I’m growing and physically need to gain weight to sustain that growth..I guess I knew that already, subconsciously. When you write it out, you realize how horrible it really is.

[@najah7781]

Speaking as an audience member and ballet lover, I find the focus on weight and body type to be ridiculous. We don't care about a few pounds on or off, in fact we don't even notice it. We are there to be swept up in the dancing, the music, the story, and the otherworldly beauty of it all! As long as the dancers perform the piece beautifully I am happy, and if they are able to do that with all the skill and artistry that it demands, their body is probably just fine anyways. Thank you for speaking up!!

[@nessagirl1911]

I'm one of the non-dancers that follow your channel. I love watching your tips and exercises, but it's videos like this that I find particularly interesting. Personally I don't understand why being a dancer has to equal being skinny. That doesn't even look good. And how are you supposed to keep the muscles needed and be thin at the same time? It reminds me of Katelyn Ohashi, who told a similar story about body shaming in gymnastics and how it made her lose all the joy in the sport.

[@victoriainge97]

I agree, I have seen a few ballets where some dancers are so thin it detracts from my enjoyment of the experience because all I can see is their bones, and every back bend or extension makes me wince worried that they will snap! I feel very sorry that so many beautiful dancers are put under that much pressure to be thin when it is so unnecessary to the artistry and joy of ballet

[@K0nt4kt]

The clips from your Firebird practice - you look ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! The "standards" in ballet sometimes seem to me more like personal preferences of the higher ups and not about whats actually widely considered beauty.

[@nicolajaynehodson9223]

almost certainly... look at the female roster of certain companies ... all about the preference (?fetish) of certain Artistic directors

[@sarahwales6276]

As an adult ballet dancer I'm so over being told, "We'll put you all in a longer tutu, I'm sure you want some coverage", actually no, most of us are pretty fit and would like to wear a pancake tutu sometimes.

[@pheart2381]

If I see an extremely thin dancer I find myself feeling sorry for them rather than concentrating on the dancing. I dont know why extreme thinness is considered desirable. The viewers are watching a ballet, not a weight-loss advert. We dont want it, ye managers of ballet companies!

[@stillwatersfarm8499]

P Heart me too. I don’t think it is a good look. I like to see some flesh on the dancer. If they are bones and sinew, it really ruins the lines. What are the directors thinking?! And how do we let them know what we want to see without body shaming the ladies that are too thin?

[@carolclaibornemumey8919]

I so agree! Ballet certainly needs a bigger audience to survive. I don't support a lot of ballet anymore because of this. I feel sad that I just can't enjoy ballet anymore like I used to. (And I'm a former dancer; it was one of my first loves.)

[@estherbohnhardt2648]

I feel the same. I can't focus on the dance, even if they're outstanding dancers. I just worry and I know personally dancers who really suffered from mental health problems and eating disorders while being incredible performers at the same time.

[@chilanya]

personally i do enjoy watching (healthy) thin dancers. but i ALSO enjoy dancers with a different body shape - but sadly you don't see them often on stage.

[@serenang3137]

Exactly!

[@MelissaRayneDance]

I can't believe you were taken out of Firebird 😤 You're an incredible artist and would nail that role! It's so sad that here we are in 2020 and this crap is still happening, and it happens in the contemporary world too (I just got taken out of a project because I'm bigger than the other dancers and the choreographer wants a more "uniform" look).

[@kathryn_morgan]

Thank you for that. Directors have their preferred look, and I guess I was not that "look". It was very disappointing. But as I said, it just spurred me on to discuss this!

[@MelissaRayneDance]

@@kathryn_morgan sometimes I think directors can be really out of touch with what audiences want to see. We don't live in a world where we have to maintain this illusion of "perfect" femininity in ballet anymore, we need diverse dancers and performers - it makes a real impact. I'm so sorry you had to experience this, but I'm glad you're willing to talk about it and be our advocate 💜

[@julieallen5655]

Kathryn Morgan I am so sorry & quite frankly shocked to hear this. Has this put you off dancing with MCB in future?

[@kaykomckayface1097]

@@kathryn_morgan hey Katie, kinda of the topic but as a person who had to quit my job because I kept speaking out of workplace power harassment... If anything bad happened to you because you told the firebird story (I'm sure mcb is mostly chill and great but just in case...cuz I had ptsd of such things and I'm worried... ) ... Pls let us know. We stand by you. ❤️❤️

[@kathryn_morgan]

@@kaykomckayface1097 Thank you but all should be fine. All I did was tell the truth - I didn't attack, blame, or even say anything negative about MCB. I just told you all the reality of the situation. But I SO appreciate it! xoxo

[@miniblunt]

5:46 oh lord have mercy 😮 I cannot believe that. Thank you for being the voice and advocate, and standing up

[@AdventuresWithSabrina]

“HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT COCAINE” JESUS CHRIST IM SCREAMING

[@caitlinbenallack835]

The secret about gaining weight as a dancer that no one seems to acknowledge is that it can sometimes make you stronger. We exist in a culture that tells us that a thinner dancer is always a better dancer. As someone who does ballet purely as a hobby, no one is breathing down my neck to maintain a low weight. As a result I have experienced a lot of natural fluctuations over the years. I have put on about 40 lbs in the 16 years since I was 16, the age at which I had the most traditional “ballet body.” Some of that weight gain is fat but some of it is muscle. I find myself being told I am a great jumper at 32, something that never would have been said about me when I had the visible hip bones and protruding clavicles of the stereotypical ballet dancer.

[@danceandmore88]

The problem is that even nowadays, female dancers with visible muscles are often considered unattractive. There are some companies who encourage dancers to cross-train and also develop upper body strength - something unheard of twenty years ago- beware of a woman with a developed biceps!!!- but there are still so many companies and schools that prefer the traditional skeleton look. It's a total parodox, how can you be strong without having muscles? But logic is often absent in this industry, as well as in many others.

[@roisinnigcrainn7722]

From watching the Royal Ballet (London)'s most recent videos, you can see that they are favouring a healthier and more muscular female physique. It's good to see some of the greater theatres taking steps in the right direction.

[@sophiafreire7193]

This video is SO RELEVANT! Actually i am so disgusted by all this crazyness for being skinny in ballet, that i really changed my aestetic preferences. When i was younger, i’d love to watch the skinny russian dancers perform, nowadays i feel really uncomfortable to see all this thinness and prefer to watch the more athletic dancers. However i know that the most of directors and choreographers still prefer the thinner girls. I think that your voice will help so much the community of ballet to open its eyes and learn to change its concepts like i did, seeing that true beauty is a healthy body and a healthy mind behind the dancer on stage. Love your videos Katie, you’re a light for us! Love from Brazil 🇧🇷❤️

[@aestheticchild6414]

The "pointe" ( see what I did there) of ballet is to push past your limits, become the best dancer you could be, and having fun... Weight should have NOTHING to do with it because a number on the scale should not determine one's beauty, and it's really annoying how people notice more how someone looks or how much they weigh, but really people should notice how much effort they put into dance.

[@bethanneblackclosetomyheart]

Katie, I am in awe of your constant support of those who don’t have a voice in the dance world. When I met you in Atlanta, you confirmed to me what I always suspected: You get it. You are real. You understand the struggles that every single dancer faces. My son even said to me after meeting you: “Mom, I love how genuine Katie is. She’s so kind and approachable.” A million thanks for your love and support and for being the real advocate that you are. 💜

[@kathryn_morgan]

Thank you so much Bethanne!

[@annlidslot8212]

Dear Ms Morgan, I'm not a dancer, at least in the sense that you are talking about, and I'm not young anymore, at least so the calendar and my date of birth tells me. I want to thank you for taking this stand against bullying in the classical dance world. The bullying that in your profession is leading to eating disorders and other mental health issues. I call it bullying. Isn't that what body shaming is? Telling someone over and over again that they aren't thin enough, long legged enough or are way to tall for the ballet, that they so desperately love. Maybe even having the other students in the dance class being goaded on by the teacher's criticism. And the bullying doesn't stop when you get out of high school either. Not even for the one dancer lucky enough to land a job in ballet. It keeps on going, even when they obviously have been doing well enough to get the job. It keeps going on throughout their career until retirement. As you Ms. Morgan said, this is not okay. Bullying, whenever or wherever in life, or place, it is happening, is never okay. So thank you for looking out for the students and professionals, and even the amateurs, of dancing and declaring yourself as a defender of their rights. Rights to a natural and health body of an elite athlete, and a healthy happy life with a sound mind. I will also take the opportunity to congratulate you on your career in Miami. I will keep following your KZbin channel and I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next. Yours, Ann

[@penelopepolinsneemeyer4757]

Thank you for speaking out Katie. At 15 I weighed 105 pounds and was told by my PARENTS to “go away, you’re too fat”! I’m now 55 and have become disabled all my adult life, but have found joy dancing in an RAD Silver Swans class. I may be 4’10” and weigh far too much (I’m now over 140lbs thanks to my own chronic illnesses), but thanks to your encouragement I am NOT going to let my mother’s toxic idea of body image or my own chronic pain from EDS steal my joy of dance and in still being able to take class, even if I may never get beyond the stage I’m at now. Thank you so, so much for giving me back the confidence to seek out my wonderful teacher, Emma McMahon and for giving me the courage to try again. (We’re currently all learning - including my equally rotund husband Martin, who comes to class as my carer - a very simplified version of Kitri’s Act III variation in Don Q and laughing such a lot. It’s funny to be the baby of the class again at my age, because Silver Swans is for the over 55’s. Our eldest dancer is in her 80’s) Martin and I both send you and Chris all our love xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[@anastasiabananastasia]

that’s so lovely 😊 i lové that u will dance on!!!!! ♥️

[@nicyeets631]

25-30 years ago, when a teenager, I still remember the class being told 'it's beautiful when your chest bones stick out', us being lined up facing the wall in pink tights and the dimples in our bums being called 'cellulite', 15 years olds on sponsored slims etc etc. I thought things might have changed! Thanks Kathryn for talking about this x

[@alexx1769]

This made me cry. You are SO right. This isn't only an issue in Ballet, either. SO many sports have slipped into this toxic mentality of "Do WHATEVER it takes to be the best," it's gross and appalling the messages that are being sent to little kids. We should be thinking "Do whatever it takes to be the happiest, healthiest, best version of myself."

[@user-hx3gj8pp2k]

I was told at sab at 12 to loose 10 lbs which started me on my anorexic journey n probably is what killed my ballet career. Thank you for bringing awareness for these much needed conversation that needs to happen way more often ❤love u ur an inspiration

[@popcorn.piglet808]

“Have you thought about cocaine” ARE YOU KIDDING?! like that just trashes your everything for life. just to dance one role. what an awful person to suggest that to a CHILD

[@AudreeAdam]

It wasn't to a child, but it's terrible nonetheless. I've heard it too unfortunately.

[@calisongbird]

It was said to an adult. Still shitty though. Gelsey Kirkland almost died from cocaine abuse. Her dance partner actually did die from it. 😞

[@TheBlacktressDiaries]

I cried with you as you told us about the 12 year old. How can this be seen as okay. Thank you for what you are doing ♥️

[@turtlette]

I am not a dancer. I was never allowed to dance in anything other than my high school musical because I was "fat". Now, at 25, I'm starting to look at joining a dance class (I'm thinking either tap or jazz) simply because you've given me the courage to give it a go with a body that looks very much like yours. Thank you for speaking out, for being willing to stick your neck out for people who need to know they don't stand alone.

[@Ingridlosneslokken]

I can't find any words after watching this.. THIS is what the internet needs. You are a true role model! My heart ❤️

[@candygirl20048]

People love to crap on the body positivity movement for “promoting obesity” the very core of the movement is the acknowledgment that very few women are ever considered “thin enough.” Society likes to pretend that the preference for thinness is about health, but if dancers, literal athletes, are being told that they need to lose weight clearly that is BS. I am also a former dancer and I have been called fat my entire life no matter what size or my level of physical fitness. I have an hourglass figure and have been told by teachers as soon as I walked in the room that I was in the wrong class. I was constantly told not to stick my butt out. I could go on and on. To those criticizing me, my health mental or physical was never a consideration-only the way that I looked. All because someone arbitrarily decided that I didn’t fit whatever standard they determined was ideal.

[@meganhuxley3269]

Thank you for this. I stopped training seriously when I was 17 and close to getting so much of what I wanted. I got a full scholarship to Joffrey NY and moved there three days after auditioning. But I moved back a month later--hating dance and wanting to get as far from it as possible. I realize now I was burned out by the way it made me think of myself. I developed an eating disorder at 11 after the teacher who taught the audition class for SAB said "it's all about the aesthetic." At 15, my teacher at Atlanta Ballet said I needed to lose weight in my lower stomach (I had stomach issues I was in and out of the hospital for). At 16, a teacher at Washington Ballet asked what flavor jello by butt was. "Strawberry?" he asked. I was a size zero. I'm 27 now and have a hard time bringing myself to take open classes. I've taken classes over the years and have come closer to the joy and passion that was once greater than anything I'd known. I wish to perform one more time. And to rid myself of the guilt of my single mother sacrificing everything for summer intensives, moving me to NY and back, only for me to quit with such angst. I've taught ballet within the last few years, and teaching young people to love what their body does for them, and the beauty of it, was and is so important because technique and talent won't matter if they can't bring themselves to dance any longer. This was long, but thanks again for what you're doing!

[@rachelgill7579]

Videos like this make me realize just how much of an extraordinary gym the studio my girls dance at is. The whole reason the studio even exists is the belief that dance is for every person who wants to dance regardless of body type, gender, physical ability or anything else that most ballet schools do not consider the “norm”. I wish every dance school was like that.

[@katherinec2759]

I was blessed to have wonderful teachers, I never heard any of that. I specifically remember hearing, "you're past puberty now, you're never going to have a flat backside for the rest of your life. Don't expect yourself to, and don't let anyone else expect you to. You just have to keep your hips square so that you're not letting it stick out more than it would. That's all I'm asking." I will say, though, that there are two ways I've heard people claim they are being "body shamed" that I would argue are not. One is encouraging healthy choices, especially for eating. I don't think it's body shaming to tell your students to cut out junk food as much as they can, IF it's a "general advice to the class" thing or a "pull someone aside afterward and say 'I'm seeing a pattern in the snacks I've seen you with'" thing. It's definitely not okay to call out a specific person in the middle of class about it. The other thing is a piece of advice that was given to a friend of mine once: "Let me be clear: I *do not* want you to lose weight. But I *do* want you to find some cross-training you can do and convert a bit more fat into muscle." Again, it's one that should be given privately, and it's definitely a bit more borderline, but I think it can also be done well. (This one should probably also only be used if the teacher knows that the student has professional aspirations. Someone taking ballet only for recreation... who cares what they look like?)

[@Sleepless_Chaos]

I'm not a dancer; I watch your videos because of your brutal honesty. I've struggled with body image for 7 years because I've been gaining weight despite doing everything I should to lose it. I also resorted to unhealthy means and STILL DIDN'T LOSE WEIGHT. I kept going to my physician because I knew something was wrong with my body but he'd run all the bloodwork and I didn't have a metabolic disorder that was apparent in blood tests. It got to the point where my physician started thinking I was crazy and just wanted medication to lose weight without having to eat less. I have a bachelor's in exercise and health science. I'm headed to med school. I KNOW WHEN SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH MY BODY. After a 7 year struggle, difficult time getting pregnant, finally having a kid, and going to my OB for bleeding issues and requesting a pelvic ultrasound two weeks ago, I got the diagnosis of PCOS. My weight gain and inability to lose it wasn't my fault. Something had been wrong with my body. I felt so validated but also so low. I needed this video from you, and I'm so glad you've decided to go this direction.

[@alexandragjertson982]

I needed so much to hear this when I was 13 and battling an eating disorder. Thank you Katie.

[@Kaitlynjiang]

I remember when in 3rd grade when i was around 8yo, i was in ballet when my teacher called me an elephant and told me that i would not get anywhere in ballet with my weight. I was around 50-60lbs. Im 80 lbs, 7th grade now with a eating disorder. Im still being body shamed in ballet. Just recently, my ballet teacher pulled me out of Nutcracker because of my weight and yes it DID send me into a spiral ad made me very VERY d3pressed for a long time. Dancers who read this, please know that you are not alone

[@kiara5984]

I'm 14 and already have the same experience. I love u Kathryn. You're a great role model. Thank you

[@littlemisstapdance]

The most important video you’ve ever made Katie. Thanks for breaking this topic wide open. Sometimes I feel the ballet world is forever in debt to your bravery and strength as you talk about one taboo after the other. We see you, we love you, we are so proud to be a part of breaking this awful cycle with you.

[@kathryn_morgan]

Thank you so much!

[@seleneparke9357]

This made me cry. It’s so nice to hear someone so powerful in the field of ballet say “this is not okay.”

[@lyndastein2943]

Dear Kathryn, . I am an actress, when in college back in the day I studied with the well known people of the day. We were working on a BFA in theatre, had conservatory style training with adjunct profs from Julliard, Carnegie, NYU etc. We were very fortunate to have that training at a state school. I was fortunate to have not had to audition to get in. I was grandfathered in by virtue of a monologue in the chairmans office. I have been working as an actress, director, children's director and I have had a good career, but what I shelved was a lot of the feelings and emotions that you have shared this year. Thank you for sharing them. Everything from image to how you are viewed, to getting crazy obsessive over not thinking we are enough, all of that I experienced as I prepared myself to work in the industry.. It has been daunting. What this pandemic season has done is offered time to sort through and, because I am a Gods girl, this was perfect. Thank you for being honest and sharing your journey. You are a blessing. I 've also been taking your ballet classes online, the quality of your class was very much like college training with the Milwaukee Ballet. All to say, keep up the good work girl, the best is yet to come!

[@sophielove7687]

I found your channel, because I love to dance. Never took any classes. Just getting joy out of dancing around the house every single day :) My childhood dream was to do ballet. I never tried it. Because I thought I was too fat to do it... At 7... Never found the courage to put myself out there and learn. It's been 10 years and I'm still passionate about dance. I don't have a problem with bodyimage anymore, though I still haven't pursued ballet. I live my dream through your videos - especially the performences. I dream of one day seeing professionals live! Ballet is so beautiful... Also one day I'll try it for myself just to see how it is and make my 7-year-old self happy :)

[@DawnLevendula]

All the love to all the dancers that struggle with these problems. And that includes myself. Stay brave , keep on dancing!

[@naomicorbet612]

Thank you for speaking up and bringing to light the problems in the ballet world. We need to talk and change this. I neither have never been the skinniest and am not the best at ballet but I do it because I love it. It doesn’t matter what we look like or how we dance as long as we love doing it. Thank you for being an advocate to bring ballet back to its foundations, the love for the art form.

[@kathryn_morgan]

Yes! And thank you

[@MelodySDM]

Ballet is a tough world where everyone's got an eye on your body-it makes us self body conscious, in many ways. A lot girls are asked- most of the time in a very passive-agressive way- to lose weigh. I've been witnessing it so many times . it makes me angry. You are beautiful Kathryn and you are perfect the way you are, and a perfect teacher!

[@angelahill1006]

As a dance teacher and former dancer who has faced these destructive issues I am supportive of Kathryn and here passion and candour

[@LaraAkalUMN]

I left the ballet world at age 13 after dancing since I could walk because it quite literally caused my childhood trauma. It’s a long story I may someday feel brave enough to share, but it was a mix of many factors, mainly repeated abuse by my instructor(s). Over ten years later, the wounds those experiences caused have yet to fully heal. I am not the same person I was before. In good and bad ways. The negative impacts were plenty, including that I have trouble with eye contact, I have yet to be able to fully relax from the tension, and I frequently limit myself. But it’s not all bad, and with time and professional help I’m learning to undo the side effects of the trauma, slowly but surely. My confidence is peaking, I can handle criticism better than ever, and I’ve found what makes me the most happy. I’m now a singer and actress in a much safer environment that fosters growth and development at our own pace, valuing the individual performer for what we can uniquely bring to the table rather than having to force ourselves to conform to industry standards. I have a Vocal Music degree and have sung solo at Carnegie Hall, none of which would’ve been possible had I continued to stay in that cycle of abuse. I would’ve never realized my true potential and calling in this other field of performance art. As much as I would’ve absolutely loved to be a professional dancer, and trust me there were glimmers of my experience where I was told this could be my future, ultimately I was more often led to believe by people I trusted that this could never happen for me because of who I am - that no matter how hard I worked, it’d be for nothing. I’m sad that I had to be bullied out of ballet completely, and I often wonder what would’ve happened had I found a different studio to go to, but the trauma led me far away from dance to start sharing my voice in a new way. In spite of all the crap I had to go through, I’m so grateful to have found something even better for me. To any of you out there being bullied or abused for pursuing your passion, I support you in your artistic endeavors. Keep going. And if respect is no longer being served, it takes a great deal of courage to leave the table. Try new things if you can and reevaluate what it is you really want for yourself. It’s ok to question things, your best interests really do matter. Are you dancing because you love to dance or because you were told you’re good at it and you don’t want to disappoint? Is there something else you’ve been longing to try? Has no one been in your corner and ballet is truly the thing you’ve wanted more than anything? Is this something you’re willing to fight for? No matter what it is, I’m on your side. Fight for your dreams and cut out the naysayers. You are enough. You are so enough. It is unbelievable how enough you are.

[@oggtastic]

I wonder how many beautiful dancers we miss out on the opportunity of seeing because they're not dangerously skinny. It feels like a loss to the art as well as heart breaking and immoral. Thank you for speaking out on it.

[@sarahjenkins5591]

I'm a gymnast who is doing your class on zoom with my gymnast friends while we are in lockdown. You are fab, we love you, and your repeated message that no one performs perfectly, that the effort and delight in movement is what is important. I have also more recently become aware of your strength in putting out the message of healthy body image for dancers. Bravo, what a wonderful and good thing to do.

[@mollyschwendeman3615]

This is so true I'm a Christian Ballet Dancer and I've noticed this so much....so thank you Kathryn Morgan for doing this for us

[@ckjanna]

You're the person that every young dancer needs in their life.

[@elliem7912]

You are so inspiring! I have struggled a lot with body image over the last few years as a dancer, and you have helped me a lot.

[@kathryn_morgan]

Thank you! ❤️

[@emilyo906]

This opened my eyes. Since social distancing started I’ve been doing your videos. I danced for 12 years and just stopped after high school. Well 9 years later I’m about 50 pounds heavier from antidepressants. I record myself doing these videos so I can see what I need to work on. I always knock myself down. Today my husband asked “what would old you think of new you doing this?” I said old me would think I’m fat an terrible. New me thinks I’m fat an terrible. But seeing this has made me realize you don’t have to be skin and bones to be a wonderful dancer. Thank you for this.

[@heartdawg]

Dancing was the love of my life and I walked away from it because of body shaming!! I'm 65 now and I still miss it sooo much!!

[@p.r.4748]

I’ve been following your channel for years and I remember being sat in a cafe with tears in my eyes when you announced you were joining Miami City Ballet. I’m a former classical dancer in my 40s who has battled hypothyroidism for over a decade. I’m now a ballet teacher in the UK that has taught at RBS, ENBS etc. What I still struggle with is being ok with seeing myself in the mirror with my ‘new’ more average body type. I was told that my hypothyroidism was probably triggered with a bad break up. This break up sent me down a dark path of fast weight loss to ‘show him’ what he was missing. What also made it worse is that I then started my next contract to my fellow dancers telling me how great I looked when I was so ill and frankly unhappy. To come back around to now, I really try to empower my dancers, many of whom are adolescents, that being mentally healthy is just as important as physically. As dancers it’s so easy to value yourself simply by how you look and I still struggle with this now. Jameela Jamil’s ‘i weigh’ movement has also been a source of strength to make me reflect on how I value myself. Thank you for being so open and shining a light on such important topics. X

[@kathryn_morgan]

Thank you for sharing that. I feel for you. And that is AMAZING that you empower your own dancers! Please keep doing that!

[@margaretblount4794]

This would have changed my life if I had seen it as a teenager. I was dancing competitively and convinced I would win if I could just be smaller. Thank you for starting this conversation. I'd love to see you talk to nutritionist and PTs about wellness as well ❤️

[@adrianacerami8601]

I quit ballet at at 12 years old because of the pressure my ballet teacher put me through. I was told to lose weight and compared to skinnier girls. As a teenager I was obsessed with my body and looks and I developed an eating disorder. I loved dance more than anything but the image of perfection ruined that childhood dream for me. I went back to dance in my 20's and found that I could enjoy dance without the pressure from a toxic dance teacher and studio. I have been taking your dance exercises lately and love that you also posted this video about dance and having a healthy body and support. Thank you Kathryn!

[@mmc1955]

I am so thankful that the studios I attended as a child were not fixated on weight/skinniness. It was obvious that the dancers cast in lead roles were those who were most capable of performing them and at one of the studios I remember discussions about tall, thin, and skinny not being the only body type of professional dancers. If I have children I’ll be watching their studios like a hawk to make sure they are not exposed to unhealthy ideas about weight and appearance.

[@AnnavBF]

This is good timing. I recently tried watching the Prix de Lausanne and just couldn't keep watching any of it. Despit the insane skill and artistry, it is simply not plesant to watch girls who are deathly skinny.

[@theveryfirstlostgirl4593]

Shawnna von Blixen Yes. Every suggested video of a winner is of a girl who is so thin it is worrying. I realize that some people are naturally that thin, but *every* prize winner? Something is very very fishy.

[@danceandmore88]

The Prix de Lausanne actually employs a doctor who checks on the dancers who are too thin...but I don't know where they draw the line. I didn't see a single girl who was on the curvier or more muscular side. And I don't think they don't apply for the competition.

[@stephanies3470]

But some women are just built that way. I don't like when we say thinness is bad. What we should be advocating for his a healthy lifestyle for each individual. One can be extremely healthy and still be incredibly thin. In order to accept a wider variety of body types we need to acknowledge that some people are just thin. Accepting curvier bodies doesn't mean body shaming thinner women.

[@anika5094]

@@stephanies3470 Agree. Also these girls are super young, the healthy weight is cutoff is much lower.

[@alexranner]

I cried right along side with you there. First time I was told to lose weight (from my volleyball coach), I was 13 years old and 16 years later I'm still struggling with it. It was also one of the reasons why I didn't start dancing until I was 26 because I was so afraid to be judged even more, even though I love dancing so much. Over the last five years I found many different health issues that have been there for a long time, which the excessive weight was just a symptom of, but no one really cared and just told me to lose weight instead of looking for the root cause of why I didn't lose weight with every method under the freaking sun. So now the health issues escalated and I have to fight really hard to get back to a substantial level of health and your videos help me a lot (both the educational and funny ones). So thank you for all you do! It IS important!

[@nettiespiwack7586]

Katie, you have been the living proof that being authentic and being a torch-bearer for truth and commitment works wonders. I have no doubt that, one of these days, in one venue or another, we will see you dance a magnificent Firebird. Meanwhile look at what you have given voice to, just by the response here. Take a bow. Brava!

[@pineappledanceschool6841]

I'm crying as I write this, both because of how grateful I am to you for bringing this issue to the forefront, and because the 12 year old fattie inside me is still hurting (I'm 50, still dance, teach full time, own a dance school). YES!! Let's bring this issue to the greater population - not just dancers. I am behind you 100 per cent!!! I talk about this issue with all my students, along with recommending your videos, and even watching them in class, so if they have questions or want to talk privately, I can further help them in my small way. You are such a paragon of personal growth! It's not just that you're an advocate for body issues: it's more that you had issues and did all the personal work needed to learn about them, overcome them, and make peace with yourself, so you could be strong enough to move on. That's the strength you share with us. That's what makes you our hero. A profound thank you to you, Kathryn Morgan!!!! Much appreciation, virtual hugs, and love, Charlotte

[@enochbcn2009]

How can anyone give a thumbs down on a video like this?! What is there to be disliked??

[@kathryn_morgan]

There is someone who dislikes every video I post within the first 10 minutes of the upload. So I'm used to it! People have nothing better to do! xoxo

[@kaylasilvera]

@@kathryn_morgan imagine being that messed up inside because they would have to be subscribed and ring the notification bell in order to know when you post videos (or just constantly check your page which would be insane) only to dislike them. I actually feel sorry for that person because only God knows how messed up they are in order to do something like that

[@gabsy6443]

Must be a hater, it happens to everyone.

[@EldawenEmileia]

Only thing in here I saw to be disliked was that MCB removed her from the role because of her body. Well, that, and the fact that other horrible things are happening to other dancers (like that cocaine comment!) Makes me angry to hear of such things!

[@Qacc6]

David Pinheiro All videos get dislikes. Probably bot/fake accounts amassing clicks. No need to sweat over it.

[@brendaannedufaur6244]

Kathryn is such a beautiful person. She genuinely cares. I love that she cried and we can really see her heart.

[@amandacampolin2494]

I was NOT expecting to cry this much during this video. Katy, you are a f'in talented dancer, a brilliant artist and an eloquent and charismatic speaker, but you are also a goddam hero. You might as well have saved some lives just by speaking out. Thank you.

[@valerielinsner1623]

Yes, yes yes!! PEOPLE ARE VALUABLE. YOU, READER, ARE VALUABLE. And you can stand up for those who have been and so very sadly will be bodyshamed and told to sabotage their own bodies. BECAUSE THAT IS NOT OKAY and we all have a part to play in shaping the future of ballet! To every person who reads this, You, my dear, are so beautiful!! You have been uniquely created by God. You have a purpose. You are an ORIGINAL work of art, who is not meant to be compared to anybody else!! You have a unique voice, unique likes and dislikes, a unique fingerprint, and personality all put their by a loving Father, who knows the number of hairs on your head. He loves you so much!!! And I do too. We are in an industry in which we will be compared to other people. It happens. BUT know that what other people say about you, even your director, does not change your value. "You were bought with a price (Jesus dying for you); do not become slaves of men." 1 Cor. 7:23

[@sallahietanen913]

This is so important to talk about, thank you! I remember when I was a teenager and dancing in the 90s, I had a friend in a ballet class who was told to lose weight... from her thighs. Luckily instead of spiraling to eating disorders, she got angry instead, because how are you going to lose weight from your thighs only? - and later quit ballet. I myself was fully body dysmoprhic at the time, because I was comparing myself to others - who were barely thinner than I, but I was not able to see myself as I was. I'm now in a much better place, having had years to process those ideas, but there's still a little voice in my head, saying "everything would be better if only I was thinner". I know so many girls (and nowdays guys too) who have struggled with their weight, and how they look. Ballet world is one of the last bastions saying "thin is best", and it will change. Thank you for being a part in making that change.

[@katesanders4126]

I weep for all the talented people who could have been such amazing artists, but have been shamed out of dance. Truly tragic that an art form that can bring so much joy, instead brings so much pain.

[@jenniferhanner6949]

You looked beautiful in the Firebird clip, Kathryn - never doubt it!!

[@kathrinfox4685]

I am a recent fan/lover of ballet. I have recently watched the movie The Red Shoes. It is a beautiful movie. The dancer is beautiful. My oh my have bodies changed since then. Dancers be healthy!

[@kilandrayeuxdoux2804]

I feel for that 12 year old that was told that. The one who did that appears to be unprofessional in speaking voice. They forgot the dancer is not an adult and they have a parent or guardian that should be running interference for the kid. No one should have to suffer the adage "The Thinner The Better". It should be "The Role for the Best Dancer" Meaning if they feel this dancer shouldn't do that role - offer them another one instead that fits the needs of the person. Its a win-win for both and no body imaging issues need to be uttered.

[@esaiasjohnson6073]

Yesss! This is so awesome, you are amazing. I am a 62 year old choreographer and ( former) modern dancer and I had to struggle so hard this past Thursday to stop mentally hating myself in Pilates... just picking my body apart... thank you.

[@marystucker8922]

Kathrn, Thank you for attempting to deal with this eating issue in ballet. When I was 15 years old I went to NYC to be a dancer. I was hit with the same lose weight thing. I found a doctor who gave me something (I still to this day don't know what it was) and I lost weight. I only know that I didn't have a medication that was addictive. When I saw dancers killing themselves to get thin and parents encouraging hormone treatment to keep looking like a young girl as they moved through their teen years, I realized that I was not going to compromise my mental health for the vanity of being on stage so I stopped dancing. At the time, there was a book written called "Off Balance." It was life of a student at SAB and her family who made great sacrifices to have her in school there. There was a chapter, as I remember, on eating. The rumor mill was the Mr. B. was quite upset about the book. I can't say what he thought, just a rumor. Today the dancers in America are looking too much like they are in the gym instead of at the barre. They are muscular and bulky. The Russians only take "thin" dancers into their schools and train them how to keep that body but they also, I am told have a big emphasis on weight as well. I applaud you for beginning the conversation about this issue. And yes, people follow you for their interest in your struggles with thyroid and other issues. Thank you for being so courageous.

[@edwinandfi7767]

I'm sure so many people have said this already - but I'm crying watching this video. I'm not a professional dancer AT ALL. I wanted to be, but had to stop dancing because of M.E. when I was very young - I went on to have an eating disorder which I've more or less beaten. But like all of us, I still struggle with "conventional beauty standards" and the expectations imposed on us. I'm 40 now and returned to dancing 10 years ago and it's become an obsessive hobby. I honestly wish that I had had someone like you for me to hear when I was 9, 14, 16, 21 - hell, 29! And your words have still brought tears to my eyes. I can't thank you enough. I've just discovered your videos recently - I started following them because your instruction is so good. So clear, down to earth - and so realistic - I'm so impressed with the focus on working with your body, not against it. Your body positivity has shone out in other videos too. But I've found so so so much more than I bargained for when I first found your channel. You are amazing. Thank you. x

[@Pluizje1998]

Amazing video as always and such a strong message! One of the reasons why my mom refused to buy a scale. And many reasons why my mom would always tell us we look beautiful no matter what. It helped me to realize I don't care what anyone else thinks of me or my body. I have accepted it that I'm not the tallest and definitely not the smallest and that is alright. But whenever I hear people talk negatively about their own body image, I try to tell them they are amazing!

[@kathryn_morgan]

Your mom sounds amazing!

[@Pluizje1998]

@@kathryn_morgan thank you! She is amazing! I feel like it is normal to struggle with your body, especially around puberty when hormones set in or not. Getting your grow spurt or first time period where everything is bloated etc. But for someone to tell you that you are not good enough and telling you to lose weight is just horrible! Dieting at that age could be so bad for your health and growth, your body us missing so much nutrients. I'm fortunate to have a mom who support us, but so many do not. Glad that you are someone to speak out about it, glad you could be someone's "mom"!

[@fayhares]

I don't have a scale at my house. The last time I weighed myself was before I started horse riding competitively over 10 years ago and few months ago I weighed myself again and the numbers were up, but I believe it is muscles and I honestly don't want to start being insecure about it. As long as my husband can lift me up I am good lol

[@Pluizje1998]

@@fayhares It is more than just weight, but weight is just a number. I know someone who weighted 80 kg and for her that was for the bigger part fat. Another person weighted 80 kg, but it was mainly muscle mass. In this case the number doesn't say anything... After I quit rhythmic gymnastic competitive I lost weight, which probably was muscle mass. Your husband loves you just the way you are and if he doesn't, show him the door 🙊

[@fayhares]

@@Pluizje1998 I agree, we are saying the same thing. If I were caught up on the number on the scale, I would have felt bad and tried to get back to my previous weight regardless of if I was losing muscles, pushing anyone to an unhealthy state of mind or to a place where the only thing that matters is bones showing from one's chest is NOT okay, eating disorders are no joke and body shaming must stop. Also, my husband won't see the door coz my shape is not even a topic :)

[@dariask904]

Thank you for listening to us, and making us feel heard. So many people feel they get no help nor support from anyone around them, and you've made them feel important and their problems relevant. You've shown that they are not alone in their struggles. This is invaluable. I've said that before and I'll say that again - You Are Phenomenal :)

[@ameliabediliaa]

Ballet warped my entire life and my interpretation of my body. It is sincerely on almost every level so deeply damaging to people who aren't naturally thin. I did everything to look how they wanted me to and it was never enough as an elementary and middle schooler. I'm still recovering every single day and fighting these things that have been instilled in me as a child. Your work does not go unnoticed. If there is even one 12 year old who hears you and your message, it is worth it. I would do anything to be able to go back. Thank you for what you do.

[@phoenixpinion2136]

Kathryn, THANK YOU SO MUCH. My eating disorder developed at age 14 and shifted between anorexia and bulimia throughout my young adulthood. It was quite severe, almost requiring hospitalization, for over 6 years in my mid-20s. Now, at age 32, I have normalized my eating and have gone 4 months without restricting, binging, or purging (for literally the first time in over a decade). I know it is going to take quite a while for my hormones, weight, and etc to balance out, and I am sure that I have created physical and mental scars that I may not fully recover from. This video came just at the right time to help lift my spirits as I'm trying to wade through the medical scene and figure out how to advocate for myself and reclaim my health. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[@cbart5678]

With each video you post, each article I read, and each interview I see, I admire you more and more. I am a dancer for over 50 years and studio owner for 30! I’ve seen and lived this. I am on board with this message and have been for years. My studio is definitely inclusive of all and I hope to continue spreading positivity through dance just as you are. Thank you for all of your gifts that you share with us.

[@Ludesto]

You are SO brave, Katie

[@ultravioletspirit]

Thanks Kathryn yes! It's not ok! Luckily I started ballet at age 28 and I never let anybody shame me or stop me. Now I am 46 and am at intermediate level doing pointe and all. I am around so many dancers I'm NYC who are vegans and skinny and all but I still feel they look horrible and I would not want to have their bodies at ALL!! and I am happy with my womanly body and will always be, I am beautiful period!!

[@TheWholePointe]

I am so grateful this topic is being brought to light and talked about! It is too important. A comment from my ballet teacher (which was the first of many) is what started my own journey through disordered eating and negative body image and lead me to eventually leave dancing professionally. As a dancer now without any expectations I can feel all of the joy and beauty of ballet and it saddens me how this is destroying young dancers. As a teacher it is our highest responsibility to speak life into our students. Thank you for speaking up!

[@isaacmartin6709]

Thank you so much for being so honest. Everybody needs to hear this message💜💜

[@stephanietaylor1109]

I'm 41, and wanted to be a ballet dancer from about age 6. At about 11/12 I was constantly told to lose weight, sometimes in front of my entire class (which was humiliating) and I wasn't getting the right support from my home life - my mother was also telling me to lose weight. I was very talented and had some wonderful opportunities, but would be taken out of roles because of how I looked in the costume. You would assume that I was a very large person, but looking back at photos, I was very thin, you could see all my ribs on my chest - I was not overweight, but I believed I was. In reality, I simply had a body - I had hips and was broad in my shoulders and ribcage. I wasn't a long Russian ballerina. I eventually left ballet. I have dealt with disordered eating and poor body image for most of my life. I am still too self conscious to walk into a studio. I experience such heartache and sorrow that dance is no longer in my life. It broke my heart. While I think the ballet world has changed some since I was dancing - for example, when i was dancing the only acceptable body was that of a Russian ballerina, now companies (at least American companies) are much more open to different body types but have not seemed to let up on the pressure to be thin, or more accurately, underweight. Thank you for having the courage to speak out and to be an advocate for so many people, you are a much needed voice.

[@litrtwe1631]

Thank you Kathryn. I had suffered from eating disorders when I was a young girl. It makes me cry to see you cry.

[@fdntef21]

I am almost 70 years old. I was never a professional ballet dancer but took classes at a local studio for several years into my 30’s. I had many solo and partner performances. I weighed between 95 and 100 for years. When I was in my early 60’s I started taking classes again. Of course by this time, I had gone through the ‘change of life’ and weighed 140+ lbs. Even at this older age, I was horrified by my belly fat when I saw my profile in the mirror. This is not ok. We as a society have an image of what a young dancer and even a young woman, whether a dancer or not, should look like. That image has been stuck in my mind for all of these years even into my late 60’s. It needs to change within our society, not just in ballet, but our entire culture. Thank you, Kathryn, for all you do for dancers of all ages. You are AWESOME!

[@MsAerosensa]

Thank you for being brave, thank you for being honest, thank you for speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves! A change has got to come, and you are going to be a mighty voice!

[@sollenbum]

Thank you much for being so honest 😺 You are so right that we follow you for many other reasons than ballet. I love your ballet videos but I am touched more profoundly by videos such as these. These issues are applicable far beyond the world of ballet.

[@kathryn_morgan]

Thank you so much!

[@judithglasser3072]

Thank you for this incredible heart wrenching and the truth reality of the ballet world. You have changed the perception of this world and it's consequences. I follow you because of your heart, your incredible artistry,your compassion, your intelligence. You have changed the world of dance, it started when you started teaching classes on line, making it available to all. The world of dance was so remote and mysterious,you have opened up and opened the door to the art, that we can all dance and you should be so proud!!! You have changed the world for better. You are an amazing artist, woman and spokeswoman for those who don't have this platform. I am in awe of you a d your mission...and can't wait to see you dance again!

[@autumnpendergast9151]

I remember when you were shamed by the public for doing Nutcracker a few years back, I am so glad you didn't let the negative naysayers stop you. I am so grateful for you. As someone with actual physical disabilities, I was also stopped from following my passion, I didn't expect to be a pro ballerina, but dance is my life. I also have returned, training to teach, and I will never let them stop me again. If I have to dance in a wheelchair, I will dance in a wheelchair.

[@autumnpendergast9151]

I actually did do a dance piece in a wheelchair, to prove my point.

[@claireeebee]

I follow you for *you* ! Whether it's more lifestyle or dance. I'm not a dancer but I love watching and hearing about it. Your voice and experience is so helpful for so many people in and out of the ballet world! Thank you for doing what you do! I'm so glad young people especially have you to look up to :)

[@opheliawolf]

Thank you for this. I only wish someone had said these things to me 10 years ago when i quit ballet because nobody could accept that puberty makes your body change...

[@Nataluchi]

Hell, I practice ballet as a hobby, twice a week in a small studio, the classes are aimed to adult dancers without experience so they aren't too hard or demanding, yet I still get questions and messages quite frequenly of friends and people asking "Ey, I want to practice ballet but I think I'm too chubby/fat/tall/short/ugly for it, do you think your studio will be ok with me if I go?" and my answer always is: BALLET IS FOR EVERYONE. You are an amazing rolemodel and I'm glad I found you years ago when I first started because it gave me a lot of confidence to see you dance, and your advice always helps. Thank you Kathryn

[@BallerinaBadass]

Kathryn, THANK YOU. This video blew me away. It is what needs to be said, what needs to change, and what haunts so many, if not ALL ballet dancers. Your willingness to share what Miami City Ballet has most recently done is important - my first thought was "yep, I remember that feeling" and then my next thought was "I hope they don't retaliate against Kathryn for saying this on her channel", because that is what so often happens in ballet companies. It is terrifying to stand up for yourself in an industry where there are 20, 30, 100 dancers waiting in the wings to take your spot without hesitation, at any cost - ANY COST. And it feels like we are pitted against one another to vie for roles, therefore keeping us divided and less likely to fight back against abuse. You are truly the definition of BALLERINA BADASS - and yes, I know you do not call yourself a ballerina, as this term is reserved for the actual top dancer in a company, etc., but I am talking about the meaning behind the phrase: you are a badass for standing up for dancers everywhere, of all ages, and it makes me cry with gratitude. Thank you, Kathryn - I truly hope you can help effect a change in this industry and bring back the JOY of dance. Please keep talking about this!! Much love, Georgia