A qualitative study of the interior world of the professional contemporary dancer

Hardy, Cinzia MSc Dance Science, Laban, London, United Kingdom; and Quested, Eleanor MSc, Birmingham University, Birmingham, United Kingdom 

PURPOSE

Recent research highlights the prevalence of stress amongst professional dancers and the need for further studies (Laws, 2005).  This study applied qualitative methods to enable an in-depth exploration of differences in stress experiences, coping resources and perceived support between employed (ED) and independent (ID) contemporary dancers.

METHODS

With informed consent, in-depth, open-ended interviews were conducted with 5 IDs and 5 EDs (2 male, 8 female; mean age = 31.7+ 8.29). Interview data was analysed using inductive content analysis (Scanlan et al, 1989). To ensure ?trustworthiness? (Lincoln & Guba, 1985), member checking was employed by sending transcripts to participants prior to analysis and a second researcher checked higher order themes against emerging themes to ensure a level of external auditing. 

RESULTS

Key sources of stress for both sectors were working environments, choreographers, and anxiety about the future. IDs were mainly concerned with finances, maintaining fitness and career transitions. EDs appeared less autonomous, experienced more self-doubt and were more concerned with company politics than IDs. Social support and work-life balance were important sources of coping for both. 

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified differences in stress and coping between IDs and EDs and suggested IDs may have a greater tendency towards an internal locus of control than EDs. Findings have implications for the role early training environments may hold in the promotion of healthy dance careers.

REFERENCES

Laws, H. (2005). Fit to dance 2: Report of the second national inquiry into dancers? health and injury in the UK. DanceUK.

Lincoln, S.Y. & Guba, E.G. (1985). Naturalistic Inquiry. London: Sage Publications 

Scanlan, T.K., Ravizza, K. & Stein, G.L. (1989). An in-depth study of former elite figure skaters I: Introduction to the project. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 11(1), 54-64.