Season 1 Episode 5: Your Body and Dance

I am joined by one of my oldest and best friends, Brittney Coates, in an episode that covers the controversial, yet important nuances of the relationships between the body (image) and dance. Growing up dancing together in highly competitive studios, we encountered tensions between body image expectations and pressures to look a certain way on stage and even, in the classroom. Brittney expands on the individual challenges she faced as a young woman and the feedback she received from dance mentors on her developing body during that time. She explains how that feedback negatively effected her then and how it informed the relationship she had with her body as a young adult. Together over a glass of Portlandia 2019 Pinot Noir, we uncover how Brittney was able to take that negative feedback from her past, and turn it into a more positive way to teach students who currently attend her yoga classes at Funky Mudra Yoga Studio in Deerfield Beach, FL.

I feel that this episode will reach many artists as body image in dance is a major focus, especially in highly competitive environments. I hope that this episode speaks to all listeners, but especially to dance educators who have the privilege and immense responsibility of contributing to the growth of a young human. Sometimes the smallest comments and most insignificant perceived moments can deeply interrupt the healthy ways to build relationships with our bodies over time. I am grateful to Brittney for sharing her personal experiences on this platform, and I hope that listeners see her as I do: a true Wonder Woman.

Watch on YouTube here.

Listen on Spotify here.

To follow Brittney & Funky Mudra:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/funkymudrayoga/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/funkymudrayogastudio

Website: https://www.funkymudrayoga.com/