As a sports dietitian specializing in endurance and artistic athletics, I can tell you that professional ballet dancers are unlike other athletes. Ballet is a captivating blend of art and athleticism, making it a discipline that presents truly unique challenges. Professional ballet dancers not only need to master intricate movements and train like Olympians, but also express emotion and present delightful performances that look effortless to a crowd of hundreds of people. This requires a robust nutritional foundation to support their demanding physical activities.

Let’s explore five foundational areas of nutrition that are particularly relevant for ballet dancers.

For a more in-depth exploration of these topics, refer to my paper titled "Fuelling Artistry: Nutrition Considerations for Elite Professional Ballet Dancers".

Read my review paper!

1. Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating

Research suggests that 15-83% of professional ballet dancers have experienced an eating disorder at some point in their life (Arcelus et al., 2013). Another study noted that 83% of female ballet dancers reported experiencing at least one incident of disordered eating throughout their lives (Padham et al., 2014).

Athletes in general, regardless of level, amateurs and elite alike, are at a higher risk of eating disorders than the general population (Bratland‐Sanda et al., 2012). The aesthetic demands of ballet can lead to an even higher prevalence of eating disorders and disordered eating behaviours. The pressure to maintain a lean physique often results in inadequate calorie intake and can lead to serious health complications, including Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) syndrome (Brown et al., 2020; Civil et al., 2019).

Symptoms of RED-S include but are not limited to menstrual irregularities, decreased bone mineral density, impaired physiological function, and frequent (and sometimes career-ending) injuries (Brown et al., 2020; Prus et al., 2022). Research indicates that many dancers engage in unhealthy eating practices to conform to the industry's standards, underscoring the need for awareness and intervention.

To read more about how to identify eating disorders in athletes:

Spotting Disordered Eating in Athletes: Red Flags and Risks

Read More

2. Macronutrient Needs for Ballet Dancers

Early studies (Myburgh et al., 1999) reported that only 49% of the calorie needs were covered in professional ballet dancers. Later studies showed that this number increased, but dancers still only covered 75-80% of their energy, carbohydrate and protein needs (Łagowska & Jeszka, 2011; (Burckhardt et al., 2011), leaving them at risk of RED-S and injuries.

Ballet dancers require a well-balanced intake of macronutrients—carbohydrates, proteins, and fats—to fuel their rigorous training and performances. Carbohydrates are essential for energy, especially during high-intensity rehearsals and performances, while proteins support muscle repair and recovery (Brown, 2018). However, many dancers struggle to meet these nutritional needs, which can lead to deficiencies that impair performance and increase the risk of injury (Brown et al., 2020; Wright & Colin, 2020).

3. Preventing Ballet Injuries With Proper Nutrition

This is easy to say but often difficult to apply if you don’t have the right support: to prevent and recover from injuries, you need to a diet with enough total daily calories (bye bye RED-S), sufficient protein, and and plenty of antioxidants to ease inflammation and speed up recovery.

Under-fuelling unfortunately means more injuries. Injuries are a common concern in ballet due to the physical demands of the art form. Proper nutrition plays a critical role in both preventing injuries and aiding recovery. Low energy availability and inadequate nutrient intake can decrease bone density (sometimes permanently), increasing the risk of stress fractures and other musculoskeletal injuries (Jotwani et al., 2022; Ramkumar et al., 2016). A well-planned diet can help dancers maintain optimal bone health and reduce injury rates. For instance, ensuring adequate calcium and vitamin D intake is crucial for bone health, particularly in a population at risk for osteoporosis (Baranauskas et al., 2020).

4. Essential Micronutrients for Ballet Dancers: How to Avoid Deficiencies

Multi-micronutrient deficiency risk is higher in ballet dancers because of increased needs due to intense physical demands in combination with dietary restrictions for maintaining a lean physique. Various studies have reported many dancers being significantly deficient in potassium, calcium, vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, iron, various B vitamins, folate and selenium (Attwell et al., 2023; Beck et al, 2015; Benson et al., 1989; Łagowska & Jeszka, 2011; Clarkson, 2005).

Micronutrients, including vitamins and minerals, are vital for overall health and performance in dancers. For example, low iron levels can lead to anemia, resulting in fatigue and decreased performance (Baranauskas et al., 2020). Regular monitoring of micronutrient status and dietary adjustments can help mitigate these risks and ensure dancers are performing at their best (Wright & Colin, 2020; Baranauskas et al., 2020).

Dancers sometimes overdo it on supplements. However, relying on multivitamins doesn’t prevent injury and may be ineffective or even harmful if overall diet quality isn’t addressed.

5. The Culture of Ballet and Its Impact on Nutrition

It is important for any practitioner working with professionals to understand the culture and requirements, in order to best tailor their approach to each dancer. Ballet is unlike any other sport due to its combination of artistic expression and physical demands. Dancers must navigate these challenges while ensuring they are adequately fueled for both rehearsals and performances, making a tailored approach to nutrition essential.

As part of my Diploma in Sports Nutrition with the International Olympic Committee, I have the please to share with you all my assignment, consisting of a Review Paper about this topic specifically, called “Fuelling Artistry: Nutrition Considerations for Professional Ballet Dancers”. This review is a call to action for all practitioners and coaches working with these athletes, in order to approach each case in a culturally-informed way.

You can click the button here to read it:

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The Role of a Registered Sports Dietitian

Given the unique nutritional needs and challenges faced by ballet dancers, the inclusion of a Registered Sports Dietitian on the healthcare team can make or break athletic performance and well-being. These professionals can provide personalized nutritional guidance, helping dancers optimize their diets for performance, recovery, and overall health (Dijkstra et al., 2014; Schwartz, 2023). A dietitian can also assist in addressing disordered eating behaviours and ensuring that dancers meet their energy and nutrient requirements, ultimately supporting their physical and mental well-being (Reel et al., 2018; Dijkstra et al., 2014).

Final Words

In conclusion, the intersection of nutrition and performance in ballet is complex and requires careful attention. By understanding the foundations of nutrition, including the prevalence of eating disorders, macronutrient and micronutrient needs, and the unique challenges of ballet, dancers can better support their health and artistic expression.

For a more in-depth exploration of these topics, please refer to my paper on "Nutrition Considerations for Elite Professional Ballet Dancers".

Read my review paper!

Hope this helped!

Maria Tanielian, RD/Dt.P
Registered Dietitian/Nutritionniste
IOC Diploma in Sports Nutrition
ODNQ # 7223, CDBC # 2815, SDA # 949, CDO #16856

Studies Worth Reading With An Open Mind

Arcelus, J., Witcomb, G., & Mitchell, A. (2013). Prevalence of eating disorders amongst dancers: a systemic review and meta‐analysis. European Eating Disorders Review, 22(2), 92-101. https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.2271
Bratland‐Sanda, S. and Sundgot‐Borgen, J. (2012). Eating disorders in athletes: overview of prevalence, risk factors and recommendations for prevention and treatment. European Journal of Sport Science, 13(5), 499-508. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2012.740504
Brown et al. "Female Collegiate Dancers Body Composition, Macronutrient and Micronutrient Intake Over Two Academic Years: A Longitudinal Analysis" Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology (2020).
Civil et al. "Assessment of Dietary Intake, Energy Status, and Factors Associated With RED-S in Vocational Female Ballet Students" Frontiers in Nutrition (2019).
Prus et al. "(Low) Energy Availability and Its Association with Injury Occurrence in Competitive Dance: Cross-Sectional Analysis in Female Dancers" Medicina (2022).
Reel et al. "Injury and Disordered Eating Behaviors: What is the Connection for Female Professional Dancers?" Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology (2018).
Brown "Nutritional Considerations for the Vegetarian and Vegan Dancer" Journal of Dance Medicine & Science (2018).
Wright and Colin "The Role of Nutrition in Injury Prevention Among Ballet Dancers" (2020).
Jotwani et al. "Management of Stress Fractures in Ballet" Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (2022).
Padham, M. and Aujla, I. (2014). The relationship between passion and the psychological well-being of professional dancers. Journal of Dance Medicine &Amp; Science, 18(1), 37-44. https://doi.org/10.12678/1089-313x.18.1.37
Ramkumar et al. "Injuries in a Professional Ballet Dance Company: A 10-year Retrospective Study" Journal of Dance Medicine & Science (2016).
Baranauskas et al. "Actual Nutrition and Dietary Supplementation in Lithuanian Elite Athletes" Medicina (2020).
Dijkstra et al. "Managing the health of the elite athlete: a new integrated performance health management and coaching model" British Journal of Sports Medicine (2014).
Schwartz "Acute Musculoskeletal Complaints Vary According to the Perceived Stress Among Hungarian Professional Dancers" Journal of Dance Medicine & Science (2023).

Professional Ballet Dancers: 5 Key Nutrition Foundations from a Sports Dietitian