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#153866 - 07/18/08 11:38 PM
Anorexia Nervosa and my cast member
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Registered: 04/16/07
Posts: 2411
Loc: Arizona
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Yesterday I had to call a dancer in my production and tell her not to come to rehearsal until she had eaten. It was so sad but she had passed that line that I know means the disease has hold of her.
I had to tell her that I knew that if she ate she would have a bit of a belly because thats what happens when an anorexic eats finally.. I told her that if I didn't see that little belly, she could not work.
I talked to a close friend who is an acclaimed psychiatrist first and it was his advice, again, as I've had dancers like this before and when I was a teen, a young dancer, I had it for a bit.
I felt badly also because this young girl had been very successful in theater in Seattle for some time until she got to be about 25 when the competition was stiffer because she went pro. She trys so hard and is not really in the league of many of the dancers.
Because she is not as strong of a dancer, her mother came to see me and told me that she had been rehearsing all night, night after night and exercising to extreme limits.
Her mother thought that her thinness was too thin but had not been educated in Anorexia. I gave her a therapists number.
They are strict Mormons. I have no idea if that affects them but I know that the mother does the same thing as the daughter in trying to be perfect! She was perfectly turned out and she too, was thin. She was "cosmetically thin," the kind of person who does not work out to be thin but starves. It is easy to see this if you are a Master Dancer, there are tell tale signs.
She also spoke of her daughters achievements and of her sisters achievements and their goals as if they were do or die about success! I could see where the young woman got her illness!
I have no idea how to get to her mother or her but I recieved a call from her sister saying that she had, indeed, eaten and was sporting a little new belly for the food to fit into!
What do you think? The mother was like talking to sommeone who was brain washed! I don't want to fire this young woman.
Dancer9
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#153871 - 07/19/08 07:26 PM
Re: Anorexia Nervosa and my cast member
[Re: meredithbead]
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Registered: 04/16/07
Posts: 2411
Loc: Arizona
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Hi Meredith. I think you are correct about the life style choice. There are three sisters, all the same. Although she has eaten, I can see myself baby sitting this woman who is paid, for rehearsal as well, making sure she is eating. I have decided to give myself a "three strike," deal with her and if I have to deal with her three times, she loses the role. I have an under study for her that I called yesterday and told to move into an understudy for that particular role. The understudy is thrilled, now she is in a paying gig. I'd rather use the understudy now. My original cast member has a very good voice and that's needed for theater but she does not have the lead. Her song can be done in a "theater voice," which is part talking so the pro in my is all over this problem.
I am not heartless though. I fear for this girl. I am speaking to "brain washed," types here with her and her Mom though so I can't make a dent. I wish I knew more about the Mormon religion. I have taught Mormon children to dance, ( It's big with them for some reason,) and have met up with them in a big fashion shoot I managed too. There was the same perfection personality to the point that until one of the models saw her shots that I designed and realized she "had never looked better," she had a problem trusting me as a professional with a big resume'! This woman wanted all the photos for her book and is now my fan, but it was irritating, to say the least, to hear her say, on location, "are you sure I should be this way?" (for a shot...)
Bangers, head bangers.
Thanks Meredith, my brilliant friend, Dancer
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#153874 - 07/20/08 07:58 AM
Re: Anorexia Nervosa and my cast member
[Re: dancer9]
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Member
Registered: 12/30/05
Posts: 3027
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The "Be Perfect" belief is filtered down from every one who cares for a child.It is how the child gets "strokes" that is acknowledgemnt that they exist and matter. The child adheres to it to survive.
Mountain ash
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