There is much debate amongst researchers as to whether self-esteem should be considered as a personality trait, therefore remaining relatively stable, or should it be deemed as being a state-like concept, continuously fluctuating in response to different situations. Self-esteem, simply defined as “the way an individual feels about him or herself,” (Bobbio, 2009, p.549, cited in Yìğìter, 2014, p.1234) develops at a young age. Robins and Trzesniewski (2005) analysed the correlation between self-esteem and age and outlined how self-esteem is likely to fluctuate throughout a lifetime. Due to previous findings from other studies, Robins and Trzesniewski (2005) believe that fluctuations in self-esteem are inevitable and tend to reflect changes in
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“Professional ballet is not just something that you do; in a very deep sense it is who you are.” (Wainwright, Williams, and Turner, 2005, p.49). As this quotation suggests, dance is often considered a major source of identity for dancers. Mainwaring, Krasnow, and Kerr (2001, cited in Eusanio, Thomson, and Jaque, 2014) suggest that one’s self-identity is often defined by one’s work- for dancers, their work is their dancing, hence their identity is defined by dance. Therefore, this may be particularly applicable to student dancers who have grown-up dancing. As Robins and Trzesniewski’s study (2005) found that as children grow older they begin to base their self-evaluations on external feedback and comparisons to peers, it could therefore be suggested that these evaluations can undermine an individual’s sense of self-esteem and self-identity. Dancers are dependent on others to evaluate aspects of their performance, whilst also constantly observing themselves (Eusanio, Thomson, and Jaque, 2014), that these observations assist in the development of self-identity (Ibid). This could suggest that dancers may have low self-esteem levels due to the constant pressure of observation and critique they are exposed to. Conversely, Yìğìter (2014) found that University students who partake in regular exercise are likely to experience higher levels of self-esteem. Therefore, perhaps University student dancers are likely to have a higher self-esteem than students who are studying a purely theoretical course. Furthermore, recent studies by Nordin-Bates et al, (2011, 2012, cited in Padham and Aujla, 2014) suggest that dance students studying a range of styles have relatively high self-esteem; whilst Van Zelst, Clabaugh and Morling, (2004, cited in Padham and Aujla, 2014) found University level modern dancers to have a higher self-esteem than ballet
“Professional ballet is not just something that you do; in a very deep sense it is who you are.” (Wainwright, Williams, and Turner, 2005, p.49). As this quotation suggests, dance is often considered a major source of identity for dancers. Mainwaring, Krasnow, and Kerr (2001, cited in Eusanio, Thomson, and Jaque, 2014) suggest that one’s self-identity is often defined by one’s work- for dancers, their work is their dancing, hence their identity is defined by dance. Therefore, this may be particularly applicable to student dancers who have grown-up dancing. As Robins and Trzesniewski’s study (2005) found that as children grow older they begin to base their self-evaluations on external feedback and comparisons to peers, it could therefore be suggested that these evaluations can undermine an individual’s sense of self-esteem and self-identity. Dancers are dependent on others to evaluate aspects of their performance, whilst also constantly observing themselves (Eusanio, Thomson, and Jaque, 2014), that these observations assist in the development of self-identity (Ibid). This could suggest that dancers may have low self-esteem levels due to the constant pressure of observation and critique they are exposed to. Conversely, Yìğìter (2014) found that University students who partake in regular exercise are likely to experience higher levels of self-esteem. Therefore, perhaps University student dancers are likely to have a higher self-esteem than students who are studying a purely theoretical course. Furthermore, recent studies by Nordin-Bates et al, (2011, 2012, cited in Padham and Aujla, 2014) suggest that dance students studying a range of styles have relatively high self-esteem; whilst Van Zelst, Clabaugh and Morling, (2004, cited in Padham and Aujla, 2014) found University level modern dancers to have a higher self-esteem than ballet