ABSTRACT

Despite the well-documented challenges of professional ballet dancers and anecdotal report of premature retirement, no research has examined what professional ballet dancers do to persevere in their performance careers. This study drew on the perspectives of retired professional ballet dancers to address this question. We conducted narrative interviews with nine retired professional ballet dancers and identified four themes using thematic analysis. Findings show that to persevere in a performance career, dancers need to: (1) Look After Mental Health and Self-Worth; (2) Be Proactive in Navigating Career; (3) Grow as an Artist; and (4) Live as a Whole Person. We suggest these thematic findings illustrate attitudes and behaviours of career adaptability and draw attention to the needs for mental health support and mental skills training, and mentorship and career advice, for helping aspiring and professional ballet dancers persevere in a performance career. Findings have implications and applications for ballet dancers, research, ballet management, dance educators, and dance counsellors.

摘要

尽管职业芭蕾舞演员面临的挑战和过早退休的轶事报道有据可查，但还没有研究调查过专业芭蕾舞演员做了什么来坚持他们的表演生涯。这项研究借鉴了退休专业芭蕾舞演员的观点来解决这个问题。我们对九名退休的专业芭蕾舞演员进行了叙事访谈，并使用主题分析确定了四个主题。调查结果表明，要坚持表演事业，舞者需要： (1) 照顾心理健康和自我价值；(2) 在职业生涯中积极主动；(3) 成长为艺术家；(4) 作为一个完整的人生活。我们建议这些主题调查结果说明职业适应性的态度和行为，并引起人们对心理健康支持和心理技能培训需求的关注，以及指导和职业建议，帮助有抱负的专业芭蕾舞演员在表演事业中坚持不懈。研究结果对芭蕾舞演员、研究、芭蕾舞管理、舞蹈教育工作者和舞蹈辅导员具有影响和应用。