Dancer's Diet

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 8:42am

After watching the "Turkey Lurkey" clip I was wondering what those dancers ate to keep up their strength. After performing that number, they must have been ready to eat an entire cow. Yet obviously they couldn't stuff themselves on two-show days.

So what do/did dancers eat to keep up their strength? Also, has the diet changed between the late 60s and now.

[Elphie3]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 9:18am

It depends on which dancer you talk to, and whether they're eating healthy or not. After all there was the old 70's dancers diet of "coffee and cigarettes" LOL!

Being a performer, I try to load up on healthy protein (chicken breast, etc.) through out the day - up until about an hour before the show. I also keep fresh juice backstage in my dressing room to get a fast burst of energy right after a crazy number like "Turkey Lurkey."

But keep in mind, dancers are used to numbers like that - they sometimes take multiple dance classes in addition to rehearsal, so they're used to high energy, difficult physical activity.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 10:43am

After all there was the old 70's dancers diet of "coffee and cigarettes" LOL!

Sad to say this, but this is still the normal diet for dancers. One major difference from dancers today to dancers in the 1970's is the exclusion of cocaine.

[Elphie3]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 10:52am

Sad, but true.

Though now I think it's Jolt or some other form of soda.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 11:07am

I've heard about coffee and ciggies as well. But with all that physical exertion, how would they keep their bodies from breaking down? At some point, the body is going to call for nutrition and start breaking down.

[Piper3500]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 12:23pm

in the 60s those dancers really had to keep their necks and arms healthy that's for sure. any non trained person would be in a neck brace after one of their neck moves.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 4:18pm

mostly a high protein, low-carb diet. most dancers that keep up with it year round(taking classes, exercise, etc.) have the stamina to do numbers like that 8 shows a week. I couldn't imagine a non-dancer being put into a number like Turkey Lurkey Time and being able to get throught it completely.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 8:29pm

[BrianS]

Posted: 5/8/10 at 1:38pm

Gotham, dancer's who don't eat well are very prone to injury. That much stress on the muscles and tendons requires a lot of nutrients and sleep to repair and rebuild. I see the difference all the time in shows between those who are disciplined about it and those who don't feed themselves well at all.

It's especially taxing on the body in new shows as you are usually rehearsing new material in the day while performing at night. Without the aid of muscle memory, there's a much greater chance for a dancer to do something wrong and that's when the weakened muscle or tendon fails.

Eat well. Eat smart.