On-Time Maturation in Female Adolescent Ballet Dancers: Learning From Lived Experiences

Siobhan B Mitchell,Anne M Haase,Sean P Cumming

doi:10.1177/02724316211036752

Abstract

This study employed semi-structured interviews and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to explore experiences of on-time maturation in nine adolescent ballet dancers from across three vocational ballet schools in the United Kingdom. Two themes were identified as central to their experiences: ‘A right and a wrong way to grow’, and fitting in and moving forward. Instead of perceiving themselves as ‘average’ and experiencing a relatively easy pubertal transition, on-time dancers described unique challenges associated with a fluctuation between fitting in and not fitting in within their social context. The implications of on-time maturation in this context are complex and do not appear to follow the same trajectory as early maturing ballet dancers nor on-time non-dancers.

Highlights

Puberty is a key process that young dancers have to negotiate, influencing their pathway in dance (Mitchell et al, 2016)
Up to 70% of female professional dancers are reported to be delayed in their maturation (Hamilton et al, 1997) with only 6% of girls in vocational ballet training reported as early maturers (Brooks-Gunn & Warren, 1985)
This study focuses primarily on exploring qualitative experiences and within these experiences, how sociocultural, psychological and biological factors interact in order to advance our understanding of experiences of on-time maturation in the context of vocational ballet training and subsequently to inform future theoretical models of pubertal timing and social adjustment relative to on-time maturation

Summary

Introduction

Puberty is a key process that young dancers have to negotiate, influencing their pathway in dance (Mitchell et al, 2016). The need to evaluate the influence of the sub-cultures or environments of specific sports on the development of youth athletes has been recommended (Malina et al, 2013, 2015; Mitchell et al, 2016) This applies to ballet training and requires consideration of the interplay between the ballet subculture; self-perceptions and attitudes towards the body, among others; and the biological maturation of young dancers (Mitchell et al, 2016, 2017)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion