Ballet is a beautiful and romantic type of performance art. It has its origins in the Italian judicial systems of the 15th century (Jonas). Since its inception, ballet has undergone many changes and gained worldwide recognition. Filled with elaborate costumes, enthusiastic audiences, lights, weightless movement and beauty; the ballet is admired by many. On the magical stage, ballerinas can become whoever they want and perform in a fantasy world. It is for these reasons that children, especially little girls, around the world dream of becoming ballerinas when they grow up. However, becoming a professional ballerina is an extremely difficult accomplishment, one that few people will achieve (Kelso 1). The world of ballet may seem full of glitz and glamour, but behind the curtain lies a whole different story. Extreme demands and pressures are placed on these young dancers to be very thin and near perfect. Some of these include body and weight demands, competition, and social pressures. These constant pressures can lead to negative body image and even debilitating eating disorders (Price and Pettijohn). “Just as musicians have their instruments, dancers have their bodies” (Price and Pettijohn 991). The body is the only tool a dancer has to create art and express themselves. It is for this reason that constant attention is paid to the body. This constant focus and constant pressure can cause dancers to develop insecurities and a negative body image. The term body image can be defined as “the way people see themselves in the mirror every day: the values, judgments, and ideas they attach to their appearance” (Kelso 1). From childhood, people perceive themselves in a certain way. They learn how to feel their ...... middle of paper ......dangerous age, eating disorder expert warns. Digital newspaper. February 24, 2011. the web. October 27, 2011.Dunning, Jennifer. "Eating disorders haunt ballerinas". New York Times. July 16, 1997: 11. First academic research. Internet. November 23, 2011. Jonas, Gerald. Dance: the pleasure, the power and the art of movement. New York: Abrams, 1992. Print. Kelso, Paula. “Behind the curtain: the body, control and ballet”. Edwardsville Journal of Sociology. 3:2. (2003). Internet. November 25, 2011. Price, Brena and Pettijohn, Terry. “The effect of classical dance attire on dancers’ bodies and self-perception.” Social behavior and personality. 34.8 (2006): Web. 991-998. Toro, Josep et al. “Eating Disorders in Ballet Students: Problems and Risk Factors.” John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. and the Eating Disorders Association. October 28, 2011. Print.