Dance Magazine: Jenn Edwards has crafted a multifaceted career: She performs with Le Patin Libre, a contemporary skating company, dances, teaches, and choreographs for gymnasts and dancers, and plays in a band. Though her breadth of work is impressive, she’s also struggled with periods of self-doubt, questioning whether she truly belonged in any of her chosen fields. “Because I’ve hopped around to different disciplines a lot, I sometimes felt like I wasn’t an expert at any one of those things—I was just sort of a fraud at all of them,” she says.
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I suffer from imposter syndrome in bursts. At times I don’t feel it at all, and other times it hits me in full force. I’m not surprised that dancers in particular are prone to suffering from imposter syndrome, because the field is so competitive and demands so much from you mentally and physically. With my limited ballet background, I can see how easy it would be to be a perfectionist and develop imposter syndrome as a result. I also appreciated the insight into the spectrum of imposter syndrome in this article, which is something I’ve never really heard talked about. Like with any mental health struggle, it makes sense that there are levels and different triggers for each individual that suffers from it. I found the concept of the choreographed work ‘Imposter Syndrome’ intriguing, because I think it is a great way to explore it and face it head on. Finally, I appreciated that the people in this article were willing to be vulnerable with their experiences, because it helps young people like me understand the reality of high-stakes industries such as ours.
The article I read directly before this was about a mental health exhibit in the science center so this was an interesting segway. I have struggles with imposter syndrome as I think everyone does but overtime (especially in the last two years I have gotten a lot better). My new mantra has become “I might not know what I am doing but I am confident in my ability to figure it out” and that alone has helped me a ton. It takes off the pressure of “being good” or “having it all figured out” . The only thing I have to believe is my ability to learn and do what I need to get where I want to be. I think this goes right along with the comment at the end about labeling feelings as imposter syndrome because it helps diffuse them. The whole concept is literally a false sense of anxiety and once you can identify that it helps you move through it. I do think this is seen more often in the arts and I think it is something that everyone should be aware of.
As someone who used to dance, I miss it everyday but I don’t miss the competitive and toxic culture of the dance world. I feel like the key to battling imposter syndrome is being in an environment where you know you are valued for who you are and your specific skill sets. I feel like even when your imposter syndrome creeps in, if you are in an environment that completely combats that and doesn’t allow that to thrive then it is so much harder to doubt yourself and your talents. But, if you are in an environment where people are constantly competing or trying to pull you down, then it is so much harder to fight the internal battle when you also have to worry about everything else going on around you. Even though this article talks about imposter syndrome in dance, it is prevalent everywhere, especially in industries where there are so few coveted spots. The thing about the entertainment industry is that it really just depends on who you are and what sector of the industry you are in.
Imposter syndrome thrives in situations that make you question and cartique everything about your own body's abilities. I think that dance can be the highest level of bodily cartique. As a dancer myself I have experience critiquing the athletic abilities that my body possesses along with many of the physical characteristics that my body was born with. Dance is an artistic outlet and when your body is that art it becomes incredibly easy to demean every aspect of yourself that doesn't fit the stereotypical vision of a dancer. The level of critiquing can vary from being upset by your height because in dance the taller you are the more beautiful your dancing is assumed to be to the specific ankle structure that reveals itself when pointing your foot. Many other arts that utilize one's body to perform such as singing and acting can bring up the same immense level of imposter syndrome because when it comes down to it you can't change the core aspects of your own body.
It’s sad how many careers in the arts are prone to imposter syndrome. One of the first things we were warned about at the School of Drama orientation was not doubting our abilities or our right to be here, but I think most people in my class have struggled with both at one point or another this year. Dance, especially ballet, is one of the most technically-precise and rigorous parts of the performance world. It makes sense that so many top-notch dancers, regardless of their experience, would experience imposter syndrome. Sophie Bress, the author of the article, has a great quote about fighting it: “You don’t want to walk away from this career and be like, ‘I hated myself the entire time and didn’t believe in myself.” More So than most careers, people choose to pursue theatre because it makes them happy. Reminding yourself to put passion above perfection is a powerful way to stay grounded and not lose sight of what matters.
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