Serious music students buy the best instrument they can afford, and learn to take the utmost care of what they select. However, ballet, recreational dance and cheer leading students don't account for the fact that their bodies are their instruments. Those who learn how to eat right in early ballet training, or in learning ballet for adults or for cheer leading events, will benefit for the rest of their lives.
Sadly our food industries have completely changed the way we eat and the way we think about food. I think it's amazing that for instance, most people (okay mostly guys but not exclusively) will pay close attention to the grade of fuel they put in their cars, the tire quality, waxes, and gadgets and accessories, yet have no idea how their bodies run at optimal functionality.
Many athletes and ballet students don't treat their bodies as well as a car ........children depend on their parents to feed them properly and most don't. Not their fault, it takes a special focus to re-learn the whole issue of eating well.
Our muscles and brains only recognize real fresh food nutrients. That's a fact. Many vitamins are made in a lab, and while they can scientifically be classified as "B6", they are not recognized or digested by the body. Our bodies are smarter than we are!
What is not fresh food? Canned, frozen, processed in any way - is not fresh food. Preserved, (chemically), which most supermarkets do, (spraying 'fresh' salad and vegetables), hydrolyzed flavor enhancers (MSG). Yet, we get what we can get.
Awareness is just doing your best. Your instrument, brain, bones, and muscles, is your way to dance, whether as a younger ballet student, a student in a ballet for adults program, or a modern, jazz, Irish dancer, hip hop dancer or a cheerleader. Hopefully you'll stay alert to good dance technique, how to get the best energy for dancing or other athletic practice - and how to feed your instrument so that it can continue serving you in your quest for - whatever your goals are!
Learn how to eat right. If you have a child in early ballet training, or are a student in a ballet for adults program or are another style of dancer or a cheerleader, your instrument is your life - and more.