A Personality Profile of Professional and Conservatory Student Dancers

Abstract

The Test of Attentional and Interpersonal Style (TAIS), a 144-item personality inventory developed by sport psychologist Robert Nideffer, was used for the first time with dancers in this study to explore (1) what it would divulge about the shared personality traits of elite-level dancers and (2) whether it might be useful as a teaching/counseling tool to enhance the performance of under-achieving dance students. Two sets of subjects were tested: group 1 (n = 41: 22 females, 19 males) was composed of professional dancers from the Boston Ballet Company, while the subjects in group 2 (n = 42: 38 females, 4 males) were all dance majors at the Boston Conservatory. A composite profile was developed for each group by averaging the scores recorded on each of the 18 scales used in the TAIS analysis, and the two profiles were then compared in accordance with standard testing procedures. Both groups were found to be characterized by an internally focused attentional style, but the professionals were clearly more skilled in adapting this style to the elimination of internal and external distractions. This finding was reinforced by a contrast in the personality traits relating to interpersonal style, which again portrayed the student dancers as relatively vulnerable to distraction as a result of higher levels of extroversion and impulsivity, and greater ambivalence in their response to external authority. It is concluded that elite dancers do share certain traits in common, and that identifying personality characteristics that are important to success in dance may provide both students and their teachers with insight for enhancing performance.

Mental health in dance: A scoping review

“…Moreover, dancers seem generally to have low confidence and possess little knowledge related to how to manage their careers and increase their quality of life (Hoffer, 1981;van Staden et al, 2009;Haraldsen et al, 2021a). Yet, studies indicated that the dancers' life quality could increase if measures, such as psychological skills training and psycho-education, were systematically applied in their education and professional life (Redding and Quested, 2006;Solomon et al, 2002;Diaz et al, 2008;van Staden et al, 2009;Klockare et al, 2011;Carattini, 2020;Kim et al, 2022). So far, positive outcome evidence appeared dispersed and lack coherence, which made it difficult to detect an overall prevalence.…”

A Psycho-Educational Model to Enhance the Self-Development and Mental Health of Classical Dancers

“…Solomon and Solomon suggested that sport psychologist Robert Nideffer's Test of Attentional and Interpersonal Styles, widely recognized for its validity and reliability as a means of helping underachieving athletes to realize their potential, might profitably be put to the same use with troubled dancers. 75,76 Our psycho-educational model, to which we now turn our attention, represents another step toward acknowledging and dealing with the fact that some aspiring dancers are incapable of adjusting on their own to the realities of dance training and performance at the vocational level.…”

Neuromuscular Warm-Up is Associated with Fewer Overuse Injuries in Ballet Dancers Compared to Traditional Ballet-Specific Warm-Up

“…This can include costs such as those from insurance claims, Workers Compensation, treatment, rehabilitation, re-casting, and re-rehearsing, among others. 7,8 In addition to the physical complaints, pain, and high stress resulting from their injuries, the affected dancers even risk termination of their careers.…”