CONTENT NOTICE: INCLUDES REFERENCES TO ANTI-FAT BIAS AND EATING DISORDERS. IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE MAY BE SUFFERING FROM AN EATING DISORDER, GO TO NATIONALEATINGDISORDERS.ORG/HELP-SUPPORT FOR SUPPORT.
SPACE A conversation between two dancers combating anti-fatness TAKING UP BY KAT KOENEMANN AND ALEX TISCARENO
EDITOR’S NOTE: Kat Koenemann is Dancers’ Group’s General Manager and Alex Tiscareno is a Dancers’ Group Administrative Assistant. Their paths crossed through their fat-positive advocacy. KAT: I’m so excited we’re working together at Dancers’ Group. It’s wonderful to meet another dancer/teacher in a bigger body who is also making space for bigger bodies in dance. I identify as a fat dancer. I use “fat” in a neutral, even positive way, and it’s been liberating. The word can carry a lot of weight (pun intended), but our discomfort with the word “fat” can be illuminating!
ALEX: It’s really nice to see dancers who have a simi- lar body type to me. I’ve always identified as plus-size or bigger-bodied. More recently, I opened up to describ- ing myself as a fat dancer once I started my thesis work, which, as you know, was about how anti-fatness affects the dancing body. KAT: That is such important work! I have also shifted from body positivity and trying to “love my body” to confronting anti-fatness and seeing the bigger picture: ALL bodies deserve respect regardless of size, skin color, ethnic background, gender, sexuality, age, health or
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In Dance | May 2014 | dancersgroup.org
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