Examination of the Mental Well-Being and Coping Methods of Professional Dancers During the Covid-19 Lockdown Period

Abstract

The paper aims to present how professional dancers (n=163) could cope with the challenges of the lockdown period and how they could be best supported. The study measured mental well-being, resilience, coping strategies of dancers, and specific responses to the lockdown situation. The most influential factor in dancers’ mental well-being is their resilience; yet, they can also rely on their skills of coping with adversity, which, ideally, should improve during professional dancing. Of the situation-specific variables, worries and anxiety related to Covid-19, the level of boredom and the use of self-help techniques have proven to be exceptionally important. The conclusion of the research was that besides general worries related to Covid-19, the dancers are also characterized by specific worries (bodyweight control, decline in movement skills, difficulties in returning to work). It would be beneficial to put special focus on effective intervention methods for dancers, teach them adequate self-help and coping techniques, and increase their resilience. Although the lockdown period was a special and rare occurrence, similar situations, e.g. injuries, changing company, trips, having children, can frequently arise in dancers’ lives.