This thesis is compiled of four short stories and is an excerpt from a story cycle that I’ve been working on for the last four years entitled Eyes That Seen Too Much. These stories follow the challenges faced by the Labossierre women. Although most fiction writing does address challenges and/or how characters face their particular challenges, this story cycle is slightly different due to the unconventional backgrounds of the characters. Katherine and her sister Raquel grew up as Prostitutes in Louisiana, where their mother, Bit (Lil’ Bit) was also a Prostitute. The sister’s daughters, Kennedy and Marie become Exotic Dancers in adulthood, and the reader witnesses some of the challenges that they face as children and the social constraints of being daughters of former prostitutes and exotic dancers.

Introduction: Ballet dancers’ body weight and BMI have been shown to be below recommended levels, and total energy intake is often sustained at a level below the predicted energy requirement. Less is known about the ability of dancers to manage energy balance (EB) during the day, as energy requirements fluctuate as a result of periods of rest and intense activity. Compromised EB may result in decreased athletic performance, higher body fat percentage, and increased injury risk. Purpose: To assess within-day energy balance (WIDEB) during a typical training day in a group of pre-professional ballet dancers and dancers in the early years of professional careers, and to assess the relationship between inadequate EB and injury rates in these dancers. Methods: A two part assessment tool was developed to measure energy intake and energy expenditure hour by hour within a single 24 hour time period. Body mass index (BMI), resting energy expenditure, total day energy balance, and energy deficits > -400 kcal were also used in analysis. Participants were asked to document number of injuries incurred within the previous dance season, and how many days the injury resulted in one or more complete or partial sessions of time lost beyond the injury itself. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, t-tests, and Spearman’s correlation to evaluate relationships between EB and injury rates. Results: Data were collected from 21 (5 males, 16 females) pre-professional and professional ballet dancers from the Atlanta Ballet. Average BMI was 21.9 ±1.4 for male dancers (MD) and 19.1 ±1.0 for female dancers (FD). Negative energy balance (EB) was found at hour 24 in 90.5% participants. Average energy intake for all dancers was 2,382 kcal (± 921) and the average predicted energy expenditure was 3,317 kcal (± 592). Mean EB at hour 24 for all participants was -781.2 (±689.4). The average day EB for males was -223.6 (±629.7) and -1156.9 (±582.5) for females. The largest energy deficits (>900 kcal) compared to estimated expenditures were found between the hours 17 and 20. Participants spent an average of 660.0 (±192.6) minutes per day in negative EB > - 400 kcal. Total group (TG) injury days and energy deficit data (number of minutes > - 400 kcal) were not significantly correlated. Number of minutes > - 400 kcal and number of injuries reported per dancer were correlated (r = -0.44 P = 0.046). MD (n = 5) injury days were significantly associated with EB at hours 1 through 7 (r = 0.90 P = 0.37). MD total number of times injured was associated with EB at hours 1 through 7 (r = 0.89 P = 0.04). A significant association was found in FD between number of times injured and deficits > - 400 kcal. Conclusions: Ballet dancers have significant energy deficits during a typical training day therefore increasing their risk for injuries. Nutrition education would be a key component of an injury prevention program for dancers.

Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 1999. Graduate Programme in Dance. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 152-159). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pMQ56164.

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The purpose of this study was to attempt to determine if skilled dancers instructed to concentrate on sustaining balance while performing a simple balance task would experience ironic effects of thought control and a subsequent performance decrement under conditions of distraction utilizing a within subjects design. Sixteen skilled dancers were divided into two groups. Each group was pre-tested for time on balance for three trials on the 1"I13 balance task, and then alternately exposed to treatment 1 (a set of concentration instructions) and treatment 2 (the same set of concentration instructions with the introduction of a taped anti-rhythmic drum beat playing loudly in the background). Both groups were post-tested after the administration of each treatment, A 2x3 ANOVA with repeated measures on the last factor revealed no significant differences between post test scores for each of the two treatments. The nonsignificant results contradict prior cognitive research conducted using the Ironic theory of Thought Control developed by D.M. Wegner. Results suggest the need for further research in the motor domain testing this theory with attempts to identify factors which mediate motor performance. / School of Physical Education

This thesis is three compositions.

Thesis (M.F.A.)--University of Oregon, 2008. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-65). Also available online.

Thesis (M.Psych.Sport&Ex.) - University of Queensland, 2005. / Includes bibliography.

Thesis (M.A.)--Ohio State University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 71-78). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

Background: It has been reported that dancers are at greater risk of developing low bone mineral density (BMD) compared to general population; however, some published studies also highlight the positive effects of dance training on bone metabolism. Given the existing controversy, the aim of the current work was a) to investigate bone health status of professional ballet dancers and vocational dance students, and b) to investigate associated factors and mechanisms involved in dancers’ bone health. Design Cross-sectional, longitudinal analysis (2-yrs follow-up) and genetic association studies were conducted on a population which consisted of professional ballet dancers, vocational dance students and controls. Methods: The total of 58 professional ballet dancers (66 sex- aged-matched controls), and 152 vocational dance students (96 aged- and sex-matched controls) were screened for BMD status at impact [femoral neck (FN); lumbar spine (LS)] and non-impact sites (forearm). Tanner staging, age at menarche and menstrual status were assessed via questionnaires. Bone mass, nutrition, peak height velocity estimation, energy availability, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1), oestrogens, growth hormone, and sclerostin serum concentrations were longitudinally measured in a sub-sample of 101 vocational dance students and age- and sex-matched controls. Association between polymorphisms of the Wnt/β-catenin and ER signalling pathways with low BMD were further investigated. Results: Female vocational dance students were more likely to display low BMD at the forearm and LS than controls (OR= 0.1; p < 0.05 and OR=0.2; p < 0.05, respectively); the prevalence of low BMD at the forearm was significantly higher in female professional ballet dancers than controls (37.5% vs. 17.4%, p < 0.001). During the follow-up, both female and male vocational dancers revealed significantly lower BMD at impact and non-impact sites (p < 0.001) compared to controls. Serum IGF-1 concentrations were significantly increased in vocational dancers compared to controls at 2yrs follow-up (p < 0.05), as well as serum sclerostin (p < 0.05). Genetic variants at the Wnt/β-catenin and ER signalling pathways were identified as risk factors for low BMD at both impact and non-impact sites. Conclusion: Professional dancers and vocational dance students have lower bone health compared to controls. Genetic mechanisms seem to be determinant. It is recommend that dancers performing at elite level should be referred for bone densitometry.