K-State nutrition student explores gap between well-being and dance

Abbey Griffin combines her fields of study to break down complexities of self-image, physique and wellness in the dance community.

WWhen Abbey Griffin decided to research the disconnect between perception and self-image, she chose the one language she knew could convey such complexities — dance.

Griffin, a dancer for nearly two decades, began performing when she was three years old and has continued developing her passion as a K-State student and researcher.

“Dance allowed me to find my voice and find how I wanted to express and communicate with other people,” she said. “I didn't love communicating verbally, and I still have trouble in that.”

At K-State, Griffin began a career in wellness and health care by pursuing a primary degree in nutrition and health.

Her secondary major in dance, however, presented Griffin with the opportunity to utilize her preferred performance medium to explore physical and mental well-being — a theme born from discussions with her friends in the dance community as teenagers.

“You're dancing for hours and have to fuel your body, but a lot of dancers never have that support on how to do it properly,” she said. “There are also a lot of stigmas with body image and mental health.”

Exploring reflections and self-image

When Griffin was tasked with a senior capstone project, she chose to perform cross-disciplinary chorographical research exploring concepts from her dance and nutrition and health classes.

Griffin was especially struck by how the concept of well-being of mind, body and soul crossed both disciplines, and she began by choreographing “The Way That It Is.”

As the first component of three planned performances, the dance homes in on well-being of the mind and how it can create altered perspectives of the body through the simple act of looking in a mirror.

“The person that you see in the mirror is not who you actually are,” she said. “It’s your reflection. A lot of the dance is influenced by what staring at the mirror can do to your perception of yourself. We are trying hard to break that cycle of looking at yourself in the mirror, believing that this person in front of you is who you are, getting away from it and then getting sucked back in.”

Self-image is often a significant problem among dancers — especially young ones who are still learning, she said. That influenced Griffin as she chose to research the role that mirrors actually play when dancers are learning and performing.

“Mirrors have been a big element in how a lot of dancers have trained, and it sparked that initial thought of ‘is the mirror useful and what is its purpose?’” Griffin said. “In the future, I plan to further explore this concept by researching the effects that the mirror has on retention of choreography. This will help future teachers and choreographers understand the benefits and consequences of using a mirror.”

Using dance to process, communicate research

After debuting “The Way That It Is” at K-State’s annual Winter Dance Concert in November, the K-State senior took her performance to an adjudicated concert as part of the American College Dance Association Festival at the University of Oklahoma in January.

Griffin is now exploring physical well-being through a second performance project that will focus on the strength that comes from individuals’ bodies contrasting with their gentleness.

The project will also include elements addressing what happens when a person does not take care of their body.

Following graduation, Griffin hopes to join a contemporary dance company and continue to choreograph and begin a career in nutrition education and wellness to educate others on the importance of holistic well-being.

Overall, Griffin’s research experiences have been deeply rewarding and underscore the complex relationships between mental health, physical well-being and pursuit of perfection, she said.

“This has allowed me to find new ways of processing information and expressing thoughts and emotions,” she said. “I hope this project can influence people to look toward movement as a healthy habit while also highlighting the effects on the body caused by stress and outward influences.”

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