Ballet Movie Drawing Body Image Criticism

FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - In the latest psychological thriller to hit the big screen, "Black Swan," Natalie Portman portrays a ballerina vying for the lead part in a New York City Ballet production.

While her acting is getting Oscar buzz, Portman's rail-thin frame in the role is drawing a different type of attention.

The already petite actress reportedly dropped 20 pounds, down to a waifish 95, to play the part of a ballerina.

Some pro-anorexia websites are telling readers to watch the movie for "thinspiration", as they call it.

"They're making it sound as though there is something positive about this, but what people don't realize is the damage to the body is massive," explained nutrition therapist Emily Haeussler. "When someone is at a weight that is below what is healthy for them, they will be obsessed with thoughts about food and weight."

Haeussler fears the Portman's physical appearance sends the wrong message to young women and could result in others having an unhealthy body image or even developing an eating disorder.

"It damages body, mind and spirit," Haeussler said, "Psychologically, emotionally, spiritually, people die long before the physically body dies."

"Are there dancers that thin? Absolutely," Kim Abel, a dance instructor at Margo Dean School of Ballet in Fort Worth said sternly. "But the ones who are that thin and able to dance, genetically, they're just that thin."

Abel thinks the actresses in the movie were too thin, as ballet requires a level of strength and endurance, which cannot be sustained without proper nutrition.

"It's a misconception to try to mold, or starve, or eat your way into a different body is not a good idea," she said.

"It's an extreme movie," said Michele Gifford, a professional ballerina who now lives in Fort Worth. "It's not about dance, it's about the psychological aspect behind it."

Gifford, 40, has danced professionally for 22 years, many of which spent dancing with the New York City Ballet, the company that is mirrored in "Black Swan."

"It's definitely rigorous, it's physically demanding on your body, and emotionally," she said of the intense 12-hour workdays of dancing. "Being in the New York City Ballet is kind of its own machine."

Gifford knows many of the extras that performed in the movie. "I think if you look at all the extras in the movie, they're not ridiculously thin, they're dancer thin," she said, "which is in shape and physically fit."

"I don't know if it [the movie] sends the wrong image to young dancers," said Gifford. "I don't really think it's a reality-based movie."

Gifford looks at the movie much like she does dance, an art form, which is to be viewed only in perspective. "Dancers come in all shapes and all sizes, and it's really about the dance," she said. "If you look at the arts and look at dance for what it is and its beauty you'll see it isn't just about the shape of the person, its about what they bring to the dance."

"Black Swan" is rated R and is not suitable for children.