Ballet dancer Hannah de Klein: ‘being on your period and dancing is not a great combination’
Hannah danced in large productions such as the Swan Lake, Balanchine, and the Nutcracker. Ever since she was a child, ballet has been everything to her, and that hasn’t changed since she joined HNB at only 17 years old. It is an intense world that requires a lot of you, both mentally and physically. ‘As a ballerina you push the boundaries of your art, your health takes the lowest priority in that.’
‘In the ballet world, thin, thinner, thinnest is the norm’
“I was 17 when I made my debut at the Amsterdam Waterlooplein, where the National Ballet is located. A dream that came true. Everyone is intensely focused on dancing, and devotes themselves to it 24/7, you’re completely consumed by it. In the ballet world, thin, thinner, thinnest is the norm. Ballet takes such a toll on your body that you eventually stop menstruating. Soon, that also happened to me. But when you enter such a company as a youngster, you look up to the older dancers and don’t discuss inconveniences such as periods with them.”
‘Healthy? Definitely not.’
My diet and daily schedule: in the morning a hearty breakfast with yogurt, berries and granola. Then from 10:00 to 13:30 o’clock ballet class and rehearsal. From 13:30 to 14:15 break and lunch, which is a cup of coffee and sometimes an apple. After lunch, rehearsal until 18:00. The most difficult rehearsals are always after lunch, so you don’t want to eat too much. My dinner, on days with an evening rehearsal or show, consists of a mini-meal. Tough? You get used to it. Healthy? Definitely not.’
The week before a premiere is very hectic, and days run from 11:00 to 23:00. I’ve heard other girls say that it’s very unpleasant if you’re due to get your period at the time of a performance. I myself have never been on my period during shows, because I only menstruate when I’m relaxed. I haven’t had a regular period since my 21st. Sometimes I won’t have it for 7 months, and then suddenly I’ll have it twice in 3 weeks. Looking back, I realize that I have been ignoring it, ballet was more important. I associated not having my period with being ‘in shape’. Since the covid crisis, we haven’t been able to perform and have been rehearsing less frequently. That’s why I have been getting a regular period again for the very first time, and why I have also been able to tell when my menstruation is due. I would like to have kids, so I’m very happy that my body is functioning normally again. That was something I’ve thought about a lot these past few years. If I don’t get my period, and I’m on the leaner side, what are the chances of me getting pregnant?
‘Pushing your boundaries during your menstruation is physically very tough.’
Luckily, I never have very intense periods. But when I am on mine, I prefer to sit around on the couch in a big T-shirt. Menstruating and dancing is just not a great combination. The first two days are very intense, and pushing your boundaries the way us ballet dancers do is actually very bad for your body then. Your body doesn’t feel compact, it’s busy with something else. My lower back is stiff, while the rest of my body is very supple, but without me having control of it. Lifting my leg takes a lot of effort, and keeping it up costs even more. I simply have less power. During jumps, there is a higher chance that it throws out my back. If that happens in class, it’s truly bothersome.
A Russian dancer from the famous Vaganova school once told me that they get the first two days of their period off. I’d like for it to be that way for us too, since it’s an acknowledgement of your womanhood and the cycle that is part of that. Besides, spending an evening standing on a stage in a white outfit and pink tights gives you a lot of stress when you’re insecure about leaking. Some girls always wear a tampon during shows, for their own peace of mind.
Since last year, there has been a new medical team at HNB that’s concerned with the health of the dancers. It’s very refreshing and nice that they’re trying to do things differently, but it’s also very hard to make it a reality. The ballet world is so traditional. For generations, the training and thinking has been the same. The ballet world is built on traditions.’
