Advice for dancers: former New York City Ballet dancer Linda Hamilton, Ph.D., is a psychologist, a wellness consultant for NYCB, and the author of Advice for Dancers (Jossey-Bass). She has offered advice to Dance Magazine readers since 1992.

AM I WASHED UP AT 18? MY DREAM WAS TO PERFORM IN BROADWAY MUSICALS, AND I'VE BEEN TRAINING MOST OF MY LIFE. THEN I GOT REJECTED BY MY FIRST CHOICE FOR A BFA PROGRAM IN DANCE. MY MOM TELLS ME IT'S ONLY BECAUSE I HAD MONO. I'M AFRAID IT'S BECAUSE I HAVE NO TALENT. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

CALIFORNIA DREAMER

LOS ANGELES, CA

How about giving yourself a fair shake? While you get A+ for determination, few dancers nail an audition with mono, injuries, or other serious health problems. Instead, they don't perform at their peak and the judges see it. The same principle applies to professional dancers who work against their doctor's advice. So it's a good habit to break while you're still a student. Right now, you're afraid that you lack talent because one program turned you down. Yet every performer gets rejected sometimes. Success depends on how you deal with it. You can give up or you can look for your next opportunity. It's not like you have to stop dancing. You could continue dance classes and audition for BFA programs next year. Or you could focus on a liberal arts degree and continue your training on the side. Of course, if your heart is broken, you may want to take a complete break and give your self-esteem time to heal.

Do YOU HAVE FOOD SUGGESTIONS FOR DANCERS WHO TOUR? FOOD IN DELIS AND RESTAURANTS IS USUALLY FILLED WITH FAT OR REFINED FLOUR THAT DOESN'T SUIT MY TASTE OR WAISTLINE.

SARA 

NEW YORK, NY

Eating out is often a challenge even in your own neighborhood. The difference is that you always have your kitchen to fall back on. Dancers who do most of their performing on the road have less leeway. Ask how the food is prepared (nix butter or trans fat). Because people tend to eat more when they are chatting, it helps to lay down your utensils when you speak. If not, you can easily eat 75 percent more. Finally, look for the healthiest food when you travel in Healthy Highways: The Traveler's Guide to Healthy Eating (Goldbeck & Goldbeck, 2004). This guidebook lists natural-food stores and restaurants in all 50 states--including vegetarian and organic options. Get updates by logging on to www.healthyhighways.com.

LAST YEAR MY FAVORITE DANCE TEACHER LOVED ME. NOW I MIGHT AS WELL BE INVISIBLE. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME SHE'S HAVING PERSONAL PROBLEMS. WHO KNOWS WHAT SHE REALLY THINKS? MY OTHER TEACHERS ACT LIKE MY DANCING IS IMPROVING. SHOULD I SPEAK TO HER?

JEN

NEW YORK, NY

I'm a big believer in communication. However, if your teacher is having problems, this might not be the best time to talk. You're getting positive feedback from other teachers that shows you're progressing. Why not work on building up your confidence? It helps to set your own goals. These need to be challenging but attainable within a set time period, like being able to do 16 fouettes in a month. The next step is to break this down into subgoals ("I'll practice four extra turns a week after each class"). You can record your progress in a notebook. Finally, feel free to adjust the time frame, depending on how it goes. Goal-setting makes class meaningful, regardless of how much attention you get. It also boosts your confidence so that it's easier to judge your work independently. Remember: While all performers aim to please, you're on shaky ground if you depend solely on external approval. You need to take direction from your teachers or artistic director, but you need to dance for yourself!

I FEEL BAD ABOUT COMPLAINING, BUT MY DANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN PERFORMING NONSTOP FOR FOUR MONTHS. ALL OF US ARE EXHAUSTED AND THE REVIEWS ARE GETTING NEGATIVE. WE'RE NOT MACHINES!

NO MORE TO GIVE

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Of course you're not. While critics may know a lot about dance, I doubt that they can spot signs of burnout. Yet dancers who don't have enough time to recover from strenuous performances often begin to lose their enthusiasm as well as their technique. Muscles get tight and coordination diminishes, making it easier to slip and fall. Tense muscles are also more likely to tear. Meanwhile, stress hormones like cortisol impede the healing process. The remedy for chronic burnout is rest and limited activity for at least three weeks. Please take advantage of your next vacation, instead of doing an extra gig. When your body says "Enough," it's important to listen. Dancers who work for union-based companies can also negotiate more free time in their contracts.

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: Linda Hamilton, Ph.D., 2000 Broadway, PH2C, New York, NY 10023. Order her book for $13.90 at www.DanceDistributors.com (800.33.DANCE).