For Immediate Release

Contact: Amanda Tindal
212 929-0087
atindal@dancer.com

"Eat Right. Respect Your Body. Dance Forever."

Gaynor Minden Launches "Eat Right" Campaign for Dancers
A Sensitive Issue – A Healthy Message

19 March 2003 –– –– –– Gaynor Minden, the innovative dancewear company that created a revolutionary high-tech pointe shoe will launch an awareness campaign for an issue so sensitive that many in the danceworld won’t even acknowledge its existence: eating disorders.

"We were the first to design a health-conscious pointe shoe, one that actually addresses the problem of dancers’ injuries, and we are not squeamish about calling attention to this issue too – even if it makes some people uncomfortable," says Eliza Minden, President and designer of the Gaynor Minden pointe shoe.

"Dancers’ health and safety must not be compromised in the misguided belief that excessive thinness is a requisite for success. Crazy eating habits are as dangerous to a dancer as bad shoes. Her career depends on her health, and real, long-term health relies on good nutrition."

The campaign begins with a the words: "Eat Right. Respect Your Body. Dance Forever." on a striking 12" x 30" poster featuring A.B.T.’s rising star Kristi Boone, a lean, strong, healthy dancer shown in a highly extended attitude.

Multiple copies of the poster will be sent free to the hundreds of dancewear shops and distributors that carry Gaynor Minden’s pointe shoes, accessories and clothing. They will be asked to participate in the awareness campaign by giving away the posters to schools and studios in their areas.

Gaynor Minden will also send a copy of the poster free on request with any order of any size from its new 2003 Catalog.
Additionally, dancer.com, the website of Gaynor Minden, will feature information on nutrition, eating disorders and the risks of excessive thinness in articles by experts in the field.

Excessive thinness, especially when combined with vigorous exercise, can have long and short-term health consequences. It can cause loss of bone density, which increases the risk of stress fracture and early osteoporosis. It can cause amenorrhea and damage the reproductive system.

A dancer need not have a full-blown eating disorder to be at risk, "disordered eating" and crash diets can also be unhealthy.

"Ballet students are young and ambitious, and often believe that if they achieve extreme thinness they will gain approval and success," says Minden, "teachers and artistic directors have a moral obligation not to encourage dangerous dieting."