Toxic Positivity and Dancing Through Life on The Invisible Cabaret Podcast (S1:E6)

In Episode 6, regular hosts Ferrero Rochelle and Rosie Verbose joined by dancer and troupe sister Belle Bluestocking to talk about mental health and creativity, and what the two mean to her (kind of our theme, in case you hadn’t noticed). Belle opens up about dancing through her emotions, her beloved Sylvia Plath, and why toxic positivity can be damaging to our mental health. However, try not to have a panic attack from happy excitement. As a result of talking to Belle, we now know that’s a thing.

You can find Belle Bluestocking on Instagram as @issybee22. You can also learn more about her experiences of recovering from surgery and being a dyspraxic dancer on the blog she wrote for us.

listen to Episode 6 in the player below, or on a range of platforms you can choose from via this link

'When I Was a Fig in the Cabaret…' | Toxic Positivity & Dancing Through Life with Belle Bluestocking – The Invisible Cabaret Podcast: Mental Health & The Arts

Today we’re joined by dancer and troupe sister Belle Bluestocking to talk about mental health and creativity, and what the two mean to her (kind of our theme, in case you hadn’t noticed). Belle opens up about dancing through her emotions, her beloved Sylvia Plath, and why ‘toxic positivity’ can be damaging to our mental health. Plus, did you know you can have a panic attack from happy excitement? Neither did we. Listen to the end to find out more… You can find Belle Bluestocking on Instagram as @issybee22. NB brief CW at 36 mins. Full transcript available here: https://invisiblecabaret.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Issy-transcript.pdf *** Things mentioned in the podcast: Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar. New York: Harper and Row, 1971 Limón contemporary dance technique, developed by Mexican dancer & choreographer José Limón Martha Graham (American modern dancer & choreographer) Alvin Ailey (American dancer and choreographer) 'Toxic positivity' Digging for diamonds cartoon Dyspraxia – some great support resources on the ArtsMinds website Long-read about dance & mental health ‘I May Destroy You’ on BBC iPlayer ‘Little Fires Everywhere’ on Amazon Prime What to do if your friend has a panic attack *** Be in the next episode of #InvisiblePodcast! Tweet or DM us with what you're grateful for this week, or – better still – send us a voice message! The Invisible Cabaret Podcast is all about mental health and creativity. Invisible Cabaret is a cabaret and burlesque troupe devoted to raising mental health awareness, founded by Rosie Verbose and Ferrero Rochelle. When the world's not in a global pandemic, Invisible Cabaret makes burlesque and cabaret shows all about mental health. Think vaudeville variety, dance, original music, comedy, poetry and more. You can see some clips of Invisible Cabaret in action on YouTube. Mixed by Matt Ennis, www.mennismixing.co.uk Music: Shades of Spring by Kevin MacLeod , available by license: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Photo credit: Steve Gregson Photography http://www.invisiblecabaret.org — Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/invisible-cabaret/message

CW: brief mention of eating disorders and body dysmorphia at 26.40 – 27.14

Belle Bluestocking is a dancer and cabaret performer with a dislike for toxic positivity! In this image, she is mid-dance with her arms in fourth position, and one leg extended to the side. She is wearing a white, flowing, Grecian-looking mini-dress, and a gold leaf crown. She has collar-length brown hair. Her eyes are closed and she looks focused and serene. Behind her are several audience members watching on. — Belle Bluestocking – taken by Steve Gregson Photography

Things mentioned in the podcast:

Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar. New York: Harper and Row, 1971
Limón contemporary dance technique, developed by Mexican dancer & choreographer José Limón
Martha Graham (American modern dancer & choreographer)
Alvin Ailey (American dancer and choreographer)
Toxic positivity: a useful definition
Digging for diamonds cartoon
Dyspraxia – some great support resources on the ArtsMinds website
Long-read about dance & mental health
‘I May Destroy You’ on BBC iPlayer (CW: sexual assault)
‘Little Fires Everywhere’ on Amazon Prime
What to do if your friend has a panic attack

I was quite a slow, shy little girl. I know now that’s because I have dyspraxia, which is a neurodiversity or learning difference which affects your motor neurones, so I struggled with social interactions. But for some reason I was good at dancing, which is kind of weird for a dyspraxic person… I always turn to dance if I don’t know how else to express what I’m feeling, you know. It’s just always there for you.
belle bluestocking