“You are unconditionally loved,” “Beauty takes time,” “Don’t diminish your abilities!”

Sticky notes with positive affirmation filled the “affirmation walls” located on the third floor of Gerlinger Annex, where most dance classes are held.

Dance Oregon, a student group at the University of Oregon, hosted a Love Your Body Week, an annual campaign founded by dance instructor Rachel Stewart, from Nov. 18 to Nov. 22. Stewart started this program after observing negative conversations about body image from children as young as five years old to late teen students. The campaign aims to “encourage body positivity and celebrate all the wonderful things our bodies can do,” according to the National Honor Society of Dance Arts.

Dance Oregon hosted a series of events during the week. On Monday evening, UO Tap Club and Dance Oregon collaborated in a tap dance workshop. Rita Honka, a senior instructor at School of Dance and Music, hosted a somatics workshop on Tuesday evening. On Thursday, two UO students, Michelle Rogers and Lilly Fox led improvisation with the danceability method.

Rogers said that danceability is “the method of teaching improvisational dance that revolves around inclusivity.” Danceability welcomes anyone with or without disabilities. Different types of methods work for different types of abilities. For example, touch-based movement is often used by people with vision disabilities.

The Danceability workshop took place on Thursday evening with eight participants following the instructor’s advice and leads. Rogers described the atmosphere of the workshop as “accepting and calm.”

Activities included some group and pair improvisation. One of the paired improvisations was based on qualities that each pair decided on and then shared their own interpretations of that quality. Some of the qualities mentioned were “squishy,” “toss,” “goopy,” and “pendulum.”

Rogers said that danceability is a “safe space for people to explore movements,” and that she sees the Love Your Body Week campaign as an “opportunity to be grateful.” 

“I don’t personally have a sense of love for my body,” she said, and because of that, she seeks out things she can do, she said.

Even though Love Your Body Week is mostly focused on dancers, body positivity is a broader topic that probably many people can relate to.

At 8:55 a.m. on Sunday morning, Jack Crockett got to the UO Student Recreation Center and waited for it to open at 9 a.m. Crockett is a freshman studying Human Physiology and he comes to the UO Rec in the mornings six times a week.

Crockett said he felt insecure about being skinny growing up, and he always wanted to be “bigger.” As he entered college and was away from home, “I wanted to better myself,” he said, “I wanted to find something that I’m dedicated and motivated about.”

Crockett said he is aware of the idea of body positivity. He often sees content about it on social media. Although he said he has “mixed feelings” about the idea, he said he agrees with the idea that “all bodies are good.”

Crockett said that many people suffer by comparing themselves to worldly standards that they can not reach. “You are the standard,” Crockett said.