43: Movement and Poetry to Overcome Body Image Issues with Katherine McClintic

If you have ever struggled with body image or body shaming, this episode is a must-listen one for you. My guest brings creativity on many levels, and she brings people together in community with her joy and light. Join us to learn more!Katherine McClintic is a choreographer, poet, and founder of the online dance community, Inbox Dance Party. She moved to NYC immediately after high school and now works in TV, film, and theater in NYC and LA. A closet poet until now, Katherine wrote her debut poetry book, Ending the War On My Body. In today’s conversation, Katherine discusses body image, her process to become a dancer and choreographer, and she reads a powerful poem from her collection. She is passionate about sharing her journey to body acceptance in a visceral, imaginative way as she previously longed for in art, dance, conversations, and music in her own healing journey to supplement therapy and medical resources. Ending the War On My Body is in production to become a multimedia performance event combining Katherine’s choreography and poetry through film, dance, music, and visual art in collaboration with many amazing artists. Show Highlights:Katherine’s obsession with dance and movement that began with her earliest memoriesHow Katherine felt connection through dance, movement, and words more than any other activitiesHow Katherine’s reading highlights the prevalence of creativity through the body and expression with wordsHow dancing brings Katherine into the present moment with a joy that is contagiousWhy choreography began to feel “at home” as it merged with Katherine’s love of systems, business knowledge, and sales experienceHow Inbox Dance Party began during the pandemic as a motivating way to take breaks while working from home–and then she decided to share it to bring joy to othersThe genesis of Katherine’s book of poems about body image–and why she had to write it as a “larger” girl in the dance communityHow Katherine’s poems came from a place or disordered eating and self-loathing into a more healed relationship with her body through therapyWhy Katherine’s book covers the war with her body, when it began and ended, and the back and forth process of healingWhat Katherine would say to her younger self about her struggles with body imageKatherine reads the title poem from her book, Ending the War On My BodyHow community has helped Katherine with creative expression Katherine’s advice about getting “unstuck” in the creative processWhat it means to Katherine to live in her purposeHear Katherine’s answers to rapid-fire questions about helpful advice, grounding habits, favorite hot beverage, last meal on earth, morning routine, an inspiring person, something people might not know, what she’s reading, and what’s bringing her joy right now. Resources:Connect with Katherine:  www.katherinemcclintic.comInbox Dance Party and InstagramGet Ending the War On My Body by Katherine McClinticBooks mentioned by Katherine:  Good Bones by Maggie Smith