“My agent let me know of a contract offer for a music video; it would be good money. There was also a $500 incentive if I wore tassels on my breasts instead of a shirt,” said Leslie Scott Zanovitch in an interview discussing the industry pressure to engage in hypersexualized performances. Childhood sexual abuse combined with unhealthy, hypersexualized dance training groomed her for a career that rewarded and required self-exploitation. The glow of the spotlight couldn’t outshine the hurt she experienced from sexual abuse and commodification ingrained within the industry, despite all the success she encountered as a professional dancer, educator, and choreographer.
The industry turned Leslie into an object, hijacking her chances for a healthy dance career.
Unsurprisingly, Leslie’s resume detailed what would be many young dancers’ dream: on faculty at Millenium Dance Complex and The Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, CA; adjunct faculty roles in the dance departments at Loyola Marymount University and Phoenix College; choreographing and dancing in music videos and on tour for Grammy-winning artists; features in Dance Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, Nylon Magazine, Dance Spirit, Dance Informa, and more. She realized that her artistry and personal autonomy had been coopted for the gain of the porn, media, and adult entertainment industry, but that as an adult she had to decide whether to continue participating in harmful dance, or blaze a new trail for herself in dance.
She chose to blaze a new trail, not just for herself, but also for the next generation.
This meant understanding how unhealthy, hypersexualized dance exposure as a child impacted her development, how she unknowingly repeated those practices as a teacher and choreographer, and ultimately, how she needed a healthy environment to facilitate personal healing. Establishing value for herself and the best interests of children above money or personal adulation had immediate repercussions: it meant saying no to jobs, and eventually no longer being offered roles, due to her stance on prioritizing healthy, safe dance.
During this time, she took a mission trip to Mexico, needing a break from dance as she knew it. There, she choreographed a show for children in an orphanage. In that context, she saw the healing power of dance: when done in a physically and emotionally safe environment, children can self-regulate and express their emotions with agency1.
With the clarity of that experience, Leslie bravely began to speak up about the issue of unhealthy dance. She educated herself; collaborating with academics across disciplines to shape and apply language to communicate about the negative impacts unhealthy, hypersexualized dance can have on children (and adults)2. Leslie founded advocacy organizations EDIFY Movement®, Youth Protection Advocates in Dance®, and NEAMA (Nonprofit Education and Advocacy for the Movement Arts) to provide dance-specific, survivor-centered certification, and adjudicator training addressing emotional, physical, sexual wellness, and safety in dance. Leslie maximized any opportunity to educate and equip concerned parents and teachers with the knowledge to move forward in the best interests of their students by promoting a healthy pathway in dance.
For her critical role in creating a blueprint for healthy, educational dance and speaking out against the great harm caused by hypersexualized dance, music, and choreography, DA:NCE is pleased to award Leslie with the inaugural Trailblazer award, named in her honor. The Leslie Scott Zanovitch Trailblazer Award is the first award created to honor an individual exposing the harms of hypersexualization in children’s dance.
Dancers are recognized for many things: their physical strength, coordination, creativity, and dedication. DA:NCE chose to recognize Leslie and future recipients for their selfless efforts to protect the innocence of children in dance and the art of dance itself. Creating practices aligned with the best interests of the dancer – not industry profit – is not necessarily an easy cause to champion. In fact, Leslie encountered rejection and professional penalties for choosing to advocate on behalf of children in dance. Because Leslie experienced firsthand transformational healing in healthy, safe dance, she chose to blaze a trail, not just for her own benefit but for generations of dancers to come. By recognizing her valiant efforts with this award, DA:NCE hopes to inspire more dancers, educators, and parents to join the cause – ending exploitation through hypersexualization of children in adult costumes, choreography, and music.
You can hear more of Leslie’s story in a video interview to come in 2026; as you can see from these sneak peeks, she is a passionate, dedicated advocate for healthy, safe dance and dancers.
Applications for nominations will be available January-June 2026.
Learn more: https://www.danceawareness.com/trailblazer/
Start thinking about potential nominations for the Leslie Scott Zanovitch Trailblazer Award!
Article References:
- https://www.danceawareness.com/2019/09/02/why-dance-education-matters/ ↩︎
- https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1458&context=dignity ↩︎
