by Jennifer Jonassen

In case you were wondering what 313 pounds looks like in a gold spandex suit well here it is! This past month I proudly joined the ranks of Barbarella, Mrs. Peel & Cat Woman by sporting a spandex body suit! I was back dancing with R.A.I.D. (Random Acts of Irreverent Dance.) And without hesitation I can say that this is the most fun I have ever had in my entire life. But truth be told, I was a little hesitant at first about donning the gold spandex body suit, but thankfully I got over my cheap, tired self and just went for it! The lesson I learned was precisely this: DO NOT let feeling/being fat keep you from enjoying the things you want to do in life! If I had let fear or self-criticism keep me from participating in this glorious event (& having this much pure unbridled fun) I would have regretted it for the rest of my life. Dancing with R.A.I.D. is so celebratory & liberating for me in terms of body acceptance!

To celebrate this milestone in my own body image, I am super excited to introduce some of the other R.A.I.D. members discussing how they felt in the golden suit. I asked everyone for two words that express what they feel like wearing the suit and then to elaborate on dancing with R.A.I.D.:
 
Ramie Becker:  SUPERPOWERED and CHILDLIKE
(Choreographer/Commander of Dance)

The suits are actually made for us in China; they are called Zentai suits. I always knew I wanted R.A.I.D. to be in a unitard of some type, I love that look, it says "I'm a dancer and I mean business!!!" It's also about re-defining who "gets' to wear such dancer-specific clothing like that. I went to e-bay and saw the Zentai suits for sale, and I thought, "That's perfect, they are so bizarre looking".

Shakina Nayfack (an early member) suggested the gold color, and Miguel and Katie found the matching glasses. It just all fell into place, and as soon as we did the first performance, we knew we were on to something, with the look and concept of R.A.I.D.

R.A.I.D. is, above all, radically inclusive. I think that, for a lot of people, the 'dancer world' can seem very intimidating and exclusionary. I want everyone to feel like they can have fun and join in dancing.

Just like people go out and sing karaoke, even though they aren't "professional singers", I want people to be able to enjoy their bodies and have fun dancing together. Of course, that doesn't mean we don't work hard at putting the dances together.
 
We are all going to get old one day, and our bodies aren't going to work as well. So, while we are young and healthy, let's dance while we still can. Let's not waste any time with insecurities or fears. Life is too short... our bodies are too precious.

We (Miguel, Katie, Shakina, me) were all terrified of the suits before we put them on, but once we did, we realized how freeing they felt. Since then, every month, I can't wait to get back in the suit. Like many of us, I've of course had my own body image issues to deal with, being in the dancer world... and just being a woman in general... but as I ease into my late 20's/30s, I am realizing if I choose to let those things get in the way of me doing what I feel passionate about, I'm the one who loses out, big time. You have to say to yourself, "F*** IT. JUST DANCE."
 
Miguel Barragan: TALISMAN - CONFIDENT.
There is a very honest sense of empowerment that occurs every time I wear the suit.  I feel empowered that I have made the decision to wear the suit.  I feel empowered that I do not stand alone while wearing the suit (every time I wear the suit there are 4-14 of us in the same ensemble).  Going on stage in a one-piece suit is both entertaining and courageous.  And besides, it's just plain fun to wear the suit, it's like playing "dress-up," it's like being a little kid!
 
Katie Mitchell: The gold suit is a MIRACLE.
I was very worried, like everyone usually is, the first time I saw it.  I am pretty self conscious about being fairly boney and I thought it would accentuate those parts of me that I try pretty hard to hide. Instead the suit is a celebration, and blinding gold statement of "here I am, and I don't give a F*** what anyone thinks."

Lindsey Stakoe: The suit makes me feel little/SHORT and SQUIRMY
I have to say I really like wearing the suit for a variety of reasons. I really like the way people look at you when you are in it. They don't really look at you like they like it, but they certainly don't hate it. Their response is so interesting and every person is different and that makes wearing something so special so much fun! The suit makes me feel very little and small like I've turned into a little lizard that can fit through small spaces. I love how it covers your head, I think it's key in my lizard feeling. It's really fun to move just your head in the suit. I love wearing the suit with all the other R.A.I.D. members. When we were all together back stage I was giggling the whole time. We looked like little Aliens ready to attack, or gold lemmings all following the same path on stage or total goof balls that just want to have fun! Long story short, the gold suits are FUN!!