Spring back

I am not the kind of dancer/teacher that thinks everyone HAS to be a "winner" The truth of the matter is in dance as in in life we all face moments of being at the bottom. I can think of so many situations where having someone hold your hand or inflate your ego is not only unnecessary but actually damaging Let's face it no one likes to see someone they care about sad or disappointed no one likes to feel that way themselves but we all MUST go through these feelings and situations. So you don't agree with a role you were given, a teacher's criticism, a judge's critique so be it...take the good you can find in the situation and leave the rest. But also realize that directors, teachers, judges etc are trained, talented people. So consider this; you may be too close to the situation to take their feedback openly take a step back, take a breath and move forward. In the end you are becoming a better dancer and a person with stronger character.

Learning to Fly

The other night while I was teaching I started thinking about how to get yourself to the place where you are still working on your technique but not dancing as a technician.I can see all my students dissecting themselves in the mirror and agonizing over that releve arabesque that was just not quite square and think....ahhh they are missing the beauty and passion of the moment. Then-it happens, even if just for a brief moment the dancer feels it! She moves through technique not forcing technique. Part of me goes back to the great Merce Cunningham quote " The only way to do it, is to do it". Maybe it is that simple! Maybe we all make it to be so much harder than just that.