Dancers are usually the first in a long list of art genres to “lose themselves”. So often we are taught to mimic a choreographer or immolate the feelings of a given piece. We tend to forget who we are and that we have a voice.
Today’s dance note is REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE! Dance is a language and the message inside of you is unique only to you. We are given the gift of dance to express the deeper things in life that words cannot express. And, yes, many of you are busy doling out steps for a buck here and there and it’s all you can do to survive.
Take a few minutes after your warm-up today and speak with your body. Express through movement what words cannot do justice. Free your body to move and speak and create! You are a dancer! DANCE IT OUT!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
FINISH THE JOB!
It seems that the moment a contract begins another “better” job is calling our name. Work is sporadic and we dancers tend to jump at any and every gig that comes our way. We ponder how to get out of one contract and into the other.
Today’s note is FINISH THE JOB! I remember signing a contract for The Christmas Show at Radio City and a week later being offered an 8 week stint in the Broadway show FOSSE. There were two dilemmas: 1) My contract with Radio City was signed and 2) I’d always wanted to dance on the Great White Way. I made the very grueling decision to stay committed to Radio City and more than that “my word”. I had promised to fulfill my contract on paper and decided that my dream of dancing on Broadway would come back around if that was God’s plan. I knew that I was the only one who could honor my work ethic. To this day I wonder if it was the right decision but I also know that I went on to enjoy a very rich 15 year career at Radio City.
As professional dancers we need to “FINISH THE JOB”. Directors and choreographers tire of dancers who leave their project for other projects. Eventually, those same directors and choreographers are the ones offering those “better” jobs and you want to be on their “like” list. Our work ethic will serve as a foundation for a long and healthy career full of wonderful working relationships.
FINISH THE JOB!
Today’s note is FINISH THE JOB! I remember signing a contract for The Christmas Show at Radio City and a week later being offered an 8 week stint in the Broadway show FOSSE. There were two dilemmas: 1) My contract with Radio City was signed and 2) I’d always wanted to dance on the Great White Way. I made the very grueling decision to stay committed to Radio City and more than that “my word”. I had promised to fulfill my contract on paper and decided that my dream of dancing on Broadway would come back around if that was God’s plan. I knew that I was the only one who could honor my work ethic. To this day I wonder if it was the right decision but I also know that I went on to enjoy a very rich 15 year career at Radio City.
As professional dancers we need to “FINISH THE JOB”. Directors and choreographers tire of dancers who leave their project for other projects. Eventually, those same directors and choreographers are the ones offering those “better” jobs and you want to be on their “like” list. Our work ethic will serve as a foundation for a long and healthy career full of wonderful working relationships.
FINISH THE JOB!
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