Finding Peace and Love

I feel as though recently there has been so much sadness in my circle of friends.  From break ups and heartache, to deaths in the family, there have been so many unfortunate situations.  When you are constantly surrounded by it, it can be difficult to remember that there is so much to love.

I find my love in dance.  Obviously.  I am lucky that dance is not just what I do, but it’s what I love, and it’s my therapy.  When things get bad, I throw myself into teaching and dancing.  I have that outlet.  Many do not.

I don’t know what I would do without dance sometimes- that adrenaline rush from the physical output, and the emotional rush from letting your heart take over your body. 

I wish more people would dance.  I know that many guys find it “feminine” and don’t feel comfortable with it.  Imagine if more guys danced, though.  Not necessarily ballet, but other forms like hip hop.  Would there be less of that testosterone driven force in times of turmoil that lead to destructive behavior?  I’ve known many guys that when things get bad, they’ve turned to fighting or drinking or both.   If they had dance, would they be able to take their physicality into that? 

I’ve been known to have a temper in my “past life.”  I get angry and scream and cry, and when I didn’t have outlets to dance it out, it would get worse.  It was only a few months ago that I remember being so upset and angry that I was walking down the street choking on tears and unknowingly digging my nails into the palm of my hands because I was so emotional that I was uncontrollably making fists in order to steady the shaking.  Now, this doesn’t happen all the time to me, but it was a morning that I had to go into my other job that doesn’t involve dance, and the situation that had caused the outburst had happened first thing in the morning.  I had no opportunity to dance it out.  I had to wait until the next day to get into dance classes to teach.  Even so, I wish I had had the time to put what I was feeling into dance.  I got to later that week. 

I did a lot of improv when I got my chance to dance it out.  While some of it was slow and emotional, there were others that were angry, and on top of that there were some that I did that just brought me peace.  I feel like that’s the most important type- finding your peace.  When a dancer “dances it out” they often get totally caught up in the emotions.  One needs to find the balance.  They need to find their peace. 

My peace:

So what do you think- if more of the destructively emotional people out there danced, do you think it would help?  Or do you think it would not make a difference?  Do you think guys would do it more if it were socially acceptable? 

My belief is that it would help.  Everyone needs an outlet, and everyone needs the creative side to their outlet.  Dance is perfect for men because it involves both the creative and physical sides.  I'm sorry, but there's not much emotion in soccer or football or running.  Sports don't quite get that creativity side like dance does! 

This is my way of saying "I've had a sad day, and I want to spread my love to the universe."  So hopefully this has put a little more love and a little less sadness out into the world today. 

Forget regrets- dance like it's your last!

Staying Healthy

I know I always say I’ll keep up with this blog, and then life gets busy again.  Ah well, the point is that I’m here now, and I have a topic on hand to discuss!

Recently it seems that everyone around me is getting sick.  At the dance studio, we had cases of strep throat and mono going around.   My sister recently came down with flu-like symptoms, and I even had a small case of laryngitis about a month ago.  The problem is that with all these sicknesses going around a dance studio, how do you avoid getting sick?  And if you do get sick, how do you know when to dance, and when to sit out or stay home? 

When I was seventeen, I attended a competition where I wasn’t feeling great in the morning.  I could barely choke down my apple that I had for breakfast, and all I wanted to do was sleep.  I had the chills, and my body was screaming for me to slow down.  I knew I had teammates that I did not want to let down, though.  I was also raised in a family where my mother would ask me if I was throwing up or profusely bleeding, and if I said no, off I went to whatever activity I was supposed to be doing, whether it was school, or dance, or what have you. 

I accomplished about 12 different dances over the course of that day.  We had a group number early in the morning, and then my duo was the very last number to go on.  I knew by the time I went on for my duo that I was just about done.  I should not have been walking onto that stage, but I sucked it up, found it deep within me, and danced my heart out.  My mother still jokes to this day that I looked like I was turning a shade of green, and my hands were dangling at certain points when they should have been still.  I didn’t think I would make it after I got offstage.  I had dancers running around me to line up for awards.  I was running to the bathroom by then.  I also wound up staying home for 3 or 4 days from school- the most I had missed since elementary school. 

I’m glad that I did it.  As dancers, we need to have those moments where we sacrifice for our art.  Yes, I was only a high schooler, but the discipline and rigidity of the art is instilled so early on for many of us.  It’s taught me that I can’t call out of work for a minor cold, or a bad headache, and that has earned me a lot of respect with many of my bosses. 

The most important part of getting sick, though, is knowing when it is okay to push yourself, and when it is not.  At the studio I currently work for, we impress upon the dancers to know themselves and their bodies well enough to understand what they need.  If they are so sick that they could pass it on to others, or wouldn’t be able to stay awake and observe- then stay home.  If you just don’t overall feel well, and it would be better if you didn’t dance, then come to dance, but still observe and take in corrections.  If you have a headache, well, take some aspirin, drink some water, and show up to work! 

Avoiding getting sick is the tough part.  Sometimes you can’t help it.  Between barres in studios that don’t always get cleaned in between classes, and with older students rolling around doing floor work, there are multiple surfaces that can be affected.  One wrong move and suddenly a student can be infected with any type of sickness.

I always tend to follow the basic rules- wash your hands when you can, avoid touching your mouth or eyes when you know you’ve been around sick children, eat right, sleep enough hours, and stay in tune to what your body is telling you.  If it’s telling you that you need more sleep, find a way to get it.  I know particularly with middle school and high school age students, this can be difficult.  Between their hours of school, their hours of dancing, their hours of other activities, as well as trying to find family time and social lives, it can often be easier to get a few hours of sleep before going all out.  Eating right, as well, can be difficult at those ages.  Unless their parents or guardians are very aware of their eating habits, they often don’t get the nutrients that they need.  Vitamin D is so important to the immune system, and with the apparent obesity problem in the United States, not everyone is getting the vital nourishment in which they need. 

As a teacher, I am always trying to figure out what my students need on a personal level, whether that involves corrections in class, or telling them that if they feel like they’re going to pass out they really should sit down and drink some water.  I care about every one of my students, not just as an instructor but also as someone who is looking out for their best interest.  It doesn’t benefit anyone if a student is crying because their stomach hurts, or if they are passing out on the floor while observing class.  Not only does it interrupt the class, but it also has a lingering effect on the other students.  I’ve noticed that even in a class of students where not everyone is best friends, if one student gets sick, they all ask if the student is okay, or they’ll check up on them the next week.  While it can be negative aspect for the class in terms of focus, it’s really special to be able to watch that camaraderie amongst them.  It’s one of the many reasons I love teaching. 

So I hope everyone stays safe and healthy through the rest of the dance season.  I know for many of us we are seeing the finish lines ahead with upcoming recitals and such!  I wish everyone good luck, even though I truly hope to be back on here in the next few days with more rambling musings!

Museum Inspiration

When I was in college, some of my favorite classes were my composition courses. It wasn’t just for the ability to explore new movements, but for finding ways to be inspired to create those new movements. One of my most memorable projects was creating a piece junior year by going to the Hartford Atheneum, picking out my favorite piece of artwork, and basing a 3 minute dance off of that. In a more conservative college setting, I was the girl who picked the Andy Warhol painting, chose Trans-Siberian Orchestra music, and choreographed a piece about views on death. It wound up being one of the most debated pieces that year. I loved that, because essentially as adult choreographers, isn’t that what we strive to do?

However, the point is not that I created a debatable piece, but that I found inspiration in a painting that very few thought even counted as a painting.

I love museums in general. I could probably go every week to museums and spend entire days in there and never get bored. Last week, I dragged my poor boyfriend through 2 of our favorite museums in the course of one day. He likes museums, too, but he also works in one, so the guy gets tired of them real quick. I’m very lucky to be able to live in an area where I have a museum down the street from me, and multiple museums only a half hour away in Boston. It gives me the opportunity to go whenever I feel the desire.

It’s amazing to me to be able to find certain rooms or artworks where I can sit in a gallery and just stare for hours, and feel completely immersed in its purpose. For example, when I went to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, they had a gallery in the Art of the Americas wing based on George Washington. There was a MASSIVE (and by massive, I mean it took up a whole wall) painting of George Washington on a hill looking out over a battle. I don’t remember the name of the painting, or who painted it, but I stepped back from it, and just stared at it. I studied the expressions on the faces, and noticed the anguish on the soldiers’ faces. I began to wonder what George Washington was thinking at that moment, and how heavy his decisions must be weighing on his mind. I wondered if he was thinking about the well-being of his soldiers, or if he wasn’t thinking, and just soaking in the scene in the few seconds before charging into battle. For a moment, I could feel myself there in the excitement, sadness, glory, and anguish of a war.

When something like that happens, that begins my thought process for movement. In this particular artwork, I did not think of movement, since only 2 years ago I created a piece called “Battle Faces” and the feelings and emotions were the same evoked from the painting. However, there were plenty of other exhibits that sparked interest. From paintings of children sitting and/or playing in fields to the stoic reverence of the imitation of a Buddhist temple, I felt as though I could’ve plucked any of those ideas out of the museum and choreographed them for a stage. I became immersed in the universes of these moments captured by artists.

I love how my composition courses taught me to find inspiration in anything. The purpose of dance has evolved over centuries, but it has remained as an outlet of expression. Expression is something that we all experience on a moment by moment basis, so it is largely relatable. It also gives choreographers the accessibility to create anything from anything. Inspiration can come in the form of sitting in a museum, or it can come from watching a person walk down the street. Personally, I found inspiration in certain paintings at the museum. Some ideas I’ll spare my students from. Others, I can’t wait to get to work on!

Thanks to the Museum of Fine Arts Boston for the lovely experience!

Dance- A sport, or an art?

Today my topic stems from an announcement made on So You Think You Can Dance last Thursday. During the usual opening for the show, Nigel Lythgoe told America that Gatorade was now recognizing dance as a sport. The winner of this season’s show will go on to become the first recognized dancer to represent Gatorade. This has sparked a huge debate in the dance world- is dance really a sport, or is it an art?

My first delve into researching this topic led me to trying to define “art” and “sport.” Wikipedia seemed to give me the best definitions.

“Art is the process or product of deliberately arranging elements in a way to affect the sense or emotions. It encompasses a diverse range of human activities, creations, and modes of expression, including music, literature, film, photography, sculpture, and paintings. The meaning of art is explored in a branch of philosophy known as aesthetics.”

It intrigued me that even though this described dance perfectly, dance was not listed as an art. Choreography is essentially the “arranging of elements.” When one dances, all the elements align and are put together to create a whole piece. Dance hits all the points of that definition, particularly the mode of expression. I don’t know a single dancer who hasn’t been moved by at least one piece that they’ve danced or created in their life. Even my younger students talk about how they’ve felt during a piece. Essentially, as well, aesthetics are a big part of dance. Everything has to look right, whether it’s meant to be aesthetic for the audience, or for the choreographer.

After seeing that dance was not truly considered an “art”, I did a search for performing art, and that’s where I found it listed. It was basically described as the materials for the art being the human form, as opposed to physical objects. This makes sense, but then this is where we get dangerously close to the definition of a sport.

“A sport is commonly defined as an organized, competitive, and skillful physical activity requiring commitment and fair play. It is governed by a set of rules or customs. In a sport the key factors are the physical capabilities and skills of the competitor when determining the outcome (winning or losing). The physical activity involves the movement of people, animals and/or a variety of objects such as balls and machines. In contrast, games such as card games and board games, though these could be called mind sports and some are recognized as Olympic sports, require only mental skills. Non-competitive activities such as jogging and rock-climbing, are usually classified as recreations.”

This also defines dance. Whether we dance in competitions, or in class, it is still competitive. It’s the difference between competing with other people, and competing with yourself. Dancers are constantly trying to one up themselves to achieve that physical perfection. It’s organized with a set of rules for each class, and how each movement is executed. It’s also most indefinitely a skillful physical activity.

So here’s where the arguments come in. Both art and sport define dance.

Nigel said on the episode of SYTYCD that he couldn’t wait for dance to be included in the Olympics. My gut reaction was “No way!” Dance is so SUBJECTIVE. Contrary to some of the arguments I’ve heard, dance is not like gymnastics. While there are the floor sections that might as well be a dance with a lot of flips, there is still a set amount of tricks that need to be performed. That’s all it basically is, though- a bunch of tricks. I hear from so many judges and dance teachers that complain when dances become all about the “wow” factor, and they don’t have the basics to back it up. In gymnastics, I’m pretty sure that the judges aren’t critiquing on how the gymnasts hold their hands or how wonderful their chasses are (I don’t know this for a fact. If a gymnast out there reads this and I’m wrong feel free to correct me). In dance, those are the basics that need to be judged on. Gymnastics is also based on the steps. Dance is typically based on the emotion or the expression. How could a judge critique emotion? You can’t set a bunch of rules on how to judge emotion. One judge may like the fact that they’re making big faces, while the other may think the dancer is doing too much. A syllabus on how to determine that couldn’t very well be made without a huge controversy.

At the same time, though, dance is SO athletic! Why do you think most dancers are thin but muscular? It’s because of the intensity that it brings to our physical beings. If you get the right dance teachers, they’ll tell you that you should be sweating after the first combination that you do in class. Dance is created so that you work right off the bat. The physical demands are so extreme that classes are designed to almost immediately warm up your body. In this aspect, it almost DEMANDS to be a sport. The physicality of it is almost more-so than half the sports out there. I mean, come on, look at curling. If THAT can be called a sport, why not call dance a sport?

Then there’s the comparison of dance and cheerleading, and how cheerleading is not being considered a sport. This just boggles my mind. How can cheerleading NOT be called a sport? Yes, it involves poms poms, and yes, it involves yelling, but seriously, I’d like to see some of those nay-sayers do a split jump in second, or even attempt a back flip! I can’t do it. I’d absolutely put cheerleading in the category of sports. There’s an element of creativity to it, of course, but it’s not really a performing art. The physical demands of dance and cheerleading are very much so the same, with the only differences being the types of tricks that are performed. So if cheerleading won’t be considered a sport, then why is dance now being considered?

I’m going to go out on a limb here and walk that fiery line of being on both sides. I think it’s an athletic performing art. The other performing arts out there don’t put that physical demand on the body. You can’t call acting a sport, right? There isn’t the same level of activity. At the same time, it’s a form of expression and was originally created as a way for people to interact. It’s a performance, not just a regulated series of steps. Essentially, dance is the best of the both worlds. It’s the only performing art that requires that physicality, while at the same time is one of the few sports that require the creative aspect along with emotion.

The next time you talk to a dancer, give them some credit. They’re always being told that they’re one thing or another, when really they’re all the good things of the categories they’re being defined as rolled into one. I really think that dance stands on its own, and is in and of itself its own entity. Thanks for the nudge, though, Gatorade! We appreciate the recognition!

(Just a little note- thanks to www.wikipedia.com for the definitions! I am not endorsed or anything to use their site or anything like that, though! I don't own those definitions!)