Sunday, November 13, 2011
Wake Up Call
When you're working towards becoming a professional dancer and you see a performance like BalletMet's Carmen, it's an eye opener. I can't even begin to describe how beautiful and strong the dancers were (and are). Basically, the entire company is simply gorgeous to watch. The dancers are effortless, powerful, and oh so very talented. I want to turn that easily, I want extensions that high, I want I want I want. It's a kick in the butt, because you really see how hard you have to work to get to that good. Is that kind of level even possible for me? How long will it take me to get there? What happens if I never get that good? It's scary to think about. I can easily overwhelm myself if I start to think that way, but at the same time I'm trying to be as realistic as I possibly can. I want to perform more than anything in the world, but I know I have a really long way to go. All I can do is turn my doubts into the drive to succeed and be the best possible dancer I can be for myself. I'm glad I'm at a University that can give me the kind of education I need to get there, but in the end, it's up to me and how I choose to use that education. I can either take advantage of every moment in class to better myself, or I can blow them off just as easily and slack through them, which will be of absolutely no use to myself. I just have to do it, simple as that. Challenge accepted.
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I have also freaked out many a time, especially this quarter, about the same questions you brought up. As dancers we are striving to be the best that we can be at what we do and then we see professionals working in the field and wonder if we will ever be that good as well. It can be very unnerving at times, but as long as we are pushing ourselves to pass our limits then we can all make it!
ReplyDeleteIt's so great that you brought this up because I think it further emphasizes how important it is to have appropriate goals that take notice to that thin and often unclear line between reality and drive. At my studio we would often take a day to watch a classic ballet just to revamp our inspiration, and it really worked! I think even though these performances can be inspiring, they can also be detrimental, at least to my psyche. All the while I think it's incredibly important that we all have well thought out priorities and that we never get complacent with ourselves.
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