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Are You Still Immersed In The Process? How Content Culture Can Cap The Artist

 It felt so good to move, undulate, and slide into a deep second position to recoil into a contorted contraction. It truly felt like breathing. Surely, I adore codified technique. However, taking a contemporary class last night taught me way more than I bargained for. Get out of your headspace, get out of the mirror, ditch the "content concept" and just dance. I reckon that is my honest thesis. I felt like Jodie (without my Cooper) as I whisked across the floor. Throughout class I thought about the likes and wisdom of dancers like Robert Battle and Matthew Rushing. While dancing, I recalled both of their sentiments that included abandon and connection (to the floor, to the movement, to the work...) while dancing. Truly, I felt that. Suddenly, I am met with a challenge. Maybe it's culture or maybe its Maybeli — nope! It's definitely culture.  For about one minute, I wrestled with walking off of the floor, grabbing my phone, finding a proper angle to record, propping...
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A Love Letter to ASU BFA Dance

Without a vision people perish. Without a solid foundation everything built from there is sure to crumble. Without focus, time flies as it is wasted. Without personal conviction one will wander in oblivion.

The place you are returning to or stepping into for the very first time is a sacred one. You may or may not know what it took to create something that began as a region-shaking, nationally-acclaimed system, but even ahead of that, you should know why you began. What you bring to the dance program and to this brand new year will greatly determine the validity and strength of what you receive from the program. From instruction to curriculum, your focus and maturity are being called upon. Everything matters.

When I entered the BFA Dance program I didn't know I was stepping into the beginning of my legacy. I had no idea I was entering as a founding dance major, one of the firsts. As time went on I walked in that honor in more ways than one. That is what will be required from each of you. Greatness can only be birthed from a great mindset. What do you honor about dance? What do you honor about your future career? What do you honor about yourself? What do you honor about the great contributors to dance? 

The BFA Dance Program you are about to step into was birthed from brilliant thoughts put to paper, built from obscurity and propelled by tears, hard, hard work and great discipline. You have a unique opportunity to be history makers, to birth something unique. We all know what Montgomery, Alabama is known for. Excellency is no stranger to men and women who are from or who have landed on its grounds. Will you make your mark? The ASU BFA Dance Program has always been a staple in the community and University. If you are up for the challenge, set your sights now to dominate your college days. Create your goals now. Think about our professional dance goals now. Make up in your mind that you will be excellent at all costs now. 

Become a memorable and everlasting page in the book of this dance history. There is enough meaningless dance floating around. Set your sights and bars high. Dominate this year with open ears, wide eyes and constant teachability. In this world, only the diligent survive and only the serious will stand the test of time... 


... Some even go on to make history


The sky is the limit.

Will you soar?

It is more than possible.






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