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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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The Reason Your Art Isn't Fulfilling

 Art of any kind takes an incredible amount of boldness and focus. The creation of another work that can even become a masterpiece cannot unfold if the attention of the artist is divided amongst other things. For dance artists this divide can look like colleague comparison, doubting yourself when things aren't perfect or being overly frustrated. Eat of these things, while they seem perfectly warranted, can cause you to pull away from or begin to walk away from your passion, the dream, your art.

A dance career can very vulnerable by nature. With so many people around you, so many ideas flowing from choreographers, different expectations from leaders, partners and even the responsibility of living up to/maintaining high level concerts, it is easy to be swallowed up by discontentment and feeling unfulfilled. But we can misplace our greatest passion when we allow our focus to be off for too long.

The reason your art is no longer fulfilling is because you stopped dreaming. Did you know that interacting with your passion and gifts only expands who you are? If you find yourself no longer being lifted or brightened as you dance and create, it is time to reevaluate and refocus. Once you take your mind from the dream other negative things gain a free space to enter.

You aren't losing your touch or creativity. You just may be losing your focus. Take some time this weekend to retreat. Call yourself to dream again and recenter. Remember that "off days" or tough rehearsals are not invitations to play the comparison game. As you recalibrate your mind and heart for your greatest passion, fulfillment will be the order of your day no matter what.

To every dedicated and heart-FUL artist, dance world needs you. We are in a resurgence within our industry and you are a valuable piece of the puzzle. 











Photo by Gene Schiavone




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