Where Diligence Dances Louder Than Perfection: The Shift That Builds Legacy

 The dedicated artist quickly becomes acquainted with difficulty, tough days and that sort of tug-of-war with mastery. I'm sure you've been there. It's those moments you need to analyze after relaxing into the burning muscles and deep sigh because who is thinking about anything else while trying to stay alive in ballet? Since beginning my dance career, I have always been coached by incredible teachers. Literally! Dale Shields, Lydia Abarca-Mitchell, Erin Jaffe-Gardner and so on. While still a high school student, I learned to handle the demands and pressures of dance training to become a professional. I wouldn't say that tough moments feel unfamiliar to me, it's knowing how to deconstruct them for greater outcomes.

 Yesterday I learned that I don't need to be a crazy perfectionist in order to elevate my body, mind-body connection, artistry or overall beauty. At this point in my career, I am unlearning and relearning a couple of things. I enthusiastically invite the process because loving this craft is never about one single destination. Instead, it is a journey. Yesterday's training session took me out, just a little bit, and Eric reminded me to immerse myself in the journey. I'm talking about Eric Conrad, by the way, thee Eric Conrad (kinda, still not over that). His sentiment reminded me of Misty Copeland's recollection of one of her final 2019 performances of Swan Lake. She told the journalist how she just let go and that it was incredible. But, in order to get to the"let go", you begin where I found myself yesterday. 

Learning, relearning, investigating, burning, decompressing, taking the journey, getting better, and it'll be incredible.