Saturday, July 25, 2020

On Discovering Dance Teaching as an Art Form


Photograph by Adriana Porras
 with Mariana Solano, ballerina.
Both my ballet students, from a photo session in the studio with me.


Discovering Dance Teaching as an Art Form

I had been teaching dance for years systematically and mechanically and until a series of experiences would shake this practice at the very core.  I started an intellectual and practical exploration and I discovered that teaching dance was, unquestionably, art.


I had been distracted at first with class structure and methodology.  I think most dance teachers are.  I was absolutely obsessed with correcting technical imperfections. 

 

Lost in the challenge of dance proficiency, of liberating from error.


Then a moment of perfect artistry and inspiration happened in my classroom.  I saw it flicker in my students' eyes.  Dancers suspended in beauty and time forever.  The spell broken, the struggle and hard work return, yet the dancer forever changed- the human vulnerable but louder and stronger.


Another day, it happened again.  As Picasso would have described in his own words, the inspiration was real and found us working.  Through reflection I discovered that the moment of artistic explosion had been created by a delicate sequence of stimulating exercises, sensations, patterns, and experiences.  A perfect connection between mental exploration and the embodiment of dance artistry.


I started working harder.  I started diving deeper and began creating a dance class based on experiential learning beyond teacher direction.  The dance and exercises in a structured sequence lead the dance student to work on technique delicately woven into artistic experimentation.  Time created for class sections incorporated and repeated.  And repeated.


The class carefully crafted and the dance technique a vehicle for exploration in itself.  The physical rigour when worked on through careful timing and understanding leads to a meditative state of higher cognitive awareness.  True learning through discovery, feeling and physical challenges... And through this process I now see my dancers become.  I become witness to an artistry and dancing evolve beyond my own as my students colour and texture their learning to a unique voice and expression.


I stand forever changed.  I stand overwhelmed with a feeling of connection, of heightened awareness, of grandeur and smallness, and trembling sensitivity that only inspiration confers.  I stand humbled.  An artist discovering a new vehicle and challenge to my creativity.  A dance teacher discovering, exploring, transforming the mundane work of the class into dance art.   


Saturday, July 18, 2020

Of a New Dream, Of Dance Renewed


@julieballet25

Aspiring Ballerina Julianna Solano in ballet class 

Recently a beautiful, young and aspiring ballerina has joined as a new student of mine.

It was promptly evident that this student has bigger dreams than most, dreams of joining the professional world of dance as a dancer and teaching artist.  Such a life project of hers fills me with hope and joy as another dancer dares to dream big.

I have lately been thinking of the things I want to communicate to my student as she transforms into the artist she seeks to become.  Some seemed so important that I thought it would be better to write them down.  Here are those thoughts, transformed into a letter.

 

Dear Julianna,

Thank you for including me as part of your adventure as your dance teacher, I confess I will learn much from this process too.

These are my guiding thoughts to share with you as we move forward. 


Dance as if you were never to be able to dance again. 

Be grateful for every step, every breath, every dance.

 

Be grateful to your body.

Beauty comes from a place of love.

 

Be humble to learn,

But grand in your dance.

 

Own your space

Fill it with the greatness of your spirit

Honour the vitality of your soul.

 

Be brave,

Be bold,

Be unapologetic.

 

Be powerful as a great Olympian

And delicate and sensitive as the youngest child.

 

Listen to the critics

In their criticism you will find the key to your growth.

But be deaf to those that predict your failure,

They are not God, they do not know.

 

Ignore the snobs,

Be patient with the ignorant

To dance is to be forever vulnerable.

 

Make everything an opportunity for learning.

Nothing is ever a failure,

Unless you quit, unless you stop dancing. 

Only then would you fail, and only then.

 

The most successful dancer is the most resilient.

Whatever life did not give you as a gift in talent,

You can develop and enjoy as a gift from hard work.

 

Find your beauty.

Do not be afraid to feel.

Own the moment.

 

Find the stillness in the movement.

Quiet in music

Peace in the challenge of battle.

 

Find your voice

Discover your pathway

Love yourself with all your imperfections

Celebrate life, love and dance in every single moment.

 

No matter how old you become

And how much gray comes to replace your youth…

Do not ever stop dancing

Dance in the living room

             In the kitchen

             In the hall

             In the garden under the sun and the open sky

 

Be strong Julianna,

May you always find the Song and Joy of your Dance.

 

 

 

Julianna Solano, aspiring ballerina      

@julieballet25