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
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