Go out and see dance.

Go out and see dance.

I can’t tell you how often that advice has been bestowed upon me in recent years. By my teachers, my directors, and often during an inspirational speech (that may or may not go on for over half an hour).

If you are a dancer, become inspired by dance! Be inspired to work harder, become better, create new work, and to enjoy yourself. Don’t become stuck in a bubble. You know the one. The bubble that is your dance studio, where you spend hours upon hours seeing the same people day after day. While hopefully those you dance with are a source of inspiration, you will never grow as a person unless you see new things in your community and beyond.

And by no means should you limit yourself to dance. Go to a museum, an art gallery, a play, a musical, see a live orchestra. Even a good street performer counts, especially for those of you lucky enough to live in a big city like New York. All art is good for you, and will make you a better dancer, not in technique, but in artistry. Dance is an art form above all, and we as performers are striving to become artists, not just technicians.

The main point is this: as dancers (and even those who aren’t), we need to be constantly inspired by new ideas in order to grow. We need to replenish our enthusiasm if we seem to be stuck in a rut. If your excuse is money? Go and find a local, amateur, free event. If you really have to, the internet is a wonderful resource full of music and videos, though not as good as the energy a live performance can give. Don’t be lazy, don’t get stuck, get inspired.

• Posted in: Dance Posts
• Tagged: advice, art, ballet, dance, inspiration, performance, wisdom