"TO DANCE
I am not that old but I AM old enough to see a difference in generations of dance. this current generation is mind-blaringly talented but scarily missing the work ethics of my slightly less talented generation as well as those that came before us.
As most of you will dance for my generation or the generations prior; here is what was expected of us that we naturally and collectively, expect from you. NEVER mark.
Why pay for a class and mark until you get into groups?
Groups occur for MAYBE 10 minutes. Most of which you’ll spend trying to figure out the parts you’ve been marking.
Don’t sit.
Don’t yawn.
Be on time. if anything, be early.
Touching your toes and sitting in a grande plie 2nd for a minute does not a sufficient warm up make.
Put your phones AWAY.
Be hungry to know everything about your art; ESPECIALLY its history. You would not be here without those that came before you.
You MUST be able to hold an intelligent conversation about the art form that you have chosen to make your life’s purpose.
If you miss rehearsal, get with someone prior to learn the choreography you don’t know. If you don’t make the YouTube video, don’t get the job, or don’t get called out for the “special” group; it doesn’t mean you stop coming to class. In fact, the very opposite…you KEEP SHOWING UP.
perseverance and SHOWING UP is often how a job is booked.
If a dance doesn’t win, it doesn’t mean it’s bad.
If a choreographer isn’t on SYTYCD, it doesn’t mean they aren’t worth working with.
If a teacher can’t book you something, it doesn’t mean their class isn’t worth taking.
Know loyalty. ALWAYS remember where you came from and who got you there.
Be humble, even if that older dancer can’t turn as many times as you; there’s a reason why they’ve booked so many jobs and are STILL working.
Respect and learn from them. Be responsible for your energy. Come to class to be inspired but be responsible for what you bring to the table too.
Never treat the role of an understudy as a waste of time. It is often a fruitful opportunity of a lifetime.
be self motivated and self driven.
Do your homework.
Go to ballet.
Go to african.
Go to modern.
Go to EVERYTHING.
The class and/or teacher that challenges you most; is usually where and who you are growing most from.
If you’re injured, be smart. Know what it is to work internally; without expectation of reward or instant gratification.
Be open to criticism.
Be OPEN (period.) if you commit to something follow it through with enthusiasm or drop out completely.
We are in a line of work that people throw their life, their savings, and their whole heart into.
Don’t destroy it by giving anybody less than your best.
Don’t be SHADY.
if you know someone say, “HI” regardless of whether it makes you look good in that moment.
If you see a video you dig on Facebook, like it.
If you like a video on YouTube, share it.
If someone is better than you in class, shout out a “werk” and study the hell out of ‘em.
And finally, know that dance does not come over night, or over months, or even years.
It happens throughout a LIFETIME process that is to be adored despite struggle.
Love every second of it for genuine reason and you will probably find yourself doing all this naturally."
Marinda Davis
"Dance is not only for kids who are perfect ballerinas. Dance is an outlet for anyone who has pain, or sadness in a their life."
Vicki Smith
"Bitch don’t take my barre, and we won’t have a problem."
Life of a dancer.
"With our legs we show technique. With our arms, we dance."
Dmitri Malikov
Dancer’s smile about it.
People need to see, and feel what it’s like to be a dancer.
From the cringing pain inside our bodies as we twist and move in ways that human’s shouldn’t,
And we smile about it.
We stand, on our toes, in shoes made of paper, glue, and a wooden block for over two hours,
And smile about it.
Our skin slowly hardens, and bruises, as we fall from great heights as if to emote,
And we smile about it.
As we carefully stretch each muscle to be longer and leaner than it was before,
We smile about it.
As we sweat under burning hot stage lights, and they shine in our face,
We smile about it.
When we love putting on beautiful make up, fake eyelashes, lipstick, and sparkly earrings,
We certainly smile about that.
Even when we have to scrub all that off at the end of the night, and your lips are still stained red the next morning,
We smile, because we know how well we did. We know we did what many others cannot.
Dancers have incredible physical and emotional strength.
We get scolded, and critiqued, and corrected, and judged, and put down.
But in the end, when we’re on that stage,
Holding that ending pose,
The audience rises to their feet,
That smile reaches from ear to ear.
I am proud to call myself a dancer.
These photographs of me were taken by Michelle Dizon. She is an amazingly talented photographer. This shoot was called “This Morning” a continuation of “Urban Ballerina” Please take a look at her photography page on facebook, “Michelle Dizon Photography”. I am honored to work with a photographer such as her.
(via spinlaughdance)
Photoshoot I had yesterday with “Michelle Dizon Photography”
This shoot is titled “Urban Ballerina”. We incorporated the elegance of ballet, and the intricate works of the city. Please take a few moments to check out her photography page. She truly has a talent.
Photographer: Michelle Dizon
Hair Stylist: Andie Yagurr
Model: Myself, Meredith M.
Videographer: Connor S.
(Source: facebook.com)
It’s a breath.
It’s a heart stopping, gasp taking, life flashing moment.
A moment, and then
It’s gone.
You grip, and grip,
Holding yourself up,
Holding yourself still.
But, what goes up
must - come - down.
Your heart is still beating.
It was just moments ago,
Why can’t you go back! Why can’t you hold it?
Why can’t you do it again?
Well, that’s just it.
You can.
You can do it again,
and again, and again
Until that feeling is pressed into your mind that it is simply
Unforgettable.
It’s a breath.
It’s a heart stopping, gasp taking, life flashing moment.
A moment, and then
It’s gone, only to return again.
(Source: the-real-queenv, via albinorhin0)
Be yourself; Everyone else is taken.
What society calls a loner, a dancer calls a solist. An artist calls a Picaso, an actor calls a lead. A writer calls an author, a musician calls a hit. A scientist calls a genius, and an athlete calls a star.
Therefore
I breathe, therefore I dance.
It’s that moment where you hear the beat, and your head turns.
The bass fills your heart.
The rhythm consumes your body.
Music fills your mind.
c r e a t i o n ::
Sound waves flashing before your eyes,
Notes flying past your ears,
Creation blessing your soul.
Music is what creates bonds between people.
Music calms emotions.
It aids to heart break.
It creates passion.
It fires people.
Without music, people would know no passion.
Without passion, the world would be no where.
Passion innovates,
Innovation leads to creation.
Creation leads to improvement.
Improvement leads to confidence.
Confidence leads to celebration.
Celebration leads to music.
Music leads to passion.
It’s that moment where you hear the beat, and your head turns.
The bass fills your heart.
The rhythm consumes your body.
Music fills your mind.
Be Still, and Move.
I close my eyes, and I see them move around me.
I hold my breath, and I can feel them pushing me.
I take a step, and I hear them following me.
Who are they? Them? The ones I see, feel, and hear?
shh you can hear them too.
Be still. Be silent.
You hear it?
That rhythm. That sound. That beat.
So, who are they?
Each and every sound decibel that movement can be derived from.
That’s who “they” are.
You see, dancing is not something that requires skill, or talent. It just takes a willingness, and a passion.
I am moved by everything I hear.
