We have all been crafted in some way by the activities we take on at a young age. In looking back at my 15 years of dancing at Mid-Maryland Performing Arts Center, I can credit a lot of my success to the characteristics instilled in me by the most amazing team of instructors.
1. Flexibility
Throughout my time as a student, I have witnessed many teachers alter the routines in the blink of an eye in the middle of choreographing. Steps, music, and costumes can change all in the course of a single rehearsal. Instances like these have helped me handle bumps in the road with a calm and open mind.
2. Time Management
Handling extremely full school, extracurricular, dance, and social schedules challenged me mercilessly throughout high school, but it also forced me to figure out how and what to spend my time on. I learned to prioritize my responsibilities so that I could afford a few hours of friends, naps, and Netflix on the weekends.
3. Focus
Being stuck in a studio for hours on end can start to lose its charm after a while. Nevertheless, a dancer must stay focused on whatever is thrown his or her way. We are taught to pay attention to our instructors as well as ourselves and how we are progressing (or not progressing!). My time in the studio taught me to focus on personal goals so that I never have an idle mind.
4. Self-awareness
Dance has done a number on my self-awareness. I have grown much better at listening to my body over the years: I know when it is thirsty, when it is tired, and when it is hurting. My training helps me sense when I am off-balance in a turn, hyperextended in my knees, too arched in my lower back, you name it. Paying attention to how you are feeling both physically and emotionally can be the most helpful route to becoming a more relaxed and more controlled dancer and person.
5. Responsibility
As you can imagine, dance performances and competitions can be extremely hectic. There is little downtime and a lot of running around. The fast-paced atmosphere leaves your instructors with very little time to remind you of things you should do yourself such as warm up your body, bring costume pieces, and arrive to the stage on time. I was taught to be responsible for myself and my belongings through countless classes and performances. I know to take the initiative to prepare myself physically and mentally for whatever is thrown my way without being asked.
6. Communication
I cannot stress enough how important it is to communicate clearly and effectively as a dancer. You quite literally hold someone’s safety in your hands when you are partnering; by losing eye contact, you risk crashing into friends; if you don’t speak up when you’re hurting, your peers will judge you for slacking off. Clear and concise communication in the classroom has translated into other aspects of my life and helps me explain to others what I am thinking, feeling, or asking for. Effective discussions help eliminate confusion and save time.
7. Acceptance
As a dancer, I am expected to take what is handed to me without complaint. Ugly costume? Pretend you love it. Not cast in a dance? Understudy it. Hate the choreography? Suck it up. We are taught to live out the mantra “you get what you get and you don’t get upset.” Even when things have not gone my way in the studio, I have learned to control my emotions and respect the decisions of those above me in the hierarchy. Acceptance does not make me passive; it makes me agreeable. This aspect further feeds my ability to go with the flow in even the most stressful of situations.
8. Drive
There will always be a dancer who is more flexible than you, better at turning than you, has higher leaps than you… The list goes on and on. Rather than letting any semblance of mediocrity get us down, we dancers use our shortcomings as fuel to our fires. Dancers have a drive like no other to improve themselves at any and all costs. I allowed my drive and dedication in the studio to translate into my academics throughout high school, and come September I’ll be living my reward at Columbia University.
I will always be grateful for the knowledge being a dancer has brought me. In some way, shape, or form, these characteristics have propelled me to every success I have achieved. I want to continue dancing as I make my way to New York—and hope to learn just as much in the city as I have learned back home.
