Adrenaline fills our bodies as hundreds of bright lights ignite, both illuminating the stage and our cool, porcelain skin. Our eyes gain focus as they break out of the dark abyss and lock with the thousands of pairs staring back. As our hearts start to ferociously pound in the chamber of our chests, we take a deep breathe, exhaling through our nose, releasing our tensions, as we meticulously run through the choreography one last time, like a movie through our focused minds. As music creeps through the dry, silent air, we begin to articulate each position with both poise and purpose; as we were previously programmed to do over the course of months prior.
The audience before us is hypnotized by our graceful facades, as they follow the story told by our elegant body language. Little does the audience know that deep down each of us is diligently focusing on the choreography, while squeezing every muscle in our bodies; lifting our chests, standing up straight, tucking our butts under, and lengthening our limbs, all while appearing to the observers like graceful swans. Many are in awe of dance performances, whether they are ballet productions, salsa duets, or even team jazz routines. No matter the genre, they all steal the hearts of the crowd due to their precision and appearance of ease. However, the art of dance is not as effortless as it is portrayed to the audience. It is also not just about the eloquently adorned costumes and the crisp red lipstick. It is not just comprised of beautifully stitched, satin pointe shoes and long, black false eyelashes, it is more... much, much more.
A dancer in some regards is more than human. Dancers are defined by a lifestyle far from the ordinary. From an early age we are obediently under the rule of our instructors who guide us with a loving heart and strict facade. We are exposed to hours of rehearsal, where we learn to never be satisfied and constantly yearn to better ourselves and push ourselves to the next level. We crave to be covered head to toe in beads of our own perspiration, and we stand proudly on the marley with tears up and down our ballet tights and big holes in blood soaked shoes. We get a high off of learning new dance combinations and perfecting new tricks. After a few years, dance starts to encompass our lives and define who we truly are. This art form teaches us dancers many lessons, but there are five main ones that hold true with every dancer, no matter their diverse upbringing.
1. Perseverance
Whether you're taking a pointe class where you're instructed to stand on two blocks of wood for over an hour, or in a tap class where you are instructed to meticulously perform each step on a small piece of ply-wood, the true definition of perseverance shines through.
Imagine trying to articulate each move in a stiff wooden shoe while simultaneously trying to remember the difficult choreography while incorporating intense dance technique, and not complaining for a second. We are taught the more it hurts, the more you bleed, the harder you squeeze your muscles, and the taller you lift up, you push through until the end. Complaining is ultimately pointless, because in all honesty, no one around you cares. Your fellow dancers are going through the same grueling turmoil that you are, and as they feel the same pain and exhaustion surge through their bodies, they are clearly not going to sympathize with your complaints. And for your dance teachers, they are certainly not going to care at all. They have already been in your shoes years prior, and their perseverance has led them to succeed in becoming your mentor. If even the slightest complaint escapes your dried lips, you will feel as if you are letting everyone around you down, and showing them that you don't have what it takes.
So, instead of rolling down on your pointe shoes and tearing off the satin laces, you push through, proving to your teacher, peers and self that you have overcome the pain and fought through it. There are definitely going to be times where you want to give up, where you want to run out of the room and call it a day. However, we have all learned to remind ourselves to keep going because the ending outcome is worth the strife.
2. Dedication
The art of dance is one that instills in us dedication. To progress in the dance world, you have to attend every class and practice offered by your company, and constantly be willing to work harder and push yourself to the next limit. You have to learn to give up other activities and commitments in your life in order to pursue your growth as a dancer. From an early age you accept this, because you learn that after a while on the weekends and after school, the only place you and your heart truly want to be is in the studio amongst your fellow dancers, who have grown to be your family. There isn’t really an “off season” for us dancers. As our friends that play soccer and basketball are restricted to their two- to three-month seasons, us dancers, we never stop. We go from September to June and then start right up with invigorating summer intensives. The only breaks we allow are for our bodies to rest for about one week around the holidays, and even then we crave to be back on the floor.
3. Team Work
Whether you are on a competitive dance team, or you are partnering with one other person in a ballet class, team work is instilled by this art form. In partnering you have to learn to trust the other dancer as they lift and guide your body. If you execute any move incorrectly the other partner will not be able to carry out their choreography, so you have to learn to work together. Dance teams flourish in the ability of learning to dance as one in a synchronized fashion, and like all forms of dance, it is about the collective working together to become one. Your group, no matter the size, is not going to do well on stage or at a competition unless everyone contributes the same amount of effort. “You're just as strong as your weakest dancer,” my teacher used to drill in our minds. This result of a life of dance allows us to think about others instead of just ourselves which is a huge lesson that can be carried through the rest of our lives.
4. Discipline
Discipline is a result of dance that is instilled in every dancer. From an early age, we obediently follow the strict dress code of our studio comprised of black leotards, pink tights and a slicked back bun. We mature faster than others our age, as we learn to put on false eyelashes and place hair pins in our hair perfectly. We gain independence by the age of 8 in many aspects of the world. We learn to put our teachers to the highest regard, and actively listen to everything they say. During our time in the studio we become collectively passive as we follow the commands, knowing that this will further our dance etiquette. We strive for corrections in class and want to know what we can apply to our performance to better our end appearance. This discipline may seem ridiculous for an extracurricular activity, especially at such an early age of start, but it is something we yearn for and honestly would not want it any other way. This discipline has allowed us to respect our elders and to approach the world with esteemed grace and manners. As I have grown I distinctly see a difference between those that had a strict dance upbringing, and those that have not. Discipline is something that radiates through dancers' moral fibers in every aspect of life.
5. Passion
There are millions of skilled dancers in the world, however, it ultimately comes down to only two types. There are those that go through the mere motions, and there are those that are passionately executing each movement from their soul. We learn that you can be the best technical dancer, however if you lack the passion in each step it is almost pointless. No one wants to watch a deadpan dancer take center-stage; they want to see someone attack the marley with fire in their eyes. The dancer that dances with their soul and doesn't hold back is the one that captivates an audience. Even if they mess up for a split second, the crowd is so mesmerized by the drive they have in them it goes unnoticed. We learn to truly dance like "no one is watching", and to dance as big as our hearts will allow. We learn to let go of our worries and forget about the world. Dance becomes our passionate escape as we express ourselves through choreographed body language while allowing our emotions to shine through.
These are five of many lessons that are instilled in each and every dancer through the art of dance. Not only do these endless hours of rehearsal aid us in the growth of our dancing, they also allow us to grow as people. Dance is in our DNA, and we are more than human, we are dancers.
