I've been hanging around the apartment, bored, for the last few hours. Lately, I impress myself with how quickly I become restless when I'm supposed to be "resting." Tonight is arguably my only night off for the next several weeks, to be followed by back to back 15 hour days and moving to a new apartment.
I've packed up some clothes, eaten dinner, watched half an hour of tv, and then started watching some clips of pieces that I'm working on. Watching dance got me started on researching more opportunities for myself. I clicked through webpages for dance companies, studios, choreographers, other dancers that I know, searching for something that would trigger inspiration.
It's a constant obsession: what else can I be doing to improve myself? What other types of work can I be doing? Who else can I collaborate with? When can I fit in more classes?
Don't get me wrong: I never want any of my peers to think that I am not fully content with the work that I am currently doing. I love the companies that I work with (and see a great deal of potential for them to do great things), love the dancers that I'm working with, and I just feel very lucky for everything that I have right now. However, I do still have quite a bit of determination to become...better. A more skilled dancer, a more convincing actress, a more moving performer, a more creative choreographer, a more productive director. Just better, overall.
I'm currently looking at what comes next. GI Alliance's show will be over (for now at least) in April, Innervation's show will be over in May, and Renegade is looking at late summer for a concert. I realize that for most people, June and July are still quite off in the future, but I am automatically looking for something that will work perfectly with my schedule and still offer me further opportunities as an artist.
Hopefully, the New Dances audition next month will go well.
If not, it's on to...the next thing.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Obstacles and Opportunities
It's been a month since I last posted. You might think it's because I have been so busy, that I haven't had a chance to sit down. Honestly, I'm not flitting around as much as I expected. Instead, I have been using my downtime to watch TV series with my husband. Guilty.
Just when I started feeling prematurely overwhelmed, I realized that I don't always have rehearsal 6 days a week as I expected I would. I do, however, still have to keep those slots open for the possibility of rehearsal 6 days a week. I'm okay with that.
Last week, we had the biggest snow storm since I moved to Chicago. The amount of snow and unclear roads kept me at my apartment for 3 days--rehearsals cancelled, schools closed, no classes at the studio. I thought I would go crazy from boredom and lack of exercise. I've realized that I do need a day off here and there to recharge, enjoy the little things in life, and remind myself that there are many things in this world outside of dance...but three days in a row...I don't want that again for a long time!
In the last week, I have felt like I have been accomplishing goals, and surprising myself with the results. As of right now, three of the pieces that I'm setting have mere seconds until completion. I'm also pretty darn proud of all three. The contemporary ballet that I'm creating for the GI Alliance spring concert will be previewing in a couple of weeks, and I didn't expect to be so close to finishing it before the showing. If you'd like to come take a look, and maybe even give me your feedback, stop on by NorthSide Dance Theater on February 20 at 1. It's the end-of-session Student Showing, but my piece (and maybe a few other GIA pieces???) is appearing as an example of "professionals." (Why did I put that in quotes? I guess it is hard to believe that I am a professional dance artist.)
Speaking of the studio, we have grown a little bit this session. More new people stopping by for information and to register for classes. My beginning modern class has gone from one person to three devoted students. I also have a kids jazz class with a couple little ones--what a blast! Now, it's my kids ballet class that's getting me down. It WAS, arguably, one of the most successful classes at the studio. I had five pink ballerinas. They worked hard, they had fun, even I had fun. Then, the two older girls dropped out (one not by choice). A third little girl comes and goes. I'm left with two very cute, very chatty, very unfocused kiddies.
Last night was such a depressing class. Both little girls didn't have their hair up, and I couldn't find any hair ties. Right then and there, I was doomed. The entire class was fidgeting and chatting and repeating combinations over and over until they paid attention.
I'm at a loss. I have a hard time working with students that don't seem like they want to be in class, no matter their age. I also have a hard time when students don't understand that learning how to dance takes time and hard work. I have many students (children, teenagers, young adults) who expect to take a few months of classes and be instant professionals. It's all about instant gratification. Whatever happened to perseverance?
In any case, I do feel some pressure to keep this class going strong. These six year olds are the future of the studio! Oh boy.
These challenges propel me to want more training, to go to workshops, to discuss ideas with other teachers, to read books and magazines. So I guess, in the end, the small obstacles create opportunity for growth. For that, I am thankful.
Just when I started feeling prematurely overwhelmed, I realized that I don't always have rehearsal 6 days a week as I expected I would. I do, however, still have to keep those slots open for the possibility of rehearsal 6 days a week. I'm okay with that.
Last week, we had the biggest snow storm since I moved to Chicago. The amount of snow and unclear roads kept me at my apartment for 3 days--rehearsals cancelled, schools closed, no classes at the studio. I thought I would go crazy from boredom and lack of exercise. I've realized that I do need a day off here and there to recharge, enjoy the little things in life, and remind myself that there are many things in this world outside of dance...but three days in a row...I don't want that again for a long time!
In the last week, I have felt like I have been accomplishing goals, and surprising myself with the results. As of right now, three of the pieces that I'm setting have mere seconds until completion. I'm also pretty darn proud of all three. The contemporary ballet that I'm creating for the GI Alliance spring concert will be previewing in a couple of weeks, and I didn't expect to be so close to finishing it before the showing. If you'd like to come take a look, and maybe even give me your feedback, stop on by NorthSide Dance Theater on February 20 at 1. It's the end-of-session Student Showing, but my piece (and maybe a few other GIA pieces???) is appearing as an example of "professionals." (Why did I put that in quotes? I guess it is hard to believe that I am a professional dance artist.)
Speaking of the studio, we have grown a little bit this session. More new people stopping by for information and to register for classes. My beginning modern class has gone from one person to three devoted students. I also have a kids jazz class with a couple little ones--what a blast! Now, it's my kids ballet class that's getting me down. It WAS, arguably, one of the most successful classes at the studio. I had five pink ballerinas. They worked hard, they had fun, even I had fun. Then, the two older girls dropped out (one not by choice). A third little girl comes and goes. I'm left with two very cute, very chatty, very unfocused kiddies.
Last night was such a depressing class. Both little girls didn't have their hair up, and I couldn't find any hair ties. Right then and there, I was doomed. The entire class was fidgeting and chatting and repeating combinations over and over until they paid attention.
I'm at a loss. I have a hard time working with students that don't seem like they want to be in class, no matter their age. I also have a hard time when students don't understand that learning how to dance takes time and hard work. I have many students (children, teenagers, young adults) who expect to take a few months of classes and be instant professionals. It's all about instant gratification. Whatever happened to perseverance?
In any case, I do feel some pressure to keep this class going strong. These six year olds are the future of the studio! Oh boy.
These challenges propel me to want more training, to go to workshops, to discuss ideas with other teachers, to read books and magazines. So I guess, in the end, the small obstacles create opportunity for growth. For that, I am thankful.
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