10 things I have learnt as a performer/dancer over the last decade...
It’s been a decade of dying to dance.
I graduated high school in 2010. Completed full time dance training, a music/arts management degree, trained overseas and worked as a performer and dancer in Sydney and NYC.
For all the high’s and lows over the last decade, here are ten
little things I’ve learnt from adolescent to just above my mid twenties as a human, performer and dancer.
In no particular order…
1. Where you spend your money shows what you value most. Invest wisely. Borrow wisely. And give generously. Never let lack of money stop you from achieving your dreams. If you want it bad enough you will figure it out.
2. Write your goals in present tense “I am living in the US on my 01 artist visa”. Know WHY you want it, understand what you VALUE, then set your goals.
3. People are quick to criticize and slow to give you positive feedback, if any at all. Give yourself feedback; take feedback from the actions of people around you and the small comments that are made in conversation. Ask for feedback when appropriate.
4. Find a mentor. someone you trust, who believes in you, inspires, and is truly invested in your journey.
5. Be bold about your faith. have faith, lean into your faith. whatever it is. Your faith is all that’s left when you’ve physically done all you can and are left without any rational answer.
6. Not everyone with credits or in a position of power is correct. You need to become emotionally intelligent, listen, and learn to filter the information that applies to you and your own path.
7. Don’t underestimate your survival jobs. Most life skills, funny moments and unique friendships have come from working in retail and hospitality as an employee under the best and worst employers.
8. People are different everywhere you go. From what dance style is popular, how you present your show reel, and how talented people consider you to be. You will be accepted somewhere. Venture out, explore new cities, styles, and meet new people. You will also be valued for your own ideas and experiences if you’re confident to bring yourself to a new culture, rather then change with it.
9. Get to know everyone in the room not just the first few people you gravitate towards. It takes time to get to know someone, we all share different sides of our personality within different social groups. Side note: The humble determined underdogs are usually the ones that surprise everyone a few years later.
10. Learning to breathe, foam roll, self release, and stretch with patience and consistency is far more effective then overstretching your splits on the chair for 5 minutes. Understanding the way your body deals with stress and life will affect your movement, style, creativity, energy, posture. Figure out what makes you tense and learn how to release it.