In a state of delusion I went out and bought a bodysuit recently. It's the gray one above with the Malibu written across the front. I convinced myself if I owned one then I would work harder at the gym to cultivate a dancer's muscle tone (typed while eating pistachio ice cream sprinkled with hazelnuts and chocolate chips...).
It all started when I was watching the BBC (an allegiance I cannot seem to break despite my misgivings) and saw Edward Watson in a short news story mentioning his frustration at people talking about the colour of his hair instead of his brilliant dance form and skill. Then I started thinking I should join a dance class and that led to my thinking that I have not seen an Alvin Ailey show ever and I'd sooner that than to go to the Royal Opera House in London.
Anyhoo, before I knew it, I was thinking that the more plausible option of bringing me closer to an appreciation of dance art, etc. would be if I bought a leotard; but I couldn't find one I liked and then I found this bodysuit. And so here we are. Forget Misty Copeland. You see that dude in the black tutu? I want his legs. How does one cultivate the spirit of a dancer (i.e. too zen to eat ice cream) and would that eventually lead to a dancer's body (i.e. that of a fluidly, smoothly-moving sculpted and carved Italian marble statue)?
Pics: Roh.org.uk and Pinterest
So, what underpins a dancer's performance and their breathtaking abilities and discipline? Here are two books by Rick Guest which help to visualise the demands on a dancer's physical and emotional being.
Pics: Roh.org.uk and Pinterest
In my opinion, based on twelve years as a ballet dancer, the most significant pillar supporting a dancer's discipline and the "dancer spirit" is the development of a love for the dance that you do. When I did ballet, I felt such a high from perfecting a move, and felt the most complete and exhilarating emotional and spiritual relief and release - this is what motivated me to dance longer, practice harder, and do the same things over and over again until I had gotten it exactly the way I wanted it. At that point I had also usually sweated through my dance clothes, and my muscles shook uncontrollably with exhaustion. I believe it is a love of dance that only comes from time, practice, and true connection with it as an expression of art, heart, and soul, that underpins that which you seek.
ReplyDeleteHey! Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I hope you feel the same way now as you did then about dance.
ReplyDeletePrettyoldstuff