All posts filed under “Baby Lessons”

October 14, 2014
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Know What You Like

Many dancers spend their careers feeling stuck in a rut. Though they have a ‘career doing what they love,’ they are actually rarely able to dance what they want to dance. While some dancers are acutely aware of this fact, and are able to act on it, others live with a constant, dull ache that arises from a mysterious unhappiness. For these unaware dancers, it is all too easy to remain in a company or school because it is the logical thing to do, even though it is hurting them.

If you are unsure whether you are truly happy with where you are and what you are doing, test yourself. Imagine someone asking ‘how are you?’ and before you can think about a proper response, speak. Say out loud what you feel deep down, and if the answer surprises you, it is time to get to know yourself and where you really want to be and what you really want to be doing.

If that seems silly, watch this video, and imagine what it would be like to react instantly and truthfully to every situation.

 

October 14, 2014
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A Good Attitude

I see a lot of students with bad attitudes. This is funny because right now dancers are imagining one thing while non-dancers are imagining another. You are both correct. I see a lot of students with bad attitudes and bad attitudes, and its time to address both. But I am only going to address one.

There is only one perfect attitude to have in class. In fact, cultivating this attitude will do wonders even outside of class. The perfect attitude looks like this:

Alex_Davison_baby_boulder_attitude 1

It can also look like this:

Alex_Davison_baby_boulder_attitude 2

 

And sometimes this:

Alex_Davison_baby_boulder_attitude 3

 

And definitely this:

Alex_Davison_baby_boulder_attitude 4

Just fill yourself with wonder and you will be all set.

‘But teacher, how can we fill ourselves with wonder about movements that we have done thousands of times already?’

Alex_Davison_baby_boulder_attitude 5

 

Obviously, this baby is not like the other babies. Do not fret. Everyone’s baby has wonderment inside just waiting to be discovered. Just let your baby be constantly amazed.

Difficult? Yes. But all you need to remember is that “Your attitude almost always determines your altitude in life,” meaning that no matter how impossible it may seem for you to master a specific concept, it is not impossible, because someone more advanced than you has already figured it out and boiled it down into a cute, folksy aphorism.