Artists know they are picking a difficult path (in many ways) when they choose their careers. Sometimes, knowing this does not make the difficulties any easier. In the midst of financial hard times, deadline pressure and openings/ closings, it can be hard to keep perspective. In light of this, I wanted to share this simple quote that I came across a couple of weeks back. The following is a good reminder that we are always fortunate;
“May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts you have received, and pass on the love that has been given you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.”
I, of course, am partial to the DANCE part. When the feeling hits me after a deeply involved class or performance, where I know my mind had been quieted and I was focused utterly and completely on the task at hand, I realize that dance is one of the few powerful things that allows me to completely experience the moment as it exists. As long as I am on the quote-train, I’ll toss out this one; “Just as drama asks us for the suspension of our disbelief, jazz asks us for the suspension of our need to program our every moment.” Seth Colter Walls, a culture writer, penned this for a Newsweek article about the progression and purpose of jazz music (and I’ll add dance, as to me, they are one in the same). That is some powerful stuff, in an age where we are used to productivity and efficiency at our fingertips. I am not suggesting that this is all-together bad, but I am alluding to the importance of balance.
In the amount of time that dancing softens my projections and allows me to experience the moment, I have been given a true gift. Despite its power, this is not something that I recognize daily, and I’d like to take the steps to change that. The more you can tap into this place, the more you can share it with others and use your creations to better your community. It seems to me that when you take inventory of the things that make you fortunate, you never know how such a practice might feed the things you create!
Erinn Liebhard: Dance Artist 