Monday, 22 June, 2009| 0 Comments | Make A Comment | Share on Facebook
Dance, what we do, is a funny old thing isn't it? Which means that alot of funny people come with it and I'm not talking about people who make you laugh alot.
I've been thinking alot since reading the 'Old Man Ashford' article from the Evil Imp. It made me think about everyone's role in dance, what their job is, the power they may have, their personalties, what they think of themselves and others and the results of all of those put together.
I'm already aware of it, but as I go further into dance I am becoming even more aware of the dark side of it, the politics, the power struggles, the egos, the opinions, the ass kissing and so on. The world of dance can actually be an ugly and gross place and what is disappointing about that is that it is the people who make it like that. Don't get me wrong, I like to express my opinion about dance and the people in it, but at the moment I am having trouble understanding dance and the people who are part of it.
I like the idea of and am always trying to develop the balance of being confident, powerful and going for what you want and making things happen, yet still maintaining integrity and being humble.
An example of this is someone who I admire alot because of this attitude to dance. I went to see a performance the other evening by a well known Choreographer, a performance by his company. We sat together during the show. It was wonderful, because I got the impression that he couldn't quite believe that he had a company and was making work and was successful, and for me, this was so refreshing. Even the best of the best can still be humble and normal when things get big, and I think that's so important, to be able to know what you are but to also know what you are not and know that there is always something to learn, no matter how great you are.
This was inspiring. Great things come to great people. It may not always seem like it, and yes, there is alot of injustice in dance, but I don't think we should change who we are for sake of driving a career, and so if you are a nice, kind person, stay that way, but have the confidence to push for what you deserve.
I don't know if I make sense at all, but my point is that dance is about people, the people who make it, the people who are in it, the people who watch it, and it is disappointing that there are always a few who are negative and sometimes just plain rude.
It is also the people who are in dance who can change it and it feels like there is the desperate need of change, so perhaps an adjustment of arrgoant and egotistical attitudes is also in desperate need of change in order for dance to develop??
Here's a thought, let's try being nice to each other, and mean it, for a change.
Changing subjects, the Opera is going well. We've performed twice now which means there are five shows to go! Woo!
What is really interesting about it though is the difference of feeling before hand. Normally with a smaller performance with less people, I always feel some sort of excitement or nerves, but because I know in this opera that the dance is a component of something much bigger, it makes me feel much lighter and nothing like the way I normally feel before going on stage.
On a really positive note, I am really enjoying it. What a fantastic group of people, really makes the job easier and a pleasure to do (take note unpleasant people :P)
On another positive note, 'You, Except Broken', a piece that myself and Svenja Hamel presented at Resolution! and various other things this year will be opened up again as we'll be performing the work again at East Coast Moves as part of the Dance Live! festival in Aberdeen, and again at Hamburger Sprechwerk in Humburg, Germany. Woo! October will be a busy month.
Until next time, take care and be nice to each other.
:)
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