mentors – Denise's Blog

Bodies

When kids, in my case girls, are growing into their bodies, they’re discovering what they can do. I don’t know where my 7-8 year-old students learned to move like they do when I give them some counts to freestyle, but they sure know how to isolate their hips, followed by a peace sign with their tongues out. Where did they learn that?! I’m sure I can guess.

I won’t inhibit them or shame them for moving in that way. They are learning to express through movement. They’re figuring out the different ways they can move their bodies, and they aren’t mature enough to understand what potential messages those movements can send or the kind of attention they’ll possibly attract.

We, as adults who do know, understand those potential messages. We have a responsibility to put kids on stage performing choreography that fits their age and maturity level, in costumes that fit their age and maturity level.

Let the kids move and be free with themselves during their own class time. I’ll never make a child feel ashamed of the way they move their body. But as their leader and mentor, I will protect them from being put on stage doing anything above their maturity level.

Listen up

Sometimes, you should listen to those who have expertise and experience in your field, people who are practiced in it and educated in it, when you have choices to make.

Sometimes you shouldn’t listen to advice.

There’s no easy way to go about it.

There are dancers that I believe would have achieved certain goals of theirs had they heeded my advice and guidance.

There’s the teacher who didn’t seem to think much of me, who thought that I should have taken the first job I was offered because it was the only job I’d likely ever get.

Now, I didn’t turn it down because I thought I was above it. I turned it down because I wasn’t mature enough to leave home and tour for a year. As it happened, I was offered one of the top jobs any dancer could get less than a year later.

I digress. As artists and as humans, we do need mentors and colleagues to dispense feedback and wisdom, but we need to choose who we let in judiciously.

Not listening to anyone is bad. Listening to everyone will get you nowhere.