To Us | Happy Black History Month, Dancers

We are owed more than one day, yet our hard work stands as a testament. More often than not, the process of perfecting technique in class and rehearsal, the physical and mental exertion that we constantly push, and the all-too literal blood, sweat, and tears can dilute how fortunate we, as dancers, are to have the gifts that we do. 

As heard and said as can be, art is the basis of all human expression. Not many make the conscious choice to honor and hone in on that, as we grow taught to neglect creativity in favor of a “real,” “stable,” “high-wealth-generating” job or lifestyle. Simultaneously, we marvel in the surreal majesty of individuals who can sing, dance, act, write, create, and all that such entails. The human body is such an interesting, compelling instrument, and the acknowledgement in it is a key step towards cultivating a new culture of participants and admirers alike.

The hyper-analysis of the way that the human body can move has created an entirely new facet of artistry. Us dancers are the visual translation of an instrumental song, a lyric, a vision, or vibe. How the mind of one can absorb a sense and correlate that to a movement, or sequence of movement, is nothing short of fascinating. Knowing a vision so well enough that you can choreograph such on another human being, let alone being the human who executes that vision, is something one must feel and experience to comprehend how incredible the process is.

No matter where one travels in this world, the difference and uniqueness of interaction through movement is immeasurable. Henceforth, dancing, in entirety, varies from each individual’s walk of life. Styles are born, cultivated, and preserved, so much so that no two dancers are alike, no matter the synchronicity. Each individual brings their own essence to the floor, and it truly is a beautiful thing.

Personally, I love how dancers can make their own stage presence an extension of themselves, and thereby transfer that through a character. We all start off with the basics, varying genre to genre, and allow artistry to permeate through technical knowledge and skill. Truly, there is nothing better than allowing your experience as a human being to fuel how you process and interpret movement.

I strongly wish that everyone would be able to experience how empowering it is to be a dancer. The physical challenge becomes quite rewarding. You fall in love with constant improvement, knowing that repetition invites a sense of pride and progression each time. The way it feels to work so hard and be on a stage, knowing that you put in such a great amount of effort over the span of months to be performing for a matter of minutes to hours. Ultimately, each passing acknowledgement and celebration of dancers is a matter of ensuring that the culture we put forward progresses, much like how we do in our daily lives. 

Ironically, when minds assume that what we do is quite simplistic, mundanely dream-like, and easy in the grand scheme of things, I find it quite humorous as to how they do not know the half of it. What we do is oh-so real, meaningful, challenging, and powerful. The gratitude that I hold to be a part of this community is immense, and only we know how imperative it is to do what we do.