Looking Back, Looking Ahead

As 2010 draws to a close, many of us find ourselves looking back at the year that has passed, and looking ahead at the year to come.  It’s the time to think about what you have done, and what you will do.  Regrets surface, and resolutions are formed to do better “next time”.

For many of us dancers, Nutcracker has just ended, and while we’re resting up, we’re recharging our bodies and minds for the dance year ahead.  Audition season is coming up, and whether you’re auditioning for companies, colleges, or summer programs, it’s important to consider what you learned from this year’s experiences.  Was the summer program you attended satisfactory, and did you get enough attention?  What do you want to get out of your college dance program, and what do you want to get out of college?  What kind of company do you want to be part of?  Every time you take class or go to rehearsal, you learn something new about yourself and about your dancing.  Think about the ways in which you’ve gotten to know yourself this year, and apply that to the decisions you’ll be making about dance in the coming one. 

But if there’s anything that the Christmas season is about, it’s joy.  Use the downtime you have now to reflect on the happiness that dance brings into your life and the lives of your audience, and look forward to diving into the new year of dance with renewed pleasure, purpose, and energy.