Pointes and Perspective #25 Who Is The Person You Want To Be?

Who Is The Person You Want To Be?

A couple weeks ago, I was teaching a beginner class of students ranging from ages 9-11 years old. They are typically a very attentive and polite group. After showing a turn combination that we were then going to execute straight across the floor, I led the group back to where we would begin, and asked them to work in groups of three dancers. They naturally began filing into 3 loose lines, when one of the youngest dancers, raised her hand to inform me that she WAS in the front of the line, and someone stepped in front of her.

Deep inside me, I rolled my eyes, as I assume all dance educators do when hearing remarks of this kind! But I of course, pushed that aside, and regrouped.

I chose to address the subject with a lesson that we discussed in a recent post, Who Are You Dancing For? I assured the group that, “Trust me, I can see you,” mentioning that, “I am always looking at you, no matter where you are in a room or in a group. It is my job. Your job is to dance for YOU! And that can be done anywhere!” I reminded them that they can study, improve, practice, and enjoy dance, whether they are front, back, left, right, first or last! It doesn't matter WHERE they dance.

On my drive home, I realized what a teachable moment that was, and that, other than the lesson I chose to teach, inspired by the line “cuttee”, there was yet another, different lesson I could have shared, prompted by the line ”cutter”!

I drove on, as my mind wandered back many years to when my children were young. It was a Saturday morning and the five of us casually wandered the streets of our little town, and happened upon a yard sale. I stood back, leisurely drinking my coffee, as I watched my four children curiously dig through boxes of matchbox cars, books, and art supplies. There was a sudden eruption, as Jonny pushed his siblings aside to grab the nerf gun his brother was contemplatively holding. I stepped in, returning the toy to Christian, and made sure to have Jonny’s full attention when I purposefully asked him, “Is that really the person you want to be?”

Just this afternoon, I was again reminded of this lesson as I read a stranger's social media post, “Please put your shopping carts back! It is so windy, and I just watched someone leave a cart out and 15 seconds after she pulled away, the wind blew it into another car! I have heard it said that a person's character can be observed by whether you return your shopping cart.”

Who is the person you want to be?
Beyond the steps, the technique, and the audience’s applause, what kind of dancer do you want to be? What kind of human do you want to be?

There is the etiquette of the dance classroom that we should know, yes. Be on time, don’t sit during class, eyes on your teacher, thank her at the end of class, and so on.

But there is also the etiquette of being human. A kind human. A human of great character. And that boils down to simple common courtesy. Holding a door, letting people in front of you in line, moving to the back of the classroom when you notice it is crowded in front, or helping someone put the barres away.

Students may think this has little to do with their dance career, but these things are noticed. Directors, teachers and choreographers enjoy working with talented dancers, yes, but not at the expense of a serene, cordial, fellowship. They want dancers who are easy to work with. Those who are kind enough to allow someone to take the front of the line. Who don’t push those who are in their way to get what they want. Humans of character…

Someone who would put their shopping cart away!