Have you ever noticed that most dancers tend to be overachievers? That may be a dumb question since you’re probably one of them. I don’t know about you, but I’m rarely satisfied with doing just one thing. Instead, my interests are wide, my boredom tolerance, low, and my life… what else but constantly moving, going, spinning, soaring, jumping, tumbling, rarely sauntering? So, it may be no surprise to you that I have fingers, toes, and elbows in a little bit of everything at the moment.
My Story…
If you have noticed that it has been a little while since my last post, I sincerely apologize. The blog has fallen victim to the pull of some of my other commitments lately. Namely, I am deep in rehearsal mode and will be performing with Houston’s own Suchu Dance the first two weekends of March. I’ve been essentially working part-time hours on this performance project which has also been an adjustment for my family. You may know, I have a very young son with whom I stay at home, so I suppose you could say “homemaking” is currently my full-time gig. Sounds quaint, doesn’t it? I’m sure all of you modern mommies out there know just how big a job this really is.
I am also in career transition mode. This blog is a part of that. As a dance teacher, freelancing in studios, community programs, and other organizations, I spent many hours preparing for classes and physically teaching. I love teaching. However (as many of you are well aware) teaching and having a family life can be challenging. It’s often our husbands/wives and families that pick up the slack, isn’t it? Significant others working tirelessly so that we can afford to be involved with dance (which is not a money-making career… shocking, I know), getting dinner for themselves so that we can bolt to the studio, and unless your kids are coming with you to the studio, perhaps you start to feel like you spend more time with other people’s children!
My personal decision then, has been to transition from teaching being my primary job (lets face it, the performing I’ve done has never been what I’d call income) and move toward writing. I am truly only at the Start square in this game. Therefore, in addition to this blog (which is certainly not income at this point), I have been accepting writing projects elsewhere to get my foot in the door. The great thing is that so far all of my writing has still been about dance! I’ve had the great fortune to review some wonderful performances here in Houston and I am contributing to other dance sites, as well. But all of this, dear readers, is why there’s not been a lot of activity in the last week or so.
So, what’s yours?
We probably all have moments of feeling swamped. I recall that even in high school, when flitting from dance classes, to band practice, to youth group, etc., I felt challenged to keep up with myself! Maybe you’re in this situation right now with recitals coming up. So, let’s hear it: In the comments for this post feel free to vent or wax poetic on why you think dancers get themselves into so much at once.
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About Nichelle (admin)
So, I completely understand this feeling as… this is my current situation… BUSY.
I am a full time student at University of Idaho as a Chemistry major. I am in the last home stretch of my senior year. This means not only do I have to work really hard on classes but I am trying to figure out my future. With the economy, jobs are scarce even in the chemistry department. This means I need to have a backup if I can not find a job. That has lead me to graduate school. I have been applying to every school and job that sounds interesting and beneficial to my future. These applications are very time consuming as essays are required along with recommendation letters.
While I am not in classes I teach ballet for almost 30 hours a week in surrounding towns of where I live. This means I have to commute almost an 1.5 to 2 hours each day to just do my job. Don’t get me wrong I find the time worth while because I love to teach but I would love to have that time to study or figure out what I am going to be doing in 3 months from now.
On top of teaching, I decided to produce a show, the Wizard of Oz, for the entire group of studios I teach at. This has become horribly time consuming as I must coordinate around many other people’s busy schedules and needs. As well as, rummage through our HUGE costume closet to find costumes for each class, choreograph 21 dances, and find music for each dance.
This year has been the busiest I have ever been. I almost literally have to schedule in time to eat and go to the bathroom and I as well, have always been this way. Sometimes I wish I could make it stop but, if I ever have a slow schedule I become horribly lazy… so, its just the way I accomplish excellence.
I suppose being a dancer means you have to push yourself harder.
I only started dancing 2 years ago, I am training to join the local ballet company in South Africa and between balancing a full-time job, studying for a degree and dancing I barely have time to breathe! Suppose that is why my jumps are suffering!
I suppose for me it makes me feel more alive and more accomplished because I can squeeze in more into a day! Either that or I am a twisted sado-masochist!
I love dance and I can’t imagine a life without it, so it has to be part of the daily mix…