how to find...

[DancingDuck]

I know this may be something that not many people can answer with a keyboard but I would like to know how I find more strength, courage, and energy! I've been feeling a little more down lately I am not sure why maybe it's just hormones. But I haven't put much of my soul into ballet but I want to so badly!!! Is school taking away energy?? If it is then I'll have plenty of energy for dancing over the summer.

 

If anyone can help encourage me but is not allowed to post it then please email me!

[glissade_jete]

Sometimes that happens to me. With me, it's just fatigue. you may just need a class off. Good luck!

[Victoria Leigh]

Strength and energy come from being healthy, well rested, and passionate about what you are doing. Courage is not a physical thing, and I'm not sure how one "acquires" that, but I think it may well also have something to do with passion for what you are doing. If that's not there, then you can't "put it" there. If it's there, it should generate courage, and motivate one to be healthy enough to do what one needs to do to achieve their goals.

 

That said, everyone goes through "down times", or times when we just don't feel terrific or have the greatest energy. Sometimes it is hormonal, sometimes mental, and sometimes just the cycle of life and not everything always stays the same. We have ups and downs in life, and there will be ups and downs in your ballet life. You learn to recognize and deal with these times as you mature. Sometimes it's a matter of channeling the energy and making priorities in order to conserve the energy for when it's needed most. When you get down on yourself in class that is wasted energy. You are putting energy into negative thoughts, which just makes everything worse. Put the energy into just the work. Slow down, go back to the a, b, c's and correct the problem. Don't beat yourself up about a couple of missed pirouettes! ;)

[BlackbirdBallerina]

Ms. Leigh is right, DancingDuck, about the energy and strength coming from being healthy and well rested. I find that on the days when I haven't had a good (or average )nights sleep I don't dance as well. But the way I get courage is actually rather sad. I may be scared to death about somethign, but I WILL do it, if only (I said it wasn't such a good reason) so other people won't know I'm afraid. I like to protect my stupid ego, so I make myself do something. And courage is not lack of fear, but overcoming that fear.

 

Other than that, rest well, be healthy, and work your butt off! ;)

[Guest Medora]

I can't speak for everyone, but my courage most definetly comes from my passion. There was something that I wanted to do for the longest time but never had the courage to ask because I knew what would happen if I asked. But when we had an all nighter at the dance school last Augest, it was 4:30 in the morning, and I was sitting on the floor with my friend watching La Bayadere, talking with my friend about how I wanted so badly to do this thing. My teacher must have overheard me, because she came up to me and said "you'll never get anywhere if you don't ask." I looked back at the TV, teary eyed, watching Nikya dance the pas de deux with Solor, and knew that I had to suck it up and find the courage to do want I wanted to do. I wanted to dance like that Kirov ballerina on the screen and knew that moment that I had to get the courage. The next day I did it, and what happened happened. It wasn't easy, and the response I got was hard to deal with. But I found the courage to keep on. So I would say that courage comes from passion.

 

I think we all have ups and downs too. Some nights I just feel like my body won't do anything right, like it is a fight the entire class. But other days I feel incredibly free! I think as long as you keep working, you'll snap out of it. It comes and goes. This works for me. If I am feeling down I pull out this tape of my favorite ballet I have and I watch it. Watching professionals on TV makes me feel like I can do it too, and it often makes me dance better. Or at least it feels that way.

[Guest dance4life87]

hey mrs leigh i remember you writing that energy comes from being healthy, so generally like eating well(healthy nutricious food) getting enough rest etc., should be a gain in energy?

[Victoria Leigh]

Well, I think it stands to reason, dance4life, that a healthy person will have more energy And dancers certainly have to be healthy, or they will never make it! It's way too hard a life, and too competitive to waste time being sick. Injuries happen, and that is bad enough. So, staying healthy is pretty important. Cars don't run without fuel, and the body won't do what you want it to do without that either. But the body, being a human thing rather than a mechanical one, also needs rest. So, the equation seems to be healthy food + rest = better health ;) Just sort of common sense actually!

[Guest twinklehooves]

Well, for inspiration I find that watching a ballet movie by companies is inspriational...but then again- it can be inspirational to quit to...

[Guest goingforsatin]

Think, say a half hour before class about how much fun dancing will be. When you get excited, adrenaline is released, and that gives you energy and stamina. Try not to yell at yourself if you mess up sometimes. A good attitude can go far. I learned that.

[Guest twinklehooves]

My dance teacher says: "Look for your moments." Even tho you don't have the perfect body- find a good moment for you. Whether it's your head, a good pirrouette- whatever!!