Oftentimes I am met with individuals with a similar journey to mine. We’re putting back on our dance shoes after they’ve been taken off during a multiple year hiatus. Similarly, we all come back a little older a little wiser and wondering how to make dance work for us as an adult. We wondered how we were ever able to dance 40+ hours a week and if we’ll ever reach that point again. Our bodies and our minds have evolved over time, and we’re curious as to how to make dance fit back into our lives.

I remember having a professor one year in college who really inspired me to make dance work for my body and not against it. I used to tell people all the time, “I love ballet, but ballet doesn’t love me. I just don’t have the right body type for it.” I shudder even at the fact that I had such harsh views of myself. But that college professor was, believe it or not, the first ever black dance teacher I ever had, and I was in my twenties. Since then, I’ve gained a different perspective on life, and now I’ve developed my own voice and philosophy when it comes to dance. Further, the Lord has graciously given me illustrations through dance that have brought me closer to Him. I hope this encourages you to dive deeper into dance to see how it can be a positive addition to your life.

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your work, and that my soul knows very well.”
Psalms 139:14

A GENTLE APPROACH TO DANCE

Now that I’ve come back into the dance world, I have a new mindset than I did before. This month, the Lord has taught me a lot about slowing down, and moving at His pace of grace. I no longer strive or care for the hustle and bustle of it all, especially when it comes to dance. I focus on being intentional and I focus on my unique purpose.

There can be an overall gentle approach to your way of living, and that alone will transpire in how you view dance. A slow and gentle approach can be modeled in a dancers career and in their technique. The terms slow, suggests the mindset of slowing down and being intentional on where God is leading you. Being gentle, is simply the idea of being kind to yourself and your body. Both gentleness and kindness are fruits of the spirit. Jesus models and teaches us to have gentleness and kindness for ourselves and for others. When you slow down you’re able to take a step back and let God have control. Submit to His will and focus on the mission and purpose He has set for you. In doing so, you’ll know where to be led in your dance career and you’ll have the confidence in the technique and gifting that God gave you.

Career:

Knowing foundational technique for dance is important in order to have a career in dance. If you are wanting to pursue a career in dance there is room for everyone. Dance styles and techniques have branched out to a multitude of unique and dynamic disciplines, and anyone can learn to become an expert in one or multiple genres. Though it is worthwhile to understand a broad range and have a general understanding in multiple, it is more effective to be intentional on at least one or two genres.

There is a gentle approach to navigating a career in dance. Like a doctor who went to medical school; first, they begin learning foundational medical terminology and gaining a basic understanding of the human body. From there, a student may choose to dive deeper into a specialization and choose to become a Pediatrician, a Gynecologist, a Dermatologist, a Cardiologist, etc. They receive the overall knowledge, then go further into their passion.

Dancers who want a career in dance should approach it similarly. Find a genre you love and resonate with. Understand the technique and historical context. Seek God and discover your passion and how that aligns with the gifts He gave you. Having a broad sense of all dance techniques can help you discover where to go deeper into. Once you become an expert in it, it opens doors to opportunity. You have a focus and a mission, and you can be trusted to impart that knowledge you have onto the next generation.

Living with purpose in knowing why you resonate with a particular style gives you a passion, and helps you become intentional. When you’re intentional you’re able to be productive and not busy. That’s the true secret of living slow and being gentle. You’re intentional about your time, your gifts, your passion, and your mission. Busyness leads to unnecessary stress, which then leads to burnout. When you live on purpose, in God’s will He supplies everything you need, and you aren’t stressed about living paycheck to paycheck.

Most people know that the career of a professional dancer is short, but it doesn’t have to be. You don’t have to give in to the hustle and bustle of trying to “make” it as a dancer when you know that God is your provider.

Technique:

Slow living can indeed be implemented to a dancer; not only in their career, but in the way the dancer moves. It’s simply the idea of being kind and gentle to your body and it’s capabilities. It’s not discouraging yourself, rather building yourself up and knowing who you are in Christ. The identity He gives you carries through in who you are as a dancer. Everyone was made to move in some capacity, and every dancer has different gifts and strengths.

Being a dancer, it is vital you are kind and gentle to yourself physically and mentally. Especially, when going through auditions or being judged; it can be tough to navigate mentally. Further, if you don’t know who you are in Christ, you’re subject to believe the lies that make you feel like you aren’t good enough. That’s why we slow down and live for God first. He gives you identity, He tells you where to go and leads you in how you move. He can do more when there is less of you in the mix. So let go, slow down, and let God guide you as a dancer. Learn to move at His pace of grace; challenge yourself not to move past the grace He gives you, and be present in whatever season you are in. You must be kind to yourself, your body, and your capabilities. Strengthening and conditioning takes time, and we all have different skills and gifts.

When you allow God to guide you, you’ll do things you never knew you were capable of. So feel confident and encouraged to try new things allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you in it. Rely on Him to move your body, to push past your limitations. Dance is worship and you can’t remove Him out of the equation. Reflectively in life, by relying on Him you’ll do things you never thought you’d be able to do and it’s all for His glory. When you push yourself past your limitations without God, that is not being kind or gentle to yourself. It’s operating out of your own strength, which will eventually run out. When you operate out of your own strength and strive for perfection it can be draining. Any time you force yourself to do something correctly without approaching it in a healthy way it can feel overwhelming and condemning.

When it comes to technique, you want to do it correctly for different reasons such as, honoring history, preventing injury, and learning life skills, but you can’t get caught up in the legalism of it. You are fearfully and wonderfully made and God loves you just the way you are. He blesses you even in the imperfectness and in the messiness, so work hard but give yourself grace through it all.

Dance is worship, it’s joyful, it’s impactful, and it can be used to advance God’s kingdom. It’s hard work and it can teach us so much about life, however it can become overwhelming when we strive on our own.

In life and in dance I encourage you to slow down in your own efforts and pursuits, and connect with Jesus. He will show you how to come back into the dance world in a God honoring way. I encourage you to rest in His love and learn how to be kind and gentle to yourself. Be grateful for the opportunity to move your body, and be present. Recognize what type of dancer you are and where your strengths lie. Work hard to become an expert in the particular style and genre you resonate with, and focus on the unique mission God gave you.

Culture tells you to hustle and do whatever you can to make it, but rely on the Holy Spirit and He will provide for you. Paul’s secret to living in all situations is being content with where you are and what you have. He talks about finances, but I believe it can be transpired in all aspects. Be content with the season your in with regards to your dance career as well as your capabilities. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you, with the gifts He gave specifically to you and according to His will. Slow down in life, and run to Jesus. Let Him open the doors and opportunities for you because there’s a space for every kind of dancer, and if there isn’t, create it!