Sunday, March 13, 2011

The Learning Never Stops...


My teacher, Donna, has told me for as long as I remember taking classes with her that dancers should train with as many different teachers as possible because everyone has something new to offer – and so I did. I’ve traveled to participate in workshops with other teachers and never gave up an opportunity to learn from instructors who visited my city. There have been many workshops where Donna danced beside me as a student learning from the same teacher, living what she was teaching. Last year in Seattle it was incredibly inspiring to be in workshops where a number of the students were also teachers teaching other workshops that weekend (and some I’ve learned from in the past). I was surprised and touched when at the beginning of a workshop a teacher who I *just* took an AMAZING workshop with minutes before walks in and asks rather sheepishly if there is still room for her to join the class. I joyfully danced beside yet another teacher as students together, and realized why these women are such wonderful dancers and teachers… because they never stop learning. They, too, recognize the value in learning from other dancers and see no shame in being a student. (BTW… the dancer I’m talking about is the director of arguably one of the most well known and longest running tribal troupes, and has produced several teaching DVD’s!)

So when do people decide that they are finished learning and taking classes? If you ask me the answer is that people are never finished learning. If someone has reached a point where they feel that they don’t need to take another workshop, then I think they have a problem. As dancers we often take for granted the fine details of our movements and I’m afraid that by not brushing up on basic skills we end up developing and reinforcing bad habits. I’m not telling anyone what they should or shouldn’t do, it’s none of my business and it’s just my opinion.

The bottom line is that I love this dance… the music, the people, the culture, the costumes, the bond we share with other dancers… everything. I just hope that we can all feel the same joy and share experiences with each other without worrying about what others might think of us, and with an understanding that not one of us is perfect. I’ve been extremely fortunate to be able to learn from many wonderful dancers who show the same passion for learning and are willing to share it with the rest of us.