Yesterday marks the birthday of two exquisite ballerinas who I have been incredibly privileged to learn from — and whose work has been very influential in my own development and certainly in my understanding of what it truly means to pursue a profession as a Ballet Artist.
In a word, both of these artists exemplify what is becoming all too rare of a commodity in today’s profit-driven commercial world. That is: they exemplify MASTERY.
As a concept, Mastery is something not many think of and even fewer discuss; often we applaud “Masters” but few state their desire to become a Master of their craft themselves. Yet, at the heart of one’s capacity to be fully expressive in any endeavor, and particularly in any artistic endeavor, and at the heart of any achievement with the capacity to inspire the masses, the work of Mastery is at play.
Mastery is not only a refined acquisition of a set of skills — that is indeed an easy way to approach the subject. In ballet we see this approach more and more as young students seek to reach Instagram fame with a clever picture of a high leg or a pretty (sometimes exaggerated) pose, often with no understanding to what the purpose of the skills really are or how to best approach them with a Masterful mind. Many think if they just get better at the skills of their chosen field, they can become a Master. But as any Master will allude, it is not only skill acquisition that is at play — it is actually the drive of the soul which seeks to break the barrier between itself and the endeavor at hand which defines Masterful work.
In my own mission to acquire a professional skill level of ballet technique, I am grateful to be reminded that the work does not end with the skills alone. Indeed, it only begins. The finishing of the work is something else and requires that we reach into our very soul, that we face all of demons and lay ourselves bare before the task at hand.
Some days that task will be to show the broken yet indomitable spirit of Giselle, or the seductive sorcery of Odile, or the simple dreamscape of Clara and the Nutcracker Prince. This cannot be not accomplished by physical skill alone.
Below you will see two Masters at work. What is most beautiful about their dancing is that you can barely see the steps. Instead you are taken into another world of movement, character and feeling. The steps become mere vehicles for this expression and not the expression themselves. The performance becomes more about the audience than the dancers themselves.
This capacity comes not only from a soulful approach to the stage, but importantly, a soulful approach to the daily work of class where the secret wisdom of the steps is most truly revealed.
It’s due time that we all take note. Because what are we doing this for anyway?
And more importantly, for whom?
Thank you both and Happy Beautiful Birthday,
In a word, both of these artists exemplify what is becoming all too rare of a commodity in today’s profit-driven commercial world. That is: they exemplify MASTERY.
As a concept, Mastery is something not many think of and even fewer discuss; often we applaud “Masters” but few state their desire to become a Master of their craft themselves. Yet, at the heart of one’s capacity to be fully expressive in any endeavor, and particularly in any artistic endeavor, and at the heart of any achievement with the capacity to inspire the masses, the work of Mastery is at play.
Mastery is not only a refined acquisition of a set of skills — that is indeed an easy way to approach the subject. In ballet we see this approach more and more as young students seek to reach Instagram fame with a clever picture of a high leg or a pretty (sometimes exaggerated) pose, often with no understanding to what the purpose of the skills really are or how to best approach them with a Masterful mind. Many think if they just get better at the skills of their chosen field, they can become a Master. But as any Master will allude, it is not only skill acquisition that is at play — it is actually the drive of the soul which seeks to break the barrier between itself and the endeavor at hand which defines Masterful work.
In my own mission to acquire a professional skill level of ballet technique, I am grateful to be reminded that the work does not end with the skills alone. Indeed, it only begins. The finishing of the work is something else and requires that we reach into our very soul, that we face all of demons and lay ourselves bare before the task at hand.
Some days that task will be to show the broken yet indomitable spirit of Giselle, or the seductive sorcery of Odile, or the simple dreamscape of Clara and the Nutcracker Prince. This cannot be not accomplished by physical skill alone.
Below you will see two Masters at work. What is most beautiful about their dancing is that you can barely see the steps. Instead you are taken into another world of movement, character and feeling. The steps become mere vehicles for this expression and not the expression themselves. The performance becomes more about the audience than the dancers themselves.
This capacity comes not only from a soulful approach to the stage, but importantly, a soulful approach to the daily work of class where the secret wisdom of the steps is most truly revealed.
It’s due time that we all take note. Because what are we doing this for anyway?
And more importantly, for whom?
Thank you both and Happy Beautiful Birthday,
PS: to see these 2 Beauties at work together go here:
