Articles

Of Sole

 

The young dancers who sparkle across our stage go through a sudden growth stage at a time when their skills and aspirations are becoming heroic.

 

Somewhere between about 11 to 14 years of age, young people go through the adolescent growth spurt. Some slowly, some fast. There may be sudden increases in height, weight, hormonal changes, and great changes in physical, psychological, and social aspects of their lives.

 

In this very physical art of Dance, these changes can be disastrous. Sometimes Nature has very different plans in store for a child’s future!

 

Arms and legs often grow before the body, and sometimes lop-sided. The centre of balance alters rapidly, and the brain struggles to cope. Dancers lose fine balance control, lose flexibility, and the body may go out of alignment. Power to weight ratio decreases, and muscles may weaken.

 

We see decreased skill and a higher injury rate. On stage there is difficulty holding sustained balances and pirouettes, energy levels are down. “She just can’t do what she did last year!” or the star is beaten by a younger student. The dancer goes through an emotional roller coaster, decreased confidence, decreased self esteem, and even giving up.

 

We at the comps, and parents, need to be aware of this dispiriting stage of life, and provide understanding and patience. This is a temporary state of the flesh, and after the growth settles down, control and skill will return to the artist.

 

 

and Soul

 

We deal with talented children who, by the nature of dance, consume vast quantities of parental time and money. But quite often other children in the family may not be so gifted. Jealousy and resentment may darken the family life, and made worse if parents only have one eye. Any of the children may drift away from this darkness, and what started out as a great adventure, can end in dispair. Parents must be ever so aware, and share their time to preserve everyone’s right to their own great adventure. We all march to the beat of a different drum. We can’t all be dancers, some of us must play the bagpipes.

 

We also deal with the best dancers, those who have climbed to the top of the trees, and are held in high esteem within their school. The arrival of a new student, a change in body weight, a shift to another school, or failure at Competitions, can precipitate a catastrophic fall from their “position” in life.

 

A student’s self esteem, carefully manicured by years of hard work, can be destroyed in one foul blow.

 

We expect the traditional competitioneer’s “have another go” attitude. But that doesn’t always happen.

 

We must also be aware of dejection, depression, loss of interest, excuses, increase in “injuries”, poor school work, eating disorders, and so on.

 

These problems are all the result of competition of some sort, and require a mantle of compassion, support, reassurance, love, and self worth, to aid survival. Climb the ladder again, strive for smaller goals, step by step to a level that is your best, irrespective of whoever is ahead. Perhaps a change in direction, opportunities one hadn’t thought of, add jokes, singing, or playing an instrument to one’s repertoire, be slightly different to one’s nemesis if that’s important.

 

Then there is always the child who wants to do something else, but won’t tell the parents. She may realise there is no future in going on, or may have found a genuine interest elsewhere. Because of parental expectations, peer group pressure, or a fear of wasting years of family time and money, the child carries on, resigned to her path in life. Parents must be very aware that this could happen.

 

Always keep the door open, discuss changes and futures, prepare alternative plans, and always provide an escape hatch free of guilt and repercussions.

 

There are so many other things in life to do. To spend one’s childhood in the performing arts, then change, is not a waste. It has given one the best years, and the greatest opportunities, before the heavy reality of earning a wage falls upon one’s shoulders.

 

In so many ways the physical arts may be a short term venture for our students.

 

It is important that their time is laced with love and understanding, and at all times they should Enjoy the Moment.

 

A. M. Cole 2002

 

With acknowledgment to Aus. Ballet School, Dance Australia, Dance Train, and hundreds of wonderful parents and students in the great school of life.