Next!

According to the freedictionary.com passion is – “A powerful emotion, such as love, joy, hatred, or anger.” Not every person has the opportunity in life to find their passion, let alone follow it. For those of us that get to follow our passion of dance why do we always let negative thoughts hinder our ability to really enjoy what we love?

For my husband one of his passions is football. He loves to watch it from August to February. It doesn’t matter the team or the level he just loves the sport. He never sits on the couch while watching or contemplates the other things could be doing. He is fully involved in his passion enjoying every minute he gets of it. Sometimes he has to miss a game because of other commitments, but that just makes the games he gets to watch more special.

For my friend one of her passions is chocolate. She loves it so much that for her birthday every gift she gets usually has some form of chocolate in it. From Reese’s cups to Godiva to just a plain old Hershey bar, every time she eats a piece of chocolate she enjoys it. It always brings her a sense of happiness.

For me the actual physicality of dancing is my passion. It doesn’t matter if I’m on a stage, in class, or in my living room. The movement of dance makes me happy. So this brings me back to my original thought of why do those negative thought s creep in like a thief in the night while I’m doing my tendues.
Why can’t I enjoy dance like a delicious piece of chocolate or an action packed football game.

Well I’m not sure the why will ever be answered, but a simple solution on how to move on from the negative thoughts was answered this week by Tracie Stanfield. Just say “NEXT” it is that simple. It is kind of like the MTV dating show “NeXt”, but with your thoughts instead of people. Anytime you are having a negative thought about yourself in dance class you just say “NEXT” to that voice until it comes up with another thought. So when I’m standing there watching the combination and I hear that voice say “ if only your legs were a little longer I say NEXT, and when that voice says something negative I say NEX. Eventually the voice will either be quiet or maybe start to say some positive things. Tracie had given this advice to another student and when I heard it, I thought it was a perfect solution.

So whatever your passion is, be sure to enjoy it without letting negative thoughts get in the way. If they do start to creep in swat them away with a “NEXT” or perhaps a football game or piece of chocolate.
-Alana Sampietro, BDC Student and Member of Synthesis Dance Project

Getting Out Of My Comfort Zone

When you are lucky enough to do the same thing day after day sometimes you forget how lucky you are. The everyday routine becomes monotonous and the things you love get taken for granted. In today’s world I forget how lucky I am to have a job, let alone something I love to do. Whether it’s at rehearsal, taking class or teaching I get to live my dream. Not everyone is that lucky; so it’s a shame I have been taking it for granted lately. I didn’t even realize I wasn’t working to my full potential. I was so comfortable that it was easy to slip into my own mediocrity without realizing it.

I decided to change that and really started to work rather than go through the motions. I found I enjoyed working. Somewhere I forgot what it was like to sweat within the first 10 minutes of class. I started pushing myself to stretch a little further, fight a little harder to stay on releve, and just really work as hard as I could. It was the greatest thing. I felt energized after warm up and I was ready to challenge myself even further with the combination. I pushed myself for that extra turn that I knew I could do. Sometimes it’s easier to say I can’t then fight for the “I can”. I tried to dance the combination while it was being taught instead of waiting for the last ten minutes of class when I am in the rhythm and know what I am doing. I could feel myself getting nervous, it was a little scary to push myself out of my comfort zone.

After class I felt great. I had really accomplished something… I had figured out a way to push myself in class instead of waiting for the teacher to push me. Getting out of my comfort zone was exhilarating and I had only taken a baby step out. I hope to continue to push myself so I can continue to grow as an artist. I won’t be taking these opportunites of dance for granted I’m going to live in each and every one of them.

Alana Sampietro, BDC Student and member of Synthesis Dance Project

How Many in a Mini?

New Professional Semester student Maria Margaritis participated with Pilobolus as they broke a world record for fitting the most people into a BMW mini!

Check out the article online!

International Inspirations

My favorite class this week was Tracie Stanfield’s Adv beg class on Friday. It wasn’t the warm-up which not only stretches you in every way possible, but pushes you to work harder every time you do it. It wasn’t because we did “jazz” across the floor with some front and back forced arch soutenu turns. It wasn’t getting to perform the beautiful combination to Weightlessness with its grounded movement that pushes you thru space challenging you to find a way to connect the strong movement while still keeping a soft and subtle quality in your energy. I found my inspiration this week in the last ten minutes of Friday’s class.

It was during these last ten minutes that Tracie pulled out three international students to perform the combination for the class. These 3 girls are regulars to Tracie’s class, but I’ve never really sat and watched them dance. Each offered some different choices within the combination. The girl in the center cut thru space with such ease, her lines were so strong that she created pictures with every movement. The girl on stage left felt the drama of the song. Her emotional intention was so strong it reached out thru her finger tips. The girl on stage right had lightness to her movement making softer more subtle choices that lead her movement to have a seamless quality. It was so great to be able to sit and watch their talent. I was inspired by the choices they made in the combination to make it their own.

I am always amazed at the international students that come to Broadway Dance Center. Just the thought of going to another country and taking a dance class is scary; forget about staying there for some time and really immersing yourself in the dance culture. These dancers come to class not completely understanding the language, the music, or the culture of NYC dance, but knowing their love of dance trumps their fear. The bravery they show by being in class inspires me to work harder and be braver in my own choices.

-Alana Sampietro, BDC Student and member of Synthesis Dance Project

New Year’s Resolutions…

I am not a big fan of the New Year’s Resolution. This is probably because usually by the third week of January mine like everyone else’s is out the window and I have already gone back to old habitats. Last year I joined a gym and vowed to go every day, well that worked for about a week. Then the second week I went 4 out of 7 days. Needless to say by Feb 1, my resolution was out the window. So this year I am going to try something new, a few resolutions that if I don’t stick to only hurt me and not my piggy bank.

This year I resolve to take more ballet class. It was taking ballet as a child that solidified my love for dance. I was able to perform in the Nutcracker which made me love the element of make believe not only in general, but also through ballet. It didn’t matter if I was a lowly mouse or a beautiful snowflake; I loved to be a part of this production. During ballet class I can finally pretend to be the sugar plum fairy that I always dreamed of being.

I resolve to let more people know how much I admire their dancing. Sometimes in class I will see someone do the combination in a way that completely inspires me. After class I would want to tell them what an amazing job they did but something would stop me from telling them. I think part of it’s from being shy or me worrying that it may be embarrassing for me or both of us. I don’t want people to think I’m some weirdo or think I’m just spreading sunshine around the room for the fun of it. When someone has come up to me to compliment me it had always been a highlight of my day and given me that extra little bit of confidence. Being on either end of this compliment can turn a bad day into a better one.

Finally I resolve to try and enjoy the journey and not just the destination. I want to enjoy all parts of class not just the last ten minutes when we are doing the combination. In rehearsal with Synthesis Dance Project I want to enjoy the creation of a new piece, not just performing it onstage. Just like there are beginnings and endings to every facet of dance, there are the same beginnings and endings to a new year. With the New Year upon us challenge yourself with a resolution that is realistic, attainable, and brings happiness to all around you.

Happy New Year to you all and Happy Dancing!

Alana Sampietro, BDC Student and member of Synthesis Dance Project

The small things…

Last week in class Tracie gave us one of her challenging turning combinations across the floor. It might sound simple… 3 pique turns followed by an outside drag turn, into a side attitude turn which leads you to gently fall to a roll on the floor to get up and start all over again. You could hear people start to groan after the 3 pique turns because that’s where the challenge started… remembering to really use your plie to get into the drag turn otherwise you would never have enough momentum to make it into the side attitude turn and finish the combination.

After we had all tried the combination once on the right Tracie stopped the music to redirect our energy. She started saying that instead of focusing on what we can’t do well that we should rather celebrate and enjoy what we can do. She went on to say how dance is all about taking steps forward and every time we make it to class it’s a step in the right direction.

As class continued I thought why did I just spend the first 8 counts worrying about if I would get all the way around in that attitude turn. I was missing out on enjoying the rest of the combination. As I began the infamous and dreaded left side I said “screw it,” I wasn’t going to let 2 counts hold me hostage. I was going to enjoy what I could do well and know that there was the possibility that the turn might not be so bad after all. I can’t say the result was better/worse based upon my enjoyment. Sometimes I made it all the way around and sometimes I fell a little short , nonetheless I enjoyed the combination a lot more because I let myself go with it.

In class and rehearsal I often find myself focusing on my own short comings. I want my legs to be higher, I want more flexible hips, I want a back that bends in half, you get the point. I never take a second to celebrate where I am or how far I’ve come. This class taught me that dance is a lot more fun when you forget about all the cant’s and focus on the cans. I can’t promise I’ll be able to do that all the time but I can sure try. I recommend you do the same and let yourself go every now and then. Who knows you might even enjoy it !

-Alana Sampietro, BDC Student & member of Synthesis Dance Project

Generosity of Spirit

The Radio City Rockettes, the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, ice skating in Bryant Park, Santa Claus at Macy’s and the hustle and bustle of New York City during the holiday season. I love this time of year! I don’t mind dodging tourists all bundled up or the occasional spray of sludge from a cab; it’s all part of the winter season in the Big Apple. This is the season where it is better to give than to receive and to extend ourselves and kindness to others.

This week during our company rehearsal Tracie asked me to be more generous with my movement. At first I wasn’t sure what she meant or how I could do this. How do I give my movement to others? During class on Thursday I really wanted to find a way to be more generous, so I took a step back and I watched and observed others. I looked for people who pulled me in to their dancing and the qualities they had that perhaps I was missing.

There was this one girl who was in the third group and with one movement she pulled me in with one reach of her arm. She was shorter in stature, but her energy extended beyond her limbs. Her movement was so generous that it was able to pull me in and above all it really inspired me. She was not only true to the choreography but true to herself and the choices she made within the combination. She was generous from head to toe giving all she could and not even realizing how important her dancing had become to the rest of us. This inspiration is what I was looking for and what I needed to capture in movement myself. I need to send my movement and energy out past my limbs and not hold on so tight. This will let me be more generous with my movement. After watching I was so inspired and excited to share what I had learned.

Just to walk into class and see lots of smiling faces on these cold winter days is inspiring, but on this specific day this girl gave me an early Christmas present that didn’t even need to be wrapped. J

During this season of giving, we cannot forget about how much we have to give. We have so many talents and gifts to share that don’t need to be purchased. In class our energy and movement choices are enough to inspire others. Who knows who may be watching you for inspiration, for all you know during this time of year it could be Santa Claus.

Alana Sampietro,

BDC Student, Company Member of Synthesis Dance Project