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