13 Ways to Make 2013 Your Best Year Yet
Amanda Lea LaVergne as Sandy with Derek Keeling as Danny Zuko in the Broadway revival of Grease
What’s your dance goal for 2013?
Whether it’s finally nailing a quadruple pirouette, making your studio’s senior competition team or booking your dream job, DS is determined to help you get there. So we asked a few of our favorite industry insiders, “What can dancers do to have the best year ever?” Here’s what they had to say.
1. “Be fearless.
I spent years terrified I’d make a mistake. But I didn’t realize I was boxing myself in. You will mess up—that’s life. Take a chance. Be ‘strong and wrong’ instead of sticking to what’s safe.” —Amanda Lea LaVergne, dancer in Annie the Musical
2. “See everything you can.
Art exhibits, concerts, movies—they give you food for your mind. Then, share what inspires you. That’s how art evolves.” —Caroline Fermin, Gallim Dance
3. “Be versatile now to work more later.
Dancers do steps; true artists rock people’s souls. You can make a beautiful black and white painting, but adding color makes it a masterpiece. Add new colors to your palette by learning every style you can. Eventually you’ll have a rainbow of choices to pull from.” —William Wingfield, “So You Think You Can Dance”
4. “Nourish your body with good foods, quench it with water, test it to its limits and rest it when it
asks for it.
Your body is your greatest asset, but it can be your biggest weakness if you don’t treat it kindly. Take care of it.” —AL
Keenan Kampa (Photo by Gene Schiavone)
5. “Make a plan of action.
Carve out a road map with your agent to achieve your goals in 2013. If you’re not represented, ask an established dancer to share his or her path with you. That will give you insight into what steps to take.” —JC Gutierrez, dance and on-camera director at McDonald Selznick Associates
6. “Present yourself well in class and rehearsal. Be clean, smell nice and be comfortable in what you’re wearing. It makes such a difference.” —Keenan Kampa, Maryinsky Ballet
7. “Incorporate a yoga class into your schedule.
You’ll feel balanced and connected to your breath.” —Tyce Diorio, choreographer
8. “Read the news.
Keep your mind sharp and stimulated. Knowing what’s happening all over the world puts everything in perspective.” —KK
9. “Don’t worry about other dancers.
If you keep working on yourself and stop comparing yourself to others, you’ll progress faster. Plus, you’ll have more fun!” —Zoey Anderson, dance major at Marymount Manhattan College
Zoey Anderson (Photo by Vanessa Millecam Photography)
10. “Research dance history.
Look up dancers from film, Broadway, etc., and study what made them great. That was helpful for me as a teenager, and I still do it today.” —TD
11. “Find something besides dance that brings you joy.
Every experience you have furthers who you are as an artist.” —Ryan Steele, Specs in Newsies on Broadway
12. “Try new, crazy things.
Go to that audition, learn that difficult move or take that Bollywood class. Sitting back, waiting and wishing will get you nowhere.” —ZA
13.
“It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day, but it’s important to take some time to have fun.” —JG
