As I'm working on finalizing a new dance space in New Berlin, I've been keeping distance in mind. Distance and commitment. Distance is often a metaphor for commitment in the ballet world. How far are you willing to go? How far will you push yourself? How much are you willing to commit to this? If someone wants a career as a ballerina they will have to commit personally to it, and give it everything they have, taking class every day at least once a day. The student who wants dance as a career whether behind the scenes, as a teacher, or in some other venue such as to be on Broadway, they may not need to commit as strongly, but should still be in classes multiple times per week. A once a week dancer will no doubt derive the physical benefits and joy of dance, but a once a week dancer will rarely if ever be able to enjoy a dance career. All of this of course for the child means that their parent(s) must also commit. There are sacrifices on both sides.
On the subject of literal distance, when I was a young dancer, no one, not child or parent thought anything of driving a sizeable distance to get to a dance school. There were and still are so few quality dance institutions that driving a distance was imperative. The idea of today's world where no one wants to drive more than a mile away is almost laughable to me, although I do understand the time commitment of the parents who are doing the driving, juggling work, home and other children. Of course when I was a child, how far my mother had to drive to get me to class was of no consequence. However, when I was old enough to drive myself I saw that it was a lot less fun, and indeed required a commitment- not to mention extra gas money. Still, I often drove an hour or more to get to a good dance class. And, I know that's not the furthest dancers have gone. As a student, I knew a girl who drove all the way from Ohio to be able to continue taking classes with my teacher in Milwaukee! She would drive 5 hours each way. I knew another dancer who would fly from Milwaukee to New York City each weekend. And I would fly out to Manhattan myself several times a year to take class while still in college. Of course, as a broke college student and artist (amazingly more broke than the average college student), these extravagant dance trips lasted only as long as my credit card would withstand.
I've chosen New Berlin for a specific reason- it's not TOO far away. I've gotten lazier in my old age; I don't want to drive too far from home to teach dance. To my amazement I've learned that teaching dance can be more tiring than taking class ever was. That still amazes and confuses me. I'm supposed to tire the children out, not the other way around.
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