Passion

Passion by definition is a strong and barely controllable emotion. Passion is a key component to any dancer. After the steps are learned, the blood sweat and tears are shed, and it’s time to take the stage, passion is what’s left to give. Without passion, dancing is just steps. Each dancer is given the opportunity to convey a story every time they perform. A happy, sad, emotional or even silly dance all tell stories. Every time someone asks me what my favorite part of dancing is, the response is always the same. I love getting to communicate to my audience without saying a word. There is something so powerful in the art of communication, and being able to communicate through movement is incredibly special. As time goes on and you mature through the years, the passion shines through even stronger.

As Martha Graham once said, “Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion.” Passion is the difference, in my opinion between an ordinary dancer and an extraordinary one. One can’t help but to smile when they see passion on a stage. It shows the determination, dedication, and drive for a sport that creates beautiful artistry no matter what age or level a dancer may be. Passion can’t be taught. It comes from within. It can be talked about and performance qualities can be tweaked and toned, but passion for everyone is slightly different. That is what makes dancing so unique. There is something so magical about watching a group of dancers, all doing the same steps at the same time, yet bringing an individual spark of passion to life.

Passion translates to any aspect of life. If you find what you are passionate about, and turn it into a career, whether it’s a dance career or not, you’ll never work a day in your life because of the passion that lives in the job. Not every dancer grows up to be a professional dancer, but growing up in this sport teaches you outside skills like teamwork, communication, dedication which all plays a major part in finding your passion. Once you find your passion, hold on to it, dig deeper into it, and let the rest fall into place.