I spend a great deal of time thinking about dance; I suppose most dancers do. So maybe what sets me apart is that when I’m not dancing, I’m thinking about the cultural implications of dance, dance education, dance criticism, the expansion and growth of the art form… things like that.

What has been fascinating me of late is dance education, not just the performance end, but the business and academic aspects as well. Last night I (serendipitously) sat next to someone who is leading a movement in dance education; a lovely dialogue ensued about the urgency of things. For me, having access to the multi-dimensional dance world is the key to a successful career; to think only in terms of performance, leaves a lifetime of open-endedness once those days are over. We have to prepare ourselves as intelligent, thought-provoking professionals; not “just” dancers. As generation after generation improves in technique and capability, should we not also be improving our exposure to the various aspects of the dance community? Is it not as illustrious to be an executive as it is a performer? Are there no accolades for managing a 1.2 million dollar budget? I’d venture to guess it’s just not as sexy and if you have your eyes set on the dance, it becomes even less so.

Reconciling it all becomes a balancing act, especially when some of us are left out there on our own to navigate our way through all of this. As a dancer, writer, and budding arts administrator I’m often told that I “have to focus”, which is, to an extent, very true, but after the conversation I had last night I felt invigorated to take on the many challenges that stimulate me both in body, mind and spirit. I left thinking maybe, just maybe, if you hone in on the passion, you really can do it all.