A common topic of conversation as we enter a new year is what we hope to accomplish with our slates cleaned from years past. It’s always interesting and inspiring to hear people speak about how they want to improve their quality of life or what they want to focus on, so I asked a handful of friends and colleagues in the arts to share their New Years Resolutions with Pro Diligo (wish us luck):

1.) Steven Beltrani, Marketing and Public Relations Director, Charity Happenings: “In 2010, I want to expand my philanthropic involvement in New York City and bring a fresh perspective to various organizations in regards to fundraising and event planning. In addition, I hope to have the opportunity to mentor and motivate young professionals to become more involved in their communities. I’ve always been a strong believer that one person can make an impact on many, and I hope 2010 will be the year I can open doors for a friend, or stranger.”

2.) Robert Clotter, Director, Samba Brasil: “I aim to dance with the committment of a serious adult dancer whom possesses the fearlessness of a child. Having started studying ballet technique later in life (age 26) it’s been a hurdle to make ‘all the pieces fit,’ live and breathe through movement and really go for it. But in discovering the youthful qualities of ballet techniques, I’m learning that through proper placement and breath in movement, one can soar.”

3.) Christopher Davis, Producer, Dancers Responding to AIDS (DRA): “My resolution is to continue to have Dancers Responding to AIDS be a beacon of hope for dancers of every genre, nationwide.”

4.) Pontus Lidberg, Pontus Lidberg Dance: “Not wanting to be too pretentious, what has been on my mind for 2010 is that I have quite a few upcoming projects that involves me dancing alot (on stage and on film, in my own work) and so my New Years Resolution would be to perform at my utmost capacity in coming works.”

5.) Evan Namerow, Co-Founder and Writer, Dancing Perfectly Free: “As we enter a new year and new decade, I hope to see more dance performances that leave me awe-struck, elated, curious, uncomfortable, and perplexed, and that challenge me to find suitable – yet rarely satisfactory – words to express what I just encountered. I also hope to cross the finish line of the NYC Half Marathon this March – in one piece – and meet or exceed my fundraising goal for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. And I’d like to take more risks.  With what exactly, I don’t know.  Finally, I resolve to revisit and reflect on my resolutions throughout the year and modify them if necessary, because life throws too many curveballs at us to set goals for ourselves just once per year.”

6.) Miguel Quinones, Dancer, Parsons Dance: “My New Year’s Resolution is to really work on all the things I didn’t get a chance to and to remember the lessons I learned in ’09. I’m always looking to grow as a person.”

7.) Eric Tamm, Dancer, American Ballet Theatre: “Never before have I been so interested in other art forms outside of my ballet bubble. The culinary arts, world languages, and paintings have all peaked my interest.  I guess my list would be: 1. Buy a major piece of artwork 2. Learn how to cook Italian food. 3. Improve my Italian (with the help of Rosetta Stone of course!) 4. Learn how to play the piano.”

And in hopes to get myself off to a good start, I’ll share a few resolutions of my own (in no particular order): 1. Improve my French (I’m a bit tired of only being able to describe bikes, cars, horses food items, and other objects of no interest) 2. Travel to Paris and use the time there to edit my novella 3. Forgive myself and others for mistakes of the past 4. Raise money for several philanthropic and artistic endeavors (mums the word on which and what for now) 5. Figure out this Love thing, once and for all.

To those that have yet to make any decisions to improve oneself or ones perspective, I urge you to indulge in a bit of introspection as we embark on the new decade. Even if you miss the mark, at least you tried-and that makes all the difference.