Comments on: Life After Dance http://www.insideballet.com/2009/07/27/life-after-dance/ Ballet combinations and musings from a former ballerina. Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:49:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Small Soubrette http://www.insideballet.com/2009/07/27/life-after-dance/comment-page-1/#comment-773 Small Soubrette Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:01:34 +0000 http://balletcombinations.wordpress.com/2009/07/27/life-after-dance#comment-773 I too have a body that would have been rejected outright by the Russian system, and anyone with my muscular structure will probably suffer more damage from a tough ballet career, while others can carry on for years with little damage.But surely we and the audiences also want people on stage who have souls that need to dance. It is after all a wide and varied art form that tells stories (for which you need no particular shape), reveals emotions, comments on life, as well as testing to the limits what a human body can do. I think those who want and need to dance, and are prepared to put the work in, should do it, but it is crucial that the training teaches you to understand your body and how to protect it. Dancers also need to find the right place to make the most of their talents so they do not spend their career fighting their body and trying to achieve something unrealistic for their bodies. I too have a body that would have been rejected outright by the Russian system, and anyone with my muscular structure will probably suffer more damage from a tough ballet career, while others can carry on for years with little damage.But surely we and the audiences also want people on stage who have souls that need to dance. It is after all a wide and varied art form that tells stories (for which you need no particular shape), reveals emotions, comments on life, as well as testing to the limits what a human body can do. I think those who want and need to dance, and are prepared to put the work in, should do it, but it is crucial that the training teaches you to understand your body and how to protect it. Dancers also need to find the right place to make the most of their talents so they do not spend their career fighting their body and trying to achieve something unrealistic for their bodies.

]]> By: Cal Lawton http://www.insideballet.com/2009/07/27/life-after-dance/comment-page-1/#comment-529 Cal Lawton Tue, 18 May 2010 20:04:31 +0000 http://balletcombinations.wordpress.com/2009/07/27/life-after-dance#comment-529 Though your post is almost a year old now, I wanted to reply to it.I went to the first show of the Cunningham Legacy Tour in Columbus. At the end of the show we were lucky to have a Q & A session with a couple of the dancers and company staff. Merce's age was mentioned -- and as long as he could walk he would have a part in every show. We were told "he was a man of the theater" and that was sufficient therapy to conquer any physical discomfort.My 45th birthday is fast approaching, and I have no plans to stop dancing. Sure, I'm a little wider across my middle than when I was 35, but so what. The body part I work the hardest is between my ears.  Though your post is almost a year old now, I wanted to reply to it.I went to the first show of the Cunningham Legacy Tour in Columbus. At the end of the show we were lucky to have a Q & A session with a couple of the dancers and company staff. Merce’s age was mentioned — and as long as he could walk he would have a part in every show. We were told “he was a man of the theater” and that was sufficient therapy to conquer any physical discomfort.My 45th birthday is fast approaching, and I have no plans to stop dancing. Sure, I’m a little wider across my middle than when I was 35, but so what. The body part I work the hardest is between my ears. 

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