{"id":31,"date":"2017-04-24T12:09:36","date_gmt":"2017-04-24T16:09:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/maryjoan.com\/?p=31"},"modified":"2017-04-24T12:09:36","modified_gmt":"2017-04-24T16:09:36","slug":"dance-for-yourself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maryjoan.com\/?p=31","title":{"rendered":"Dance for Yourself"},"content":{"rendered":"
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pgbsimon<\/a> \/ Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I began taking ballet lessons at the age of 2. \u00a0By the age of 17, I had gotten seriously involved in the world of ballet and was taking class six days a week, attending summer intensives and going to master classes left and right. \u00a0I was starting to feel burnt out. \u00a0It felt \u00a0as though I was \u00a0losing touch with the reason I loved dance in the first place; that simple joy of moving in beautiful ways, and sharing that joy.\u00a0 I was fortunate enough to have been introduced to a master teacher named Nanette Charisse at that time in my life.\u00a0 Through her magical skill for bringing dancers out and bringing them beyond their comfortable edge, I was cured of this painful situation.<\/p>\n

The cathartic experience occurred in one class, during one or two center exercises but the lesson has been sinking in over the weeks, months, and years since.\u00a0 I was asked to stop the combination we were working on and attempt it again but this time do it \u201cbecause it makes me feel so good\u201d were Madame Charisse\u2019s words.\u00a0 Do it because it feels so good that some of it needs to spill out\u201d.\u00a0 Then Mdm. Went on to explain that there is an energetic \u201chole\u201d in the upper chest where the love you feel for the dance, the energy you generate, pours out and is free to flow to the audience. She also explained that therefore the chin must be lifted slightly. Not for pompous pride but because you feel so good about what you are doing that the chin must get out of the way \u00a0so as not to block the energy that flows from you. This is the healthy form of pride.<\/p>\n

Well, it took a few tries but each time I began the combination again I found it easier to acknowledge to myself that I did in fact love the way these movements felt and it was ok to let myself feel that and have it be seen (Ballet therapy)!\u00a0 My father happened to be videotaping this class and not only did I see myself transforming in the studio mirror as I danced, but the video clearly showed a change in the quality of the dancing. Before Mdm.\u2019s assistance it had been painful or boring to watch, afterward, captivating and pleasant.<\/p>\n

This was one of many amazing revelations for me facilitated by Mdm. Charisse. She is perhaps the most significant teacher in my life.\u00a0 I am forever grateful to her. Though she passed away some years ago, her energetic presence is strong in my reality. The way I think about dancing as well as everything in life has been positively altered by this wonderful teacher. I\u2019m honored to have been touched by this great soul.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I began taking ballet lessons at the age of 2. \u00a0By the age of 17, I had gotten seriously involved in the world of ballet and was taking class six days a week, attending summer intensives and going to master classes left and right. \u00a0I was starting to feel burnt out. \u00a0It felt \u00a0as though … <\/p>\n

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