Hi everyone, Marielle again. In the depth of college application seasons I have been quite inactive on the platforms of Dance Thrive Support Network, which I sincerely apologize for.
As I began filming our Season 3 relaunch episode, filled with various interviews from our cast, I asked everyone one question: What are your top 3 tips for someone who wants to be a dancer? With experiences and opportunities as diverse as the dancers at LaGuardia, I figured everyone would have different answers. However, after the fourth interview, I noticed an unexpected pattern: almost everyone shared the same advice—there will be more "no's" than "yeses."
After hearing this over and over, I started to reflect on the realities of rejection and acceptance in the dance world. As dancers, we push ourselves to the brink of exhaustion, constantly perfecting every aspect of our technique. In a field as oversaturated as dance, rejection is prevalent. It’s something we all face, whether we’re trying to find a job or simply working toward fulfilling our dreams. Even more intensely, dancers in places like New York and Los Angeles need to have grit—where a strong work ethic is not just necessary to succeed, but to outlast the competition.
This being said, I have had my fair share of rejections, and boy, they're discouraging. How do you even get back on the horse after a series of let downs, still as motivated and hopeful as you once were? How can you maintain your friendships and relationships with others when you are so hungry to accomplish the goal of yours? The answer to these contemplations is simple: persistence and confidence.
While those two nouns may seem stereotypical and cliche, I have found that I am my best self when I am my most confident and hard-working. These qualities have applied to my life not only in the studios, but beyond; in the classroom, onstage, and in my social interactions. When I walk into the studio proud of my hard work, I tend to talk positively to myself. Encouraging words and phrases help me the most when I feel as though I start to get sucked into the perpetual trap of comparison that effects so many dancers. Even more importantly, being persistent and grabbing what you want has given me opportunities that I could not have received while passively waiting for a miracle. Its always when I force myself to stand front center, when I go to office hours, when I do the combo a second or even third time that my endurance improves.
"Practice makes perfect" is truly the best way to put this into a saying. The more practice you get, the stronger you feel, the more persistent you are, and the more confident you ultimately become. I hope that in my future I can learn even more pieces of advice and put them to fruition with every experience that life throws me.
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