With Thanksgiving upon us, I thought I might do a post on the body. As dancers we need to remember that the body is something to be thankful for. It is our instrument of expression.
As I have grown older, my body has been less able to meet the demands I place on it and it is also more prone to injury. One day I may not be able to do any of the things I could in my prime. I’m already experiencing the unplesant fact that I can’t do a grand jete or execute a flawless fifth position without feeling it in my knees. The body ages, and with it, our ability to perform at peak levels disappears…
That said, there is a grace that comes with accepting this–much as it does with learning to appreciate the wrinkles that appear on your face as you age. Instead of lamenting the fact that I am no longer what I once was, I relish those things that I still can do. I appreciate every moment of doing a series of turns, knowing full well that the day will come when these too will become an impossibility. I love the fact that my port de bras is still pretty and my body can suggest an emotion with much less effort than it did in my 20’s. Some things truly do improve with age.
So this Thanksgiving, wherever you are in your journey in dance, take a moment to reflect on those things that you do well. Celebrate them, and bow your head in thanks for the gifts that were given to you–just for one moment. As dancers, we all share these gifts. May you use yours well and always appreciate the things that your body can do.
[…] Blog reminds us as dancers that In the Spirit of Thanksgiving we need to be thankful for our bodies as it is an “instrument of expression”. […]