Not good enough for what?  

I was reading a blog about not being good enough by my friend, Kirsten Harris.

She is an artist and writes about creativity, Art, and the Alexander Technique. I took her free e-course and it was wonderful – and I am a dancer, not an artist!

The title and the tagline got to me: Not Good Enough for What?

‘Every child is an artist.

The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.’

Pablo Picasso

I don’t even know the proper way to hold a paintbrush – is there even a special way to do it? The last time I really enjoyed art is when I was a little child, finger painting and using an easel with watercolors and a brush so big I had to hold it in my fist.

But that “not good enough” voice is pretty near universal and she touched my soul.

It’s about how to shrug off the chains of guilt and “not good enough,” in whatever creative endeavor moves your soul.

It’s deeper than how to paint – you can take classes on how to paint – and I have no aspirations to be an artist.

But turning off that self-critical little voice so I can dance to my fullest, dance without fear, get out and perform and stop competing with the voice in my own head that will never let me be good enough – THAT’s what matters.

Creativity is about unleashing the dancer within.

It’s all too easy to be self-critical as a dancer. If you are not self-critical, I want to hear from you; tell me the secret!

When that little stinking thinking voice turns on, that’s when my neck and shoulders tighten up, my hips don’t release. Then I don’t use my legs as one amazing visiting coach told me.

I’m in my head thinking about it instead of doing the actions.

but I can use Alexander thinking to free the dancer within, quiet that inner critic and be in the moment.

Permission to make art
In my own way

I paint in space
With my body
And music.

 

My dance teacher when I was just a little girl, used to say

 

Be the Music

 

Whatever we did, we could not do it wrong

 

That freedom
That joy

 

 

And while I train and try and get it “perfect,” the best is when something inside also lets go to the next moment and the next

 

Continuous creation
In the flow

 

Maybe that is how I have managed to keep dancing alone for so long
Knowing a partner will come

Trusting
In the dance.

 

I invite you to come dance with me, Sundays at Starlite. Free your body and free your mind to move as you always wanted to dance.

Body Dynamics for Dancers

3:30 – 4:30 pm at Starlite Ballroom in San Jose.

 

Namaste,

Dana

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