There’s no such thing as a dumb dancer. At least, that’s what my ballet teacher told us when I was an aspiring ballerina. And she should know. She was a principal ballerina in the New York City Ballet and danced major roles under George Balanchine. Most of my more advanced training was in the Balanchine style of dance known for its long reaching line and quick athleticism.

Later, as a performer, choreographer, teacher, and artistic director; I found this statement to be quite true. Good dancers must be able to learn very difficult techniques, pick up steps and phrases quickly, remember these steps in the right sequence at the correct time in the music… It’s not easy and it demands extreme focus, perseverance and brains!

So, if you’re ever down in the dumps about your intelligence as a dancer, take heart that you are in good company with other smart people. And as with any challenging endeavor, there are bound to be those times when we screw up and can’t seem to get it. Just take a deep breath and shake it off. You’re a smart cookie and you got this!

“Let it go, let it go -” These are the lyrics Elsa sings in the movie Frozen which can benefit us at times as well. If we keep our feelings bottled up inside of us, and continue to let them fester, chances are we’ll end up blowing up to some innocent bystander or make ourselves sick with the poison this creates. Exercise, I believe, is one of the best medicines we have and often just what the doctor orders. Ha ha. No, really! So, if you’re having a bad day, or hey – even if you’re having a great day: Put on your favorite music and dance it out. That’s right, shake your booty a little. Feel those negative thoughts spin away with each twirl, strike them out with a forceful frappé, sail above them with every leap… You get the picture. Dance, dance, dance and let it go!      

Are you getting tired too early in your workout? Do your muscles feel tense even when you’re not exercising? Is your mind over stimulated with uncontrollable thoughts? Welcome to the club. We all have these issues. But wait – there’s hope! Just BREATHE. I know, you’re rolling your eyes disbelievingly even though I’d already given you a hint in the title. Or, more likely, because I gave you the answer and it sounds ridiculous. But there actually is a lot of truth to this simple tool. For instance, when you stretch, try breathing slowly and deeply. You’ll probably find that your muscles will give a little bit more. By breathing you feed your body oxygen which allows it to do what it’s supposed to do: live. And when we breathe more consciously (on purpose) there are a multitude of other things that can happen too. We become more aware of the present moment which can dispel those random thoughts and allow us to concentrate on what’s important right now, such as the pirouette or the tour jeté or the test at school. A win/win, right? So – let’s do it. When in doubt, BREATHE! You’ll be glad you did.