As dancers, we must continue questioning the advantages that we take for granted in our own bodies. In the dance discipline, my studies afford me the opportunity to have deep and intimate connection with my body. In an unexpected contrast, I can more easily turn off this connection and "power through it." However, I must not allow the "power through" mindset to become an accepted way of carrying myself.
As dance students, we must learn to take our backpacks off and engage in the somatic practice of finding our neutral. I returned to my room after class and put down my backpack. I aligned my body from my feet to my spine. Stress is a detriment to every student's body at this time. We must adopt the mindset of "finding our neutral" instead of "powering through." Our bodies will move us through the world for the rest of our lives. We must not destroy them.
