How interesting to be invited to reflect on the future of dance at a time when there is so much uncertainty and ‘the future’ feels like it’s changing every day.

 

I say this, but with the deeper knowledge that of course, life has always been uncertain. I’m sure anyone working in the creative industries or seeking to make their way in the dance world will feel this more keenly than some. 

 

For almost 20 years I’ve worked and made my living as a freelance creative; Dance teacher and choreographer, actor, producer, maker, and facilitator.

 

A few years ago, I began what I’ve now come to call my ‘daily practice’. 

First thing in the morning (and most crucially before I switch on my phone) I put on music and I dance. Sometimes I light a candle, quietly affirming that this is my time. I’m not available to the world. No tech, no emails. I put no pressure on myself, I’m not choreographing or performing, there’s no rules, no obligation to create or to be brilliant. 

This is my time. 

 

An interesting thing began to happen as a result of starting my day in this way. I noticed I was feeling more sure of myself in my work. Braver. I realized that by giving myself this time to dance for me, I was allowing more of myself to come in, to ground and this in turn fed into my work. I felt empowered to take more risks and more ownership over what I was creating.

If you’ve started every day by dancing then it emboldens you from the inside out, you’re looking less to the outside for someone or something, some job to come along and validate you. (As if anything outside of ourselves has the power to say “now you are a dancer”)

 

But what does this have to do with dance futures you might be wondering? 

From this practice, I draw much of what I need to be both a creative professional and a resourced human.

In the face of deep uncertainty, I invite you to ask yourself, what sustains you? What are your anchors? What brings you back to yourself? 

Feed and nurture those practices. Let them strengthen and resource you for whatever lies ahead. 

 

When we went into lockdown in the UK, (though a large part of my work and income vanished overnight) I was surprised at how little panic I experienced. Instead I felt deeply resourced. I know this I thought, I can do uncertainty. Everything in my career has prepared me for this. To roll with the punches, to find inventive and creative solutions, to make something of meaning out of (sometimes) very little. These were hard earned lessons and they’ve become the most valuable tool kit for these times. 

 

With the practical restrictions currently in place (such as performance spaces being closed and limits on the number of audience that can safely gather) it would be easy to think that there’s never been a harder time to make dance. But I’m hopeful that the opposite could in fact be true;

During lockdown I was heartened to see the industry (which has been known to be elitist) open up and become more inclusive and accessible. Dancers from all over the world are sharing their practices, top choreographers offering support. I’ve seen more understanding at all levels of the industry of how hard it is to make art and therefore, how brave. 

 

The human desire for art, entertainment, dance, theatre, joy, escapism hasn’t gone anywhere. But for now, there are restrictions on some of the familiar ways we’ve known of sharing these things. But we are creative people, and we know how to look at an obstacle and rather than despairing at it, turn it into something beautiful. 

 

As I’ve said, to make art is brave. To stay close to your practice even when you feel the circumstances are hopeless and to keep trying new things takes tremendous courage. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. 

I’m seeing shame failing away in these times. I’m witnessing more understanding and compassion towards people trying their best through difficult circumstances, to make things work. Maybe you have to take a job to support your practice, ‘success’ might feel different from how you’ve been taught it would look and I think that has the potential to be a wonderful thing. 

 

Yes this time is uncertain but isn’t it exciting too?! Freeing, liberating. 

All bets are off now, the game has changed, the snow globe has been shaken up. There’s a sense of urgency, the future is here and its changing everyday. It’s terrifying and exciting all at once. In so many ways, we are being called to change, to wake up, to evolve. We are being shaken. 

So why not start showing up as all that you are? Bring every beautiful, broken, brilliant, vulnerable, uncertain and exquisite part of yourself, to your dance, to your practice, to your work and to your life. All of you is welcome, all of you is needed. 

 

Lets dance….