Ballet has been so many things for me. It’s been heaven and an escape. Hell and a prison. Through hours of pouring sweat and soul onto the dance floor, I have found a work ethic and a determination I wouldn’t trade for the world. The ability to look resistance square in the eyes and keep going. Yet, I’ve also pushed myself over the edge striving for perfection.
When you get that first pair of point shoes, they’re stiff. Snug to the bone, they must be broken in through time and dedication. Eventually there is a level of trust, until finally over time they can no longer hold you up and we have to once again find a new shoe that fits.
Art is like this. We’re new students, stumbling and finding our way until we get the hang of something. Eventually, we outgrow our own work and if we aren’t willing to risk something new, our spark crumbles and breaks down.
No matter what phase i’m in—the building or the breaking, I know that if I step into a studio, I am home. Home in this body, home in this world.
If any of you are asking yourselves where your spark for life went- ask: have I abandoned parts of myself? Go backwards. Sometimes, (most of the time) our evolution comes from peeling back the layers that were never meant to be there. Remembering who you were is how you continue to build your legacy, staying forever faithful to your spark. Our childhood dreams become our adult passions.
I am so proud to stand with @sagaftra and be apart of this union of artists who hold the entertainment industry on their shoulders. SAG has over 160,000 union members and to qualify for health insurance you have to make more than $26k a year. 86% of SAG members don’t qualify for insurance. Enough is enough, and change must be made. Actors aren’t just the recognizable faces you know- They’re day players, recurring characters, guest stars, background actors, stunt performers, and commercial actors. And now with AI on the horizon- regulations have to be made now to protect our people. Let the artists make the art.
If you want to help others as the strike continues- you can donate to @sagaftrafound to support families as they navigate jobless months as we continue to stand up for what’s right-What’s fair. That’s what’s crazy about all of this!! We just want what’s FAIR. We are not asking for the whole pie, just a small slice of it. #unionstrong
