The "sixth sense" in dance

 

It is extremely easy to overstep boundaries without realising. This is because they are neither palpable nor visible, let alone established by law. However, it is true that a particular quality can be developed on a sensory level, by means of which we can perceive when we cross these lines. This can only be achieved by establishing a dialogue with the respective persons, which enables us to detect a non-vocalised response.

In the context of daily life in a professional dance studio, it is very important to develop skills to differentiate attitudes (often confused with leadership). Unfortunately, the words defined at the beginning of this entry come are often present in a dance studio. There isn’t a manual to enlighten and guide a teacher, choreographer, repetiteur, artistic director, dancer or simply as a person to improve this kind of behaviour, but I believe it all boils down to one simple phrase: "treat others as you would like them to treat you". You don't have to be a tyrant and spread fear among artists in order to make a good final product; that obscure method is completely obsolete.

Some time ago, I had a job interview, I was asked how I usually deal with everyday problems in the studio. This was difficult for me to answer because in the four or five years that I have been a ballet mistress and repetiteur I have had very few real conflict situations, but in the end my answer was simple, "dialogue". I believe that when behaviour develops in the room that disrupts the routine, it is because there is something specific in the chain of work that has gone wrong and needs to be solved or explained. In these cases, it is not necessary to use imposition or loud voices. It is normal and common for conflicts to arise, it is not negative, on the contrary, it is a critical point of improvement in the process. Often by sharing information, explaining or simply taking responsibility it is, more often than not, enough to rectify the situation.  Many will call me an idealist, but it can be achieved, it is not an unattainable utopian dream. 

I have had the good fortune to work with wonderful people, who have also followed these maxims in the room. In case you are wondering, no, I did not get the job, they told me that I was “too good a person”, that they were “very sorry their response was not what they expected”, but, with time, I have realised that their response was exactly what they had expected, because they use a work policy that I would not have been happy with if they had hired me. 

A good colleague once commented out loud how great it was to work with (I can't remember who) because he was a “demanding perfectionist” in the room, but even if you, as a dancer, had had a bad day, or a weaker day than usual, when he passed you in the corridor he still saluted you as an equal; it was, and still is, curious to me that there is a need to highlight this kind of behaviour when it should be the norm!

Personally, I have to confess that not long ago, while reading, I discovered a syndrome with which I felt I identified (more so when I was a student, although there are still traces of it). The syndrome is called "el síndrome de Solomon". It is a disorder characterised by the manifestation of reactions, such as, making decisions or behaviours to avoid standing out from others, or from the social environment that surrounds you. In my case, it comes from the fear of failing or of not always being perfect. When you assume, ascribe and internalise roles such as "the best in the class", those who are envious of you can take advantage of your learning processes and moments of failure to ridicule you. It doesn't have to be your classmates; it can be anyone who is present in your life. We live in a society that tends to condemn the talent and success of others, and in which everything has to work first time, said and done. This is why it is so important to treat the people you work with individually and to try to understand their way of acting so that everything comes to fruition. Observing, analysing, and, above all, empathising - that is the valuable ‘sixth sense’ that is needed, which is not all that different from professionalism. 

I am aware that this is all much easier said than done, by paper and screen I am able to cover subjects that in reality are much harder to execute, but awareness and conscience are the first step. Honesty and vocation, if that's what it takes, then we shall leave them for another occasion.