Dear Dancers, from Alicia Graf Mack

Dear Dancers,

As someone who is dedicated to living a full and joyful life in motion, I have always advocated for personal ownership of a healthy body and mind.

During my own dance career, and now in this new chapter of my life, I find it incredibly useful to check in with myself to maintain an awareness of how I am balancing my dreams and ambitions versus the pressure of external forces. As much as we push ourselves to achieve a very high standard, dancing (like life!) is best when it's enjoyable.

To recognize World Mental Health Day, I’m sharing a few tips that helped me as a dancer and that I hope can be of some help to you!

• Always remember your “why” for dancing. When things feel tough, remind yourself the reason you felt called to make movement a part of your life. It might be for the pleasure of dancing, or maybe you love to challenge yourself. Maybe it is to tap into some deeper part of yourself, where the effort and exhaustion are what help you push yourself technically or artistically. Don’t let the difficulty transform into a mental burden. Whatever your own reason for dancing, remember that it is yours to keep and nurture. 
   
• Stay curious about your dancing. Maintain a student or beginner’s mindset, no matter how advanced you are. Growing as an artist requires curiosity and the willingness to constantly learn and unlearn along the journey. Seek out new ways of doing things. Try a class in a style that you’ve never taken before. Play with developing your own work and see what comes out. Finding a fresh perspective on dance can help remind you of why you fell in love with it in the first place.
   
• Be generous with your dancing. Sometimes, we can get overwhelmed as dancers when we become hyper-focused only on ourselves. When we do this, we forget that dancing is an act of generosity. It is a gift that we as artists are responsible for sharing. Keep in mind those who you share your dancing with, whether it is your fellow dancers, audiences, or your loved ones. That sense of generosity will flow back to you.
   
• Your body is your instrument. You must treat it with care. Fuel yourself with good food, rest, and restorative practices. Listen carefully to your body and be honest about what it needs. Taking time to rest when you need it can save you long periods of mandatory downtime that happen when you push beyond your limits (believe me!). Caring for yourself can be an act of love for your craft too, and it can show up in the sensitivity and specificity of your dancing.
   
• Laugh often. Being a dancer means getting to spend time with people you care about while doing something you love. Take the time to enjoy sharing that together.
   
• Give yourself grace. Perfection is never the ultimate outcome of great dancing, although we may strive for it. Being too hard on yourself won’t help you become the best dancer you can be. As Alvin Ailey said, “The most unique thing in the world is you.” Give yourself permission to let your unique self shine.

Alicia Graf Mack
_{AILEY Artistic Director}