Last night, Carboy and I were able to attend a live concert by Camerata Pacifica. We were treated to an amazing, mind-blowing, face melting performance of Haydn, Brahms, Carter, and Harbison. If you think that Brahms cannot be face melting, it can only be because you have not seen it played by truly talented artists live in your face, that’s all I can say about that. I know, you are thinking, what has this got to do with ballet? I’m going to assert that seeing art, hearing art, really and truly experiencing art of every kind feeds your dancer mind and soul. If it’s only about being able to kick yourself in the head or being able to spin around at the speed of light or being able to jump over your own self then, sorry but just go to the gym. Not that the gym is a bad place but sometimes a bunhead needs to get out of the studio and out of the weight room and experience with all your senses, all the way through your brain right down into your soul something really, really beautiful and dare I say it, eek here I go, besides dance. Be inspired by other forms of art, not just dance. I mean, when it comes down to it, it’s all going to come back to dance for the bunhead, we are sort of single-minded that way. So that inspiration, that beauty, that joy, that aching, that amazement, those tears and that laughter comes back to us in our dancing… maybe that note will linger on our fingertips, maybe those oil colors will wrap themselves down our legs, maybe that perfectly chiseled marble will find itself in our strong torsos. It could happen, my lovelies!
If you find yourself as blessed as I am to be able to find a concert or a museum, a library or a garden, then, please, please, please, find some nook of beauty and inspiration and luxuriate in it, bask in it. And if you happen to be out in some boondocks, you are still fortunate because this is the age of the internet and I know you have that because… uh, you are here, in it! Some of the world’s greatest museums have wonderful virtual displays and there is great music and live performances on recordings to be experienced. Throw up a flare if you need help finding some, bunbaby, I will get some art out to you asap!
Then get yourself to class and try it out! I, myself, have a brand new Contemporary Ballet Class to try out tomorrow afternoon and I’m looking forward to feeling music in my body again.
~Let’s dance.
**All photos belong to Camerata Pacifica. http://cameratapacifica.org/
THE 109th BEAD 
I am (was?) a musician as well as a dancer, so I totally agree. I wish more dancers had an appreciation for other art forms… heck, other dance forms, even! We can learn so much and enhance our own performance by indulging our senses! A couple summers ago my studio took the teens that were in their summer intensive to the local art museum and had them select pieces of art to inspire choreography and then they went back a week or so later to perform in the museum with their chosen piece. I thought this was such a great idea; kind of wished I could have taken part!
Thanks, Rori. I am/was a musician as well so music, especially classical music, holds a dear spot in my heart. I find that experiencing art – more than just walking by it, looking, thinking “pretty” and changing the subject to what’s for lunch – is just so good for us as people in every respect. I was very inspired by art during my academic studies and although art isn’t my field, it held an important place in my dissertation and continues to be a part of my research, sometimes just as inspiration.
What a wonderful exercise for those young dancers! I really think that we can do that on our own, even if we aren’t really choreographing experts. As you said, indulge the senses! I truly believe that it will enrich our dancing.
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Hello Bead 109, thanks for your nice post about Camerata Pacifica. I’m Adrian Spence, the Director of the group … would you drop me a line at admin@cameratapacifica.org … I’d love to pick your brain about a few things if you don’t mind. Thanks again! Adrian
Hello Adrian! Thank you so much for taking the time to read my post. I very much appreciate it. I have become a great fan of Camerata Pacifica and the work that you do with this wonderful group of artists. I would very much love to be of service. For some reason unknown to me, I am getting a mail delivery failure to the address you provided. Feel free to contact me at bead109@gmail.com. Thank you and I do hope that we can connect.
~Lorry
Thanks, Lorry, what a great entry. I often visit a museum or an art gallery when I feel uninspired and low. I like to believe that it helps me to be a better dancer. Reading poetry also works for me.
@rori: as a teen, I’d have loved such an exercise! Good idea!
Oh… YES! Paulina, poetry! Thank you for adding that wonderful medium. I am so inspired by reading poetry and great written works. Art is healing for the soul.
Ooh, another musician (adult beginner) reporting in to shout YES! to this blog. And I’m thrilled that both of you, Rori and Lorry, are also musician and/or classical music peeps. Enjoyed reading this, and the responses!
Terez, you are a violinist too, aren’t you? YAY!!! Thanks for reading and commenting. 🙂