I’ve known or heard of more than one dancer or dance teacher who, when he or she finds a really great resource or hint of some kind, guards it as a careful secret. Instructors who hold back their special technique from students. I can’t deny that when I find a resource for a fantastic costume piece, learn or create a unique bit of dance technique, or receive a really great piece of advice, there’s sometimes a little voice inside me that says, “Don’t share this with anyone else. Then YOU won’t be special.”
I’m not ashamed of this voice. I’m only human. But neither do I heed it. Instead, I try to be generous.
Please note – I’m not talking about giving your time and knowledge away for free. There’s not a thing wrong with being paid to teach, coach, perform. You absolutely should be. I’m talking about being generous of spirit; not holding back the best of yourself from your students, peers, and friends.
I could list all the spiritual, psychological, soul-feeding reasons why this kind of generosity is beneficial. But in this post I’m instead going to outline two perfectly self-serving reasons to be generous of spirit. 🙂
- Giving the best of yourself to your students and colleagues allows them to represent this art better. The more beautifully and professionally this dance is presented, by *anyone*, the more respect and exposure it will receive. And thereby, the more (and better-paying) jobs there will be for all of us.
- If you gain a reputation for being generous, more people will want to work with you/put you in their shows/hire you to teach workshops and seminars. I’ve looked at the dancers I admire, the ones whose careers have lasted for decades, and they are all known for giving generously of their time, knowledge, and selves. If I want that kind of career, it makes sense that I should emulate them.
So if you’re worried that you’re being naive to give so much of yourself, consider the points above. On the other hand, if you think *I’m* being naive, feel free to let me know in the comments. 😉
Good post! I totally agree with you. The dancers I admire most are the ones who are the most generous with their time and talent. Interestingly, they are also highly successful.
You get what you give.
I’m noticing this about up-and-coming dancers too – the ones whose names are on everyone’s lips share this quality.
Amen!
Like your thoughts, Asmahan! My goal is to have my students surpass me!
Thank you , lady! You’re one of my inspirations. 🙂
Absolutely! I think another benefit of sharing is that putting your ideas into words and discussing them with other people sparks more ideas. So you get more when you give more.