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. 🙂

  1. 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.
  2. 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. 😉