6 Steps to Overcoming Adversity in your Training, by Corps de Ballet Dancer Tira Sweet

The last couple of years, both in and out of the studio, have been filled with great triumph and even greater adversity. As a dancer, it is common to hear how much work you have left to do; your pelvis isn’t neutral, you aren’t pulling up enough, you could be using more rotation. You’ve heard many of these corrections and more over the years, but how do you process them when you’ve fought so hard and fallen short? 

1. First thing is first, stop beating yourself up. It is natural to make mistakes, even as you’re learning. Oftentimes dancers hear a correction and think that everything they’re doing is wrong, despite vast attempts at fixing the problem. Technical strength is a process. Some things go right, and other things go wrong. 

2. You’ll never be “perfect”...and that’s okay. A wise man once said to me “Once you’ve reached perfection, you might as well be dead. We all make mistakes until the day we die.” Not to be overly morbid, but I think he has a point. We’ll always make mistakes, it’s human nature, but what matters is what you learn from them.

3.   If you’re willing to put in the time and effort that it takes, your greatest weakness can become your greatest strength. Work hard, be specific, focus on refining your craft. Just don’t obsess over it. Often you’ll find that once you’ve worked on that area enough, you gain confidence in showing off the progress that you’ve made.

4. Take time to appreciate your strengths. It’s not being vain or narcissistic, you’re just giving yourself a confidence boost. Telling yourself what you perceive to be a strength can help you avoid focusing on the negative.

5. Take pride in being a PERPETUAL student. I don’t mean for this to sound daunting, but we will always be students of some sort. Regardless of whether you’re enrolled in a school program or not, the universe will always have something to teach you. Be patient, as these can be applied to your training.

6. Surround yourself with people who support you. Find a “safe haven” so to speak, where you are pushed to work hard, but can let your guard down while doing so. This allows for more progress, when you’re not stressed out about it all the time. Gather with people who will help you recognize your strengths, and help you with the hard stuff. Simple words of affirmation can go a long way.

For me, my safe haven is here at 127th Street. I am pushed to excel not only by myself but by all of the company members. I am continually inspired by each one to better myself as a dancer and as a person. Thank you.  

Photos by Vycktoryja Selves