Amidst the start of a new year, it is an ideal opportunity to put your dancing on the right track! Are you setting plans for the upcoming year? Possibly you are willfully strolling into the future with primitive rituals that never created what you wanted, or lasted short term in the past. For 2020 think more consequential, and with the onset of a new decade, a restored perspective. Cherish all the things that are most meaningful to you.
There are now apps, youtube videos and podcasts to keep you informed. Everything is technology-oriented, starting with paper-thin computers, robotic moon bases, chips implanted in our brains, self-driving cars plus a high-speed rail linking London to Beijing. Dance is likewise moving forward, merging with other art forms to create something never seen before.
   There are now Fitbits to help regulate your fitness level and help gauge your progress. Chips can be inserted in point shoes to monitor steps and techniques. Digitized dance notation is available, as well as drones that can fly overhead to capture images from above during a performance. Using technology to combine the digital with the physical world has already been seen in movies and video games, taking art to another level. Combining dance, live music, videography and 3D images with live streaming for a more realistic approach to digital art will open up new doors for the creativity of the arts.
   Injury prevention through accumulating knowledge with technology has grown easier and more predictable, leading to healthier, more muscular bodies. A creative world is ahead, but the dancer still needs to do the work in taking care of its instrument. Strengthening the whole body, and not just a few muscles should be considered. Taking regular classes cannot be replaced. Additionally, the whole body needs training. Simple tips anyone can do every day are stretching, push-ups, sit-ups, lunges, and cardio!
  Fatigue, stress, overuse or misuse are common causes of injury. Pay attention to how you are feeling. Learn the correct form, and be patient. Learning doesn’t come by skipping to the fun stuff. The basic movements and technique exercises are what make the dances look and feel fun. All too often someone comes in and wants to learn steps. Focus on proper execution can prove more rewarding in the long run.
   The possibilities are endless. To all of the dancers out there, be innovative and be kind to each other on and off the dance floor. To see some examples of poetry and art in motion check out https://vimeo.com/114767889.
“If you look at a dancer in silence, his or her body will be the music. If you turn the music on, that body will become an extension of what you’re hearing.”

Judith Jamison