Jacob’s Pillow makes Dance Interactive!

Dance people tend to work with less emphasis on time and budget and do whatever it takes to bring an idea to life. Money is rarely the motivation for the dance industry. Colleague-ship is! Ideas are born in an artists heart, and created with support from a vast number of generous people helping with the working, reworking, and development of creative projects. This generous spirit draws in colleagues who collaborate to move creative projects into reality. I do no know what or how many people it took to bring Jacob's Pillow's new project to life. I do not know the financial output, but I am sure it is due to the discipline and dedication that is so well known in the dance industry.

From this generous spirit, Jacob's Pillow provides so much for the international dance community and is one of the most successful in maintaining itself, passing along the legacy for generations to come. Kudos to them for launching this innovative project and lucky for the world for having access to it.

Those of us who give and those who receive, as in this Jacob's Pillow project, help insure the future of dance so that together we can continue making in roads toward bridging communities and solving some of the world's issues. Because dancers are universal communicators who are very effective in stirring emotions, illuminating an issue, and sometimes inciting action, they can easily work politically, socially or simply to beatify. Whatever the means and motives, dance often makes inroads toward understanding. This is why dance is so important. That is why this Jacob's Pillow project is a big deal. Dance is universal in the way that is can communicate and bridge people together.

'Dancers don't have problems; they solve them' is an understood mantra from the youngest dancer student to the masters passing on their legacy. Solving problems is what the world needs. We have so many of them. The imagination of people in the dance industry is often seen in choreography, sometimes in media projects (like Jacob's Pillow's), and sometimes addressing world problems.

Thank you to Jacob's Pillow and the many other parts of the dance industry for their support in upholding the traditions and propelling innovation in the international dance community.

I love the dance industry, full of imaginative, generous, and responsible people who dedicate themselves to the universal language of dance. Everyday my work as a dance school director grows out of the inspiration around me: from the legacy that was entrusted to me by my predecessors to the eager hearts that await guidance and exchange of ideas in my class, as well as from my colleagues who share their teachings and performances to the audience members who share the experience.





Jacob’s Pillow makes Dance Interactive!

I See a Future for Everyone With Out a Crystal Ball

I couldn't be a teacher if I didn't have hope for each student's future. I believe with diligence, curiosity, and time, every one I teach will have a solid future...maybe in the dance industry, maybe not. I believe each individual should have their choice of professions and not be limited to what others dream for them. Every profession requires what dance training brings out: discipline, diligence, attention to detail. All jobs will be more enjoyable with the emotional resiliency, creativity, and manners that are mastered with long-term dance training. Life will be healthier with the good posture, active life-style, and rigor that a dance education instills.

It is my happy task to be sure that each student will have the nature and skills to be employable in the dance industry should they reach for it. Whether a dance photographer, journalist, therapist, designer, manager, teacher or performer, introducing my students to these vocations in the dance world expands their dreams. Why take such a serious approach? Because dance is no less important than math, science, or language. Few students become mathematicians, scientists or language scholars, yet, society highly regards their pursuit for the intrinsic value in life. Regrettably most experiences in the arts are relegated to 'enriching' rather than fundamental. It's purpose has been lost and a child that is superficially educated in any area has less of a chance to fulfill his / her potential.

I am never discouraged if a student aims for a profession unrelated to their study of dance, nor do I teach them any differently than the one shooting for a career in dance. Similarly, I do not get overly excited when a student announces their dream to work in the dance industry. 1) students change their goals all the time. 2) dance training is really training for any profession. I remain undaunted in my pursuit to give students a full and well-rounded education in dance. I am happy that a student has an aspiration that motivates them. Studying dance fits into any future plan.