What I’ve learned stepping back out of my practice

I have been busy the past few weeks with dance festivals and covering lessons for my teaching job. And I welcome the more work as it’s what I love to do. However with this comes more thoughts and discussions. At the dance festival I attended with my students I relate back to a book I love. Misty Copeland biography “ Life in Motion” ( 2014) where Copeland talks about the impact her teachers had on her and how their passion and determination gave her the passion and determination to continue with her art long after these teacher were out of her life. The book also raises questions on ethics as well and how a teacher can become too involved in a child’s life. Much like Mistys teacher ‘Cindy’. This relates to me as I had a teacher who loved my talent and wanted the best for me but tended to cross a line. She wasn’t my parent.
This has stayed with me for years and is something that I am highly careful about within my practice as I have now experienced both sides of it. It’s also something that I think all who teach especially in the entertainment world should consider. Their humanity and their role within the lives of the younger generation. The line should never be crossed.
Therefore at the dance festival I attended. I saw this line cross and saw an ugly side to different teachers where the pressure of winning and disappointment of losing was far greater than what it should be for children growing up.

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