t is truly majestic observing a ballerina on stage. Years of dedication, grace, technique, and grit are blended with the imagination of a composer and the artistry of a choreographer. Few activities pull together the complexity of acting, music, and pure physicality in the manner of dance. Anyone who has dedicated a large portion of their life to an artistic endeavor, such as ballet, would agree that, not only are you learning the art itself, you are learning to be a leader. I know this because I began my life as a ballerina.
You’re equally an artist and an athlete, constantly chasing perfection. Communication, self-awareness, innovation, discipline, and teamwork are all intrinsically part of the package. After years of training, these skills become innate, and a leader has been created without even realizing it.
t is truly majestic observing a ballerina on stage. Years of dedication, grace, technique, and grit are blended with the imagination of a composer and the artistry of a choreographer. Few activities pull together the complexity of acting, music, and pure physicality in the manner of dance. Anyone who has dedicated a large portion of their life to an artistic endeavor, such as ballet, would agree that, not only are you learning the art itself, you are learning to be a leader. I know this because I began my life as a ballerina.
As a young dancer I did not realize the leadership skills I was developing until much later in life. When I was a senior in high school, I enrolled in a leadership class. I’d never viewed myself as a leader; the class just happened to fit in my schedule. On the last day, the teacher sat us in a circle on the floor and predicted what each of us would do later in our life. As an 18-year-old about to graduate, it was simple: I was a ballerina and I would continue to live my life on stage for decades. It was all I had ever done and the only thing I believed showcased my skills. When it was time for the teacher to announce his guess at my career, he smiled and simply said, “You will be a leader. I see you as a school principal or in charge of a team at some big company. Your employees will look up to you for guidance and you’ll be a fantastic mentor.” Sitting cross-legged on the floor in my finest ‘90s flannel and ripped denim, my jaw dropped. No way. Dancers aren’t leaders; we’re followers. We are given steps and we perform in accordance with the choreography. How on earth did this teacher believe that there was something inside of me that would be able to lead others?
At the time, I was grappling with college decisions. I’d been offered a full-ride scholarship for dance but was embarrassed to tell anyone. It wasn’t an impressive major that my family could brag about, and my friends were all headed off to begin business degrees and follow more “important” paths. My parents were reluctantly supportive but suggested that I have something to “fall back on,” so I decided to take education courses and double major. It’s a common decision for anyone studying the arts in college. Parents doubt the choice or push against it, and arts majors are overscheduled so that they can fit what they love with what they’re told is the right path. When I’d visit home every summer before heading off to a dance internship or intensive study program, my peers would discuss their challenging lab courses or their impending graduate programs. I felt the sting of inadequacy. Self-doubt was a constant companion when I compared myself to a computer science major. What I wish I could have told my young self was to trust in the leadership skills the dance world was teaching me, because they were going to be worth every exhausting 14-hour day. Being a ballerina provided all the tools necessary to not only be a leader, but take the creativity, confidence, and grace that had been instilled in me at a young age and apply it to every area of my life.
From the audience at the ballet, the casual observer most likely doesn’t realize the amount of detail that goes into the finished product. Lighting, costume design, and endless rehearsals are meticulously married to the tempo of each piece of music and to choreography that has been altered, refined, and rehearsed to as close to perfection as possible. A ballet is typically based on a story. The music has been written by a famous composer. The costumes are designed to fit the specific dancers while staying true to the imagination of the creative director. The choreography is molded from a theme, but every few years a new choreographer comes in with a different vision, or maybe a dancer has an injury requiring steps to be done in a unique way. I could go on, but you get the idea. Ballet isn’t about the same steps in the same costumes to the same songs year after year. Ballet is the blending together of physics, geometry, music theory, history, anatomy, and writing, all under one roof. I’ve always said this phrase when explaining the life of a dancer: You’re equally an artist and an athlete, constantly chasing perfection. Communication, self-awareness, innovation, discipline, and teamwork are all intrinsically part of the package. After years of training, these skills become innate, and a leader has been created without even realizing it.
I hope that any parent or emerging leader reading this understands that the first strum of a guitar, or plie at the barre, could potentially lead to a valuable and fascinating career.
Leadership Found
I hope that any parent or emerging leader reading this understands that the first strum of a guitar, or plie at the barre, could potentially lead to a valuable and fascinating career. The child who won’t put down the drumsticks might end up being the CEO of a company. The kid writing comics when they’re supposed to be doing homework might end up at a publishing company. The doors that open when you think outside the box are endless. Embrace that creativity and let it be fostered.
