Dance. Not About The Body

While it might sound counter intuitive, in a way dance isn’t about the body. 

While it’s well understood that gymnasts tend to excel and peak in their late teens and early 20’s, in contrast a professional dancer only starts to peak in their late 20’s and more likely during their 30’s. Some will argue that dancers only achieve their best in their 40’s or later, depending on the style.

Because dance isn’t just about what the body is able to do; how high we can jump, how many turns can be executed nor how flexible we can be, as exciting as those elements might come across in the right context. The soul of dance is best appreciated by how we interpret choreography, tell stories and express complex emotional states; how we physically articulate thoughts and feelings.

Instead of athletics, dance is better likened to the work of the violinist, the sculptor, painter or the singer where the physical body is crafted to become the clear conduit for that which is wanting to be expressed.

And in general, we get better at this as we mature; as we experience more and understand ourselves, others and the world better.

Yet there can be a tendency to treat dancers as we might gymnasts, or athletes more generally, pushing their bodies to achieve an earlier and earlier peak. But at what cost? Does this take into account their developing physiology, and their long term career prospects; the risks of an early mental burn-out, or forced exit due to chronic injury and/or fatigue?

And yes, we all know that it’s getting harder to be patient these days, with everything we want just a tap, mouse click and credit card swipe away. But the best things in life tend to demand our patience and so it is with the dancers craft and it’s for this reason that MDM is important and unique. 

Because MDM is the range you buy, and the range you recommend to your studio and your students when you want them to better understand that the training you’re providing is setting them up for their whole life. Because while they’re young, and perhaps because of their youth only interested in the next weekend competition, the next class, the next trophy or opportunity to be seen; you’re also thinking about how they will be feeling and moving when they’re 25, 35 and even 65.

Because you want them to look back at their time in dance and be grateful for the years spent with you, realising how their bodies were set up for life by the training and counsel you provided, perhaps grateful for the long careers they managed to enjoy, and the many stories and emotional range they were able to find and reveal. Or simply grateful for that extra care you took at that time when it really mattered, even though they weren’t able to fully appreciate it.

MDM exists because we know and value dance. For MDM has been carefully crafted by those that feel and understand dance because they’ve held onto that barre over decades themselves, have fallen to the dance floor, sweaty, exhausted and exhilarated at the end of a long day and known the high of coming off stage bursting with joyous adrenalin coursing through their veins. We know the hard won benefits of patience and persistence.

And so whether those under your care dance for a year, ten years or enjoy decades in dance, the MDM range has been designed to help ensure those dancers become the grateful former students, grateful dance artists and healthy individuals of tomorrow.