New Guest Post on NDEO’s Behind the Curtain Blog
Perfection and Vulnerability: What do we want to pass onto our students?
By Jennifer O’Neill, Program Director/Faculty at Ace Dance Academy, Master Teaching Artist at Center for Community Arts
“Perfection. I used to believe that my need for perfection, in all aspects of life but namely in dance, was a badge I should and could wear with pride. I likened being a perfectionist with validity, acceptance, and success. I viewed my strive to be/look/act/dance/perform perfectly, as proof that I “fit” and belonged. In hindsight, it was merely a veil I was using to hide my insecurities, fear, and doubt. The constant push for perfection gifted me a false sense of control - only I didn’t know at the time how little control I actually had.”
In this guest blog post, Jennifer O’Neill reflects on the roles of perfectionism, vulnerability, and control in the dance studio. As dance educators, can we work to lift the veil of perfectionism and instead replace it with vulnerability and truth? O'Neill believes that our work as artists and mentors will be deeper and greater if we do. Read more here.