New Year’s resolutions from performers

There is always something magical about a new year: the newness and the endless possibilities of opportunities lie ahead!
Resolutions can motivate us to make tiny or massive changes in our lives, or they can be a reminder of the subtle changes we’ve been making all year long. Here are five performers at the top of their fields describing their resolutions. The answers, solemn or hilarious, are tiny pearls of wisdom that can help us all leap boldly into the new year.

John Selya, The Times They Are A-Changin’
I always try to keep improving how I treat people. I try not to take what I do for granted, to realize how fortunate I am that people actually want to see me dance. I never said, “I want to end up a principal dancer” or “I want to end up an Broadway.” I maximize the opportunities I get, and as long as those opportunities reflect me–what I would like to do and how I would like to dance–then that’s the ultimate goal for me.

Michael Trusnovic, Paul Taylor Dance Company
I never make New Year’s resolutions. Never! If there’s something about myself that I want to change or something that I want to do, I do it. I’m working on myself all the time. The company I work for was my major career goal. Within the work, I set little goals for myself. I haven’t thought of any big goals lately. I’m pretty content.

Michelle Dorrance, Tapper
This year I’m reinspired to study ballet with my mom, M’Liss Dorrance, and come back to my classical core and foundation. She raised me in the dance school she founded in North Carolina, The Ballet School of Chapel Hill. My second resolution is to immerse myself in breaking and B-girling. I’m a wannabe B-girl! It’s not stopping me that I’m such a novice! To immerse yourself in something that you’re a complete beginner at–especially when you’re at a certain point in your professional career–is exciting and humbling. If you ever thought you were a dancer, you think, “Oh no! I’m no dancer now!”

Elizabeth Gaither, The Washington Ballet
Last New Year I went to yoga. I was in Downward Facing Dog at midnight. It was great! I’m doing it again this year. My teacher, Neva Ingalls, is sort of my guru. Yoga has helped me to become better technically in ballet and take dance to a different spiritual level. I want to have a light when I dance that reaches out to people. It’s hard to keep a goal and not to have the complications of life interfere. But if the desire is strong enough, then nothing can get in the way. And you’ve got to be able to laugh at yourself.

Musa Cooper, So You Think You Can Dance
Last year my resolution was to get into better shape and devote more time to working out and I’ve stuck with it. This year’s resolution will be to venture into different styles of dance, not just hip hop. I want to take at least 20 new classes next year. The hardest thing about keeping resolutions is time! You’ve got to fit things in because every day you go without doing something is a day lost.

What is your resolution? Share it with a comment.

See everyone on the dance floor.

Peter & Renee

PS…be sure to lookout for “Smokey Joe’s Cafe” coming to South Jersey! Ms. Renee will be choreographing & co-directing it!