It is no secret that the life of a dancer involves the desire for perfection. It is hard not to become obsessed with what is considered “perfect,” but as Houston dance photographers, we would like to say that we think this focus and energy can be better placed elsewhere. After seeing so many dancers leaning toward the self-critical, we have come to an interesting point to consider: which is more important, perfection or performance? As Houston dance photographers, we are used to seeing people from all walks of life being self-critical in front of the camera. It’s difficult not to be. Modeling can actually be one of the most challenging jobs, and dancers are some of the most exceptional models because of their acute bodily awareness.
“By performance, we mean the act of letting go and feeling the movements and truly becoming one with your dancing. “
However, when our studio began photographing dancers, it was immediately apparent that the level of personal criticism was much higher than that of standard photography sessions. From this, we came to realize that as a community, there are some misunderstandings that cause some of the greatest young talents to lose confidence in themselves. In other words, as a dancer, is it more important to be “perfect,” or is it more important to truly perform? To start, let’s break down the differences of both. Being “perfect” does not refer to technique, rather, we are referencing the impulse to be self-critical when seeing yourself dance. By performance, we mean the act of letting go and feeling the movements and truly becoming one with your dancing.
“Sophia Glagoleva said in her post: ‘…I want everyone, wherever you are, to tell yourself that you are fine just the way you are, and if you do really want to improve on yourself, don’t do so by bringing yourself down and saying that you are less.'”
So then, which is more important? It is doubtful that any dancer reading this would argue it is more important to be needlessly self-critical of oneself. It is much more likely instead that a dancer would support the idea that it would be freeing to truly let all the “Do I look good enough?” worries go, and to simply perform; to let dance effortlessly take you where you need to go, and to let go of the doubts that hold you back from connecting with your talent. A young dancer from the Houston Ballet Academy we recently worked with wrote a beautiful message about this very topic on Instagram. Sophia Glagoleva said in her post: “…I want everyone, wherever you are, to tell yourself that you are fine just the way you are, and if you do really want to improve on yourself, don’t do so by bringing yourself down and saying that you are less.”
“…your greatest strength as a dancer is the exact reason why you’re insecure: your uniqueness.”
Some of the greatest young talented dancers we’ve seen in recent years carry the burden of this. In the age of social media and constant comparisons, their faith in themselves has been shaken. We are here to tell you that your greatest strength as a dancer is the exact reason why you’re insecure: your uniqueness. If you feel small in comparison, remember what separates you from the rest. You are all unique, you are all hard-working, and you will all achieve the greatest goals you set out for yourselves. Accepting who you are and what makes you distinct is the first step to accepting the power that you have.
“We have seen an entire studio light up after seeing an image. Even if a dancer hadn’t originally liked an image, just seeing the reaction of everyone in awe by their abilities often allows them to recognize how exceptional they actually are.”
“Remember, the content you follow is what people will to continue to make. Let’s all start following content that actually makes us happy and uplifted.”
“Finally, the health of your mind is just as important as the health of your body. “
Finally, the health of your mind is just as important as the health of your body. Eat often and well. Be gentle with yourself. Remember that your uniqueness makes you great. Keep your chins up, dancers. Dance like nobody’s watching and feel the strength you have given yourself through all of your sweat and hard work. Lastly, remember to always embrace your power and honor yourself in the process.
Want to capture your dancing?
We can capture your unique personality and style. We have Sessions for dance auditions as well as Creative Sessions, which offer a large range of diverse options.
