My teachers. The choreographers I worked with, being in the studio creating material. My teaching, finding my own movement voice and teaching it heightened my experience of dance. Books, reading. Becoming a mom. My peers.

 

 

 

What a challenge. I have three children and a very loving husband. Each year, I have to re-evaluate what I am committing to and make sure it makes sense with the family. If things are rough at home, it is totally not worth it to me to push harder on the dance end of things. I had my first child at 30 and found it incredibly difficult to make the shift from devoting almost all my time to dance to full-time mom. I slowly got better at getting very efficient with free time … during naps I would give myself a ballet barre in my kitchen; I would bring the baby to the gym and choreograph in the racquetball courts. I don't mess around when I have even 20 minutes to do some work; I get direct with what I need from other people. It is still a constant negotiation. It was my choice to have three children. I knew it would impact my career as a dancer and artist. But I wouldn't trade the experiences of motherhood for anything that dance could have provided.

 

 

On training and care of the body…..

Try to enjoy it. Do not let living a healthy lifestyle, proper diet, regular exercise, attending a variety of classes, etc seem like work. It should feel good to take care of your body.

I turn 43 this year and I have a goal of being in better shape at 43 than I was when I was 30. I work out 60 minutes 4 days a week (cardio, weights, and core work), jog once or twice a week (40 minutes/4 miles), take 1-2 yoga classes (generally flow for flexibility purposes) and play basketball for 90 minutes each week………..Oh yeah, I dance, too!

Rebecca Johnson

You have worn so many hats within the dance world – performer, choreographer, producer, grant writer, and much more. Can you talk about the “how and why” of this? Have you enjoyed this, and why?

I did two majors in college and I’ve always been a thinker that connects ideas into a broader picture, rather than one who narrows it down. This trait has led me to naturally enjoy wearing so many hats. When I graduated from college I sat down with one of my dance professors and was confused about the notion of a single career path: just pursing dance, or just teaching school or whatever the many singular options I had in mind. I found this notion to be scary. My professor suggested that maybe I didn’t have to give up one thing to pursue another thing to be successful. While this advice was confusing at the time, I think it was some of the best I received around the time of graduation. I’ve held that idea close to me and it’s allowed me to fulfill my love to wear many hats, learn new skills and play different roles in the dance world.