Raja Feather Kelly; photo by Julieta Cervantes

Throughout the year, I ask this question of artists who write profiles for the blog. Here are 5 perspectives from artists throughout the United States and spanning 4 decades:

Laura Colby (Brooklyn, NY):

An open mind. The ability to listen. A body that can recover. The ability for that body to speak multiple languages.

Raja Feather Kelly (Brooklyn, NY):

The skills I think modern dancers need in 2017 are determination, the willingness to stick up for themselves, and the ability to process information. I believe a relationship or career in the arts is one of perseverance. While I don't believe that everyone is an artist, I do think that creativity and artistry take integrity – and for me that means record an interrogation. Not giving up when it's not easy and always asking questions. You can only rely on yourself to be inspired. That being said, it also requires you to know how to say no. To use language to your advantage and to not be bullied. Too often I am in conversations with artists younger than me, my age, or even older who are being run over by police in the field who don't respect them. I don't take them seriously, who don't value what they offer or bring to a process or project. I say, do not be undervalued, and to not be taken advantage of. There is also a lot of information out there; fake news exists everywhere. Dancers need to know how to process and discern the information that they are receiving. Just because things sound good doesn't mean they are what they seem.

Jess Humphrey (San Diego, CA):

• A deep and wide love of the art form…so much love that you learn as much from a performance you hated as you do from one that leaves you speechless.
• Know how to take care of yourself, and that what you need can change, moment to moment. And then there are the basics: water, sleep, clean food, etc.
• Get down like you did before you started training as a dancer. Wild. Full out. Uninhibited. Dance party. Animal.
• Discipline to practice regularly, and to pay attention to your practices so you can keep them alive and relevant.
• Find other dancers to practice with, and show up for them in order to show up for yourself.
• Pay attention to power. It is complex and constantly operating.
• Connect to the larger field: books, videos, blogs, friends who are dancing in other places…
• If you want to be dancing with someone, learn to ask them what you can do to make that happen.
• Find work that makes you money and the ability to perceive it as practicing dancing, performing, and/or creating.
• Identify mentors, and be a supportive and generous mentee.
• If you want a partner, make sure they are fabulous. Dance is hard to compete with.
• Meet the ground with the perfect combination of softness and strength.
• Make lines, break lines.
• Be right where you need to be, right when (and how) you need to be there, but not by stressing out about it.
• Know where you are and how to get lost.
• Make a mess.

Jan Erkert (Champaign, IL):

The faculty at Illinois continues to wrestle with this question. We have shifted our description from modern dancer to a dance/artist; to represent the broader, multi-faceted directions students pursue post graduation. At Illinois we have identified five domains of knowing that are critical to building a sustainable artistic life – inquiry, agency, context, synthesis and reflection. If students have developed substantial skills in how to conduct an inquiry, how to take ownership of their learning, how to contextualize their methodologies, how to draw disparate ideas together, and how to look within – then we feel they will have the skills necessary to build a sustainable artistic life.

Gesel Mason (Boulder, CO):

Versatility

Creativity

An understanding of your strengths, a willingness to try new things, and the ability to let go of what you (think you) know if necessary

An ability to network and be in the right place at the right time without being a stalker

Practical skills in addition to your incredible dancing ability that will either keep you connected to the field or able to afford this life

Persistence and perseverance

Love

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Related posts:

Blog Series: Becoming an Arts Administrator

Blog Series: Building a Dance Company

Blog Series: Becoming a Teaching Artist

Blog Series: Questions We Ask Ourselves

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