Rest

When I decided to become a dancer, my godmother, Alexandra Danilova, a famous ballerina, told me I had to take one day a week and do nothing, and two weeks a year and do nothing. The woman taught into her 90's, so she knew what she was talking about.

Resting is the hardest thing for a dancer, of any age, to do. We're physical beings, and only feel like dancers when we're dancing (or when you wake up feeling like you've been run over by a truck). If you don't rest, however, you will have that just-run-over feeling ALL THE TIME. The body needs time to heal and recharge, especially if you've been performing. If you're simply physically tired, a good night's sleep can do wonders, but if you've been going through emotionally trying times, such as doing 6 "Nutcrackers" in four days, that kind of fatigue can last a LOOONG time. That's why you need to rest on a regular basis.

Do not think that one day a week will take the place of regular sleep. Don't try and tell me "Oh, I do fine on five hours a night." No, you do not. Most people are not truly awake because they haven't been truly asleep. You don't hit that necessary deep sleep until several hours of continuous sleep. Five hours just won't cut it. 7-9 is the normal range and you have to find out what works for you, but no one, NO ONE can function at their best on less than 7. Oh, you can get away with it for a little while, A LITTLE WHILE, but it catches up with you. Your body will try and tell you, nicely at first, with minor aches, some soreness. That progresses to muscle spasms, then pulls, tears and breaks. Save yourself all that and get a good night's sleep EVERY NIGHT.

Yeah, I know, with ballet, homework and life in general, there aren't enough hours in the day. If you want to be the best you can be, at anything, you need to rest, you need to sleep.

Good night, and see you in class.