Better...

PHOTO BY: TONY BELLISSIMO AND RIED MARTIN

COURTESY OF: TREMAINE DANCE CONVENTIONS

thoughts from LA…

I love my city. I grew up in Southern California, and could not imagine living anywhere else! I love the weather, the energy, and the fact that you can get from the beach to the mountains in a matter of 2 hours (of course depending on the unpredictable traffic). Most of all though, I love the dance community that thrives here in this magical city. The dance industry here is thriving, wait no… BOOMING. There are so many new studios in the metropolitan city, and so many talented teachers and studio owners training dancers at an extremely high level in alot of the surrounding areas. You can travel an hour in any direction from the center of LA, and find a reputable studio that is producing well rounded, professional level dancers. 

This brings me to my thoughts on our Tremaine Convention this past weekend in Los Angeles. The energy moving through each class was dynamic, exciting, and contagious! I found each room to be both motivated and and full of young artists ready to work past their comfort zones. It was inspiring and honestly…. a little overwhelming! 

I have many favorite moments from this past weekend. In both of the teen rooms, I found the dancers to be extremely focused and hard working. Their commitment to truly performing the choreography the way I envisioned it was touching. I also loved the energy in the junior room! Those young dancers were full of excitement and love. Even though at moments, it was a little too much excitement and it felt a little wild, I still loved it! As a teacher, I would much rather have to teach a dancer how to control their energy, rather than beg them to actually have some. 

Then there was the senior room. I felt emotional the entire class because everywhere I looked in that room there was someone who was wholeheartedly pushing themselves to level beyond what they thought they were capable of. I was one of these kids for many years. I attended my first Tremaine at 14 years old and was immediately hooked. I waited impatiently every year for that one weekend in April. The one weekend where I got to dance amongst the best of the best. That weekend was both intimidating and inspiring all in the same breath. All I wanted was for the teachers to see me and give me corrections so I could be better, and though I didn’t always get those corrections,  I certainly always walked away BETTER. As I scanned the room this past weekend, I saw that same desire. I attribute this to the energy, time, and commitment that Joe Tremaine has tirelessly given to this event for the past 38 years. Joe does not compromise on his vision, and he doesn’t believe in backing down when things get difficult. He values good energy and hard work, and when you teach for him, you find yourself gladly upholding these very values in your own classes. Holding the senior room at a high level of integrity and energy gives the dancers something to aspire to. It gives them a purpose… and without purpose, I find even the most talented, hard working dancer can get bored. 

I am full of grattitude and love… It is a joy and honor to teach for the same event that changed me for the better so many years ago. I hope to call on  this feeling whenever things get tough in my life, so I can remember to reconnect with a purpose… my purpose.  

I found that dance, music, and literature is how I made sense of the world... it pushed me to think of things bigger than life's daily routines... to think beyond what is immediate or convenient. 

                                                                         —-Mikhail Baryshnikov

In love and dance,

Keri

Balance

Photo by: Tony Bellissimo and Ried Martin

Courtesy of: Tremaine Dance Conventions

thoughts from Cleveland…

There is a delicate balance between the teacher and the student in a dance class. Each party relies on the other to give them energy and inspiration. I think there is an unspoken agreement between the dancers and the teacher that goes something like this:

If the teacher provides motivation and information that will better the student, the student promises to apply it with all of their heart and physical ability. As this exchange continues, it will build a sense of trust between the two artists, and as their trust in each other keeps developing, both parties will agree to be inspired to continue to grow… together.

So… both the dancer and the teacher have equal responsibility for contributing to the success of the class. I think this is important for this current generation of dancers to hear. Sometimes when I am teaching, I feel like the dancers are waiting for that special step, or even that magical speech to motivate them to really participate 100% in the class. I’m not sure if it’s because they are too busy analyzing the steps, or if it’s because they are afraid of making mistakes. I understand both behaviors, and have been there myself. However, I was one of those dancers in the senior room that went FULL OUT no matter what (probably a little too full out, lol), and it was mostly because dance class was my church and I loved it like no other thing in my life. It was the one place I could feel anything I wanted and I craved the teachers that pushed me past my limiting thoughts of myself and my ability. I wanted to believe there was a better me somewhere hidden deep inside that I just couldn’t see yet. I wanted teachers who told me the truth, no matter how harsh or difficult it might be to hear. Fortunately enough, I always seem to find those teachers.

This desire is partially what motivates me to teach dance to this day. This past weekend in Cleveland in the senior room, I could tell that the dancers were overthinking and waiting for the right time to give their best to the class. In the moment I made the decision to be a little tough on them, and to tell them the truth, not knowing how they would react to it. To my surprise… the change in the room was AMAZING. This awesome group of dancers stepped up, put themselves out there, and elevated the room together. My heart was full, and my weekend was changed for the better. 

Find the teachers that have a higher vision for you than you know to have for yourself, and then be grateful that they hold you to it. Even if you never fully realize it, just the pure effort and energy you put forward in the act of reaching it will make you better. Instead of being mad at the teacher for having your best interests at heart, and who is brave enough to stand for you even when you can’t stand for yourself, embrace them and trust yourself enough to learn the lesson being given to you.

Like Bruce Lee says:

“Art calls for complete mastery of techniques, developed by reflection within the soul.”

In love and dance,

Keri

Life is in the Recovery

Photo by: Tony Bellissimo and Ried Martin

Courtesy of: Tremaine Dance Conventions

thoughts from Vancouver…

I have found this statement to be true many times throughout my life. Accidents happen, mistakes are made, and we have all had a moment of “poor judgement” that we needed to reconcile with. 

I think all of these examples are opportunities for growth if we are truly on a path of evolution and creative liberation. When taking the risks in life that are necessary in order to evolve as artists and people, we are stepping outside of our comfort zone and hoping for the best. Either we rise, or we trip and fall. Both outcomes are positive in my mind, even though in the moment I may not always feel that way. I despise making mistakes as much as the next person, and have spent most of my “Perfectionist” life making peace with that. 

This leads me to my story from Vancouver. At the end of my teen class, I asked one of my assistants is she would perform the material by herself for the room, during which she was also being filmed. She nodded yes, but I could also see the fear start to rise in her body. I called her out, and she started brilliantly… confident, connected and focused. About 2 counts of eight in, she completely BLANKED! She immediately looked at me and signaled to stop, but I refused to stop the music and told her to keep going. She had trouble finding the rest of the choreography, and was struggling for another few eights till she finally was able to calm her mind and fall back into the steps. At this point, I knew she would be ok, but was not prepared for the beauty that ensued. When the combo was over, she seamlessly transitioned into her improve and it was glorious! You could tell that she took all of the disappointment and frustration she was feeling and used it as rocket fuel instead of a lead weight on her shoulders. She finished strong, and the whole room cheered furiously for her! 

Now, I could have stopped the music, and she could have refused to keep moving because she was embarrassed. But, as the title above says, “life is in the recovery”… and she was an amazing example of this concept by choosing in the moment to continue on and make the most of it. This to me is a true sign of a professional in the making. 

I have had this happen to a few assistants throughout the years, and it always brings me to tears. It reminds me that no matter how professional we are, or how experienced we may be, sometimes we forget the material, and sometimes we aren’t as successful as we would like. It’s funny, not a lot of people talk about this part of the process, especially on social media. Mostly we see the “best” of everyone, and not necessarily the sometimes painful process we go through to get there. 

This lovely girl reminded me that though you may not be able to control the event that happens, you can certainly control how you react to it. I certainly learned something from her that day!

“When you walk to the edge of all the light you have and take that first step into the darkness of the unknown, you must believe that one of two things will happen. There will be something solid for you to stand upon or you will be taught to fly.”   —Patrick Overton

In love and dance,

Keri

What are we waiting for...

Photo by: Tony Bellissimo and Ried Martin

Courtesy of: Tremaine Dance Conventions

Thoughts from St. Louis

I admit it… it’s so easy to give in to the temptation of procrastination. I, myself, am an admitted procrastinator. I think it’s because I have always worked better when under pressure. Something about the sensation of a deadline brings out the best in me.

However… I was not trained to approach dance class that way. I actually grew up in the generation that showed up early to class to “pre-warm up” for the actual class warm up. From the time we walked into the room to the very last minute of the combination was a work out and a test of our commitment to our craft. 

I find these days that dancers are much more selective about when and where they will expend this much energy. Perhaps it is because they are too busy analyzing the steps, or perhaps it is too scary to put their tender hearts on the line until they absolutely feel it is safe. 

I believe that dance class is our “safe” space. It is the room where we can be anything we want to be. 

I’m reminded of one of my most recent favorite quotes:

Maturity includes the recognition that no one is going to see anything in us that we don't see in ourselves. Stop waiting for a producer. Produce yourself. 

                                                 ——Marianne Williamson

In Love and Dance,

Keri

STRONG MIND

STRONG HEART

STRONG BODY

The beauty of being tired...

Photo by: Tony Bellissimo and Ried Martin

Courtesy of: Tremaine Dance Convention

Thoughts from Dallas…

I have to admit it… on the Monday morning after a convention, I am a complete zombie. My body is sore, I can barely make a complete sentence, and I need about a gallon of coffee before I can focus on anything! I stay in my pajamas practically all day, and keep my phone on “do not disturb” till about 2pm. A high bun, no make-up, and a killer Netflix lineup are the most complicated choices I can make for the day. I share this with you not because I like to whine, or because I want your sympathy. I share this because I truly love what I do, and there is a strange sort of beauty in being this exhausted. 

I truly feel grateful that my life is so full. Full of inspiration, love, dance, and a job that is demanding in so many ways. I have always naturally been a hard worker. Though I was drawn to dancing when I was young, I never considered it “easy”. Inspiring… motivating… satisfying… YES. But never easy!! As I grew older, life felt unnatural if I was not working hard. As a teenager and a young adult, I filled my days with classes, rehearsals, auditions, early calls on set, and late nights performing at dance shows.… anything dance related I could get my hands on. I felt like I did not have a successful day if I was not exhausted by the end of it. Partially, this was out of survival. I had rent to pay! But more importantly, it was because I could not imagine any better way to spend my day than by being a part of a creative process, whether it was my own or someone else’s. 

Teaching in Dallas this weekend reminded me of my days as a convention dancer. I can remember literally falling into bed on Saturday night after a full day of dancing and competing, not knowing how I would ever get up the next morning. Then the alarm would go off, and even though I could barely walk from soreness… I couldn’t wait to get to the first class! By the time we got to the “final” auditions at the end of the day after the faculty show (YES, we used to have to perform the jazz audition for the whole convention!), my legs were jello and my mind was mush. After, I would get into the car with my mom and be asleep before we left the parking garage of the hotel. On Monday morning I would beg my mom to let me stay home from school, even though I knew that was certainly NOT happening, and Monday night I was back in the studio, training as usual.

I saw that same fatigue in the dancers eyes this weekend. I saw them sometimes push through, and sometimes give up. I watched certain dancers become motivated by the challenging classes given to them, while others seemed to pull back a little bit when faced with the same daunting task of having to push past their comfort zone time and time again. I understand both perspectives. I also believe that either reaction to a challenging class is an active choice on the dancers part.

I have made both of the above choices at different times in my life. I have risen, and I have cowered. Both directions have taught me valuable lessons about life, and how I want to participate in it.

I hope to continue to choose to rise because like I said earlier, I truly am grateful. Dance has supported me for as long as I can remember, and I feel it is the least I can do to repay her. I hope the dancers from this weekend can be honest with themselves about which choices they made during the convention, and are open to learning the lessons that each one offered up to them. 

I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes…

In Love and Dance,

Keri

“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.

I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.

I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no "brief candle" for me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.

—George Bernard Shaw

STRONG MIND

STRONG HEART

STRONG BODY

Focus vs. Energy

Photo credit: Tony bellissimo, ried Martin

From: Tremaine Dance Conventions

Thoughts from Indianapolis…

I don’t think one is necessarily separate from the other. In fact,  I actually think you can have both exist at the same time in a learning environment. Ideally, once a student digests and mentally breaks down the concept being taught to them, it is then their responsibility to physically manifest it and present it to the teacher and the room. This is the sacred, silently understood contract between the teacher and student. If the teacher is honestly giving the students every bit of energy they have to help them understand fully what is expected of them, then the students agree to earnestly return every bit of that energy through hard work and commitment to the teacher’s vision. This is how we were trained growing up. This is truly a concept that I practiced as a student, and still believe in to this day now as a teacher. 

Something has changed though. Somewhere along the line, focus and energy have become separated. I find that most students these days either have one or the other. They are either full of energy, but aren’t able to focus on the task at hand, or they are so internally focused on what is being given to them, that they forget to actually contribute back to energy in the room. 

I found the latter to be true this past weekend in Indianapolis. Most of the dancers were so mentally focused on figuring out the material, and were so far back in their brains that they forgot to look outside of themselves for help and inspiration. Trust me… I certainly appreciate a smart dancer that is able to mentally grasp the concepts I am teaching. However, I wonder about this… what does it matter if you’re not willing to put it out into the room to see how it resonates? We are in a performance based art where our bodies are the only instrument we have to express our feelings and to show our mastery of a very demanding discipline. We are magical beasts that get to affect our audience in whatever way we so choose just by the way we MOVE. It is both a gift and a challenge. 

I grew up a “technical” dancer. I understand the mental strength it takes to fully grasp the mechanics of the body, and I loved the challenge of mastering dance technique. I was one of those analytical, quiet dancers who was a perfectionist to a fault. As a teenager, I had many teachers who helped me with the concept I am writing about. They drew out of me a level of participation in class that I did not know I was capable of. I can only hope to return that favor to this generation. I have great reverence for all of the teachers I have taken from over the course of my dance career, and out of respect for them, I feel it is my duty to continue to uphold the principles that they so graciously instilled in me. It is an honor and  a responsibility that I gladly accept.

Simply put, one of my favorite teachers always used to say “be responsible for the energy you bring into a room”. This concept has helped me be a better student and teacher. I hope it can inspire you to do the same. After all… aren’t we all either the student or the teacher in any given situation? Or even better… both at the same time? 

In love and dance,

Keri 

STRONG MIND

STRONG HEART

STRONG BODY

Energy begets Energy...

PHOTO BY: TONY BELLISSIMO AND RIED MARTIN

COURTESY OF: TREMAINE DANCE CONVENTIONS

thoughts from NYC…

There is something special about NYC. The energy there is both inspiring and exhausting at the same time. I am very sensitive to energy, especially when I am teaching or choreographing. During those times, every pore in my body is open and my every sense is heightened. Firstly because  in those times I feel completely vulnerable. I am opening up my heart and soul to a mass of young dancers, not knowing how they will respond. Secondly, I am keenly aware of what is happening in the ballroom on many levels. Are the kids getting the material? How are the parents listening to what I am saying? Are the assistants doing their best to be an amazing example of my work? Why is that dancer not able to remember the steps? Did that person injure themselves? How much time do I have left? and so on… and so on…

Thinking about this reminded me of a phrase that Paula Morgan used to say to me many times over the 3 years or so that I trained with her privately when I was a young dancer wanting to make my way in the professional world. Paula is a spitfire of a woman with an understanding of the body and the mechanics of dance that is both mind blowing and inspiring! The most wonderful thing about Paula is her unique delivery of the information. She would love you fiercely and make you feel like you could do anything you put your mind to, while at the same time kicking your butt so hard that you could barely drive home because you were already sore by the time you walked the short path from her front door to your car. 

Paula used to always say… “Energy begets Energy”. At the time, she was referring to the technical mechanics of jumping and turning. I interpreted it to mean that once you spark a movement with a burst of energy, it will continue to feed itself as long you do not actively put a stop to it. If you consistently keep the flow of energy, then it will continue to feed you. This was life changing for me specifically to my approach to jumping. I was not a natural jumper, but this approach helped me to understand timing and how to maintain energy in the steps between jumps, which gave me a new love for them.

In love and dance,

Keri

STRONG HEART

STRONG MIND

STRONG BODY

Born to Move...

Photo credit: Tony Bellissimo and Ried Martin

Courtesy of: Tremaine Dance Conventions

Thoughts from Washington D.C.

Once upon a time, in a snowy land called Washington D.C., there was an 8 year boy named Evan who LOVED to dance. On one special weekend in January, Evan attended a dance convention called “Tremaine”, and all were changed for the better by his presence… especially me!!!!

I began this blog post like any good fairy tale does because that is exactly how it felt. I first saw this extraordinary little spirit in the junior auditions on Sunday morning, and I knew from first glance that I would adore him. He attacked each move with such passion and confidence, it was honestly hard to believe he was only 8!! What was most beautiful to me about this sweet boy was that he was not necessarily the best dancer in the audition, but you would never know that by his approach. It was obvious right away that this was his CALLING. 

Later on that day, I returned to the Junior room for my “Character Jazz” class. I have to admit… I couldn’t wait to find him in the crowd! Class was moving along nicely, but I couldn’t find Evan, and I was a little disappointed. Then, after teaching the beginning of the combo, I played the music for the first time and immediately, I found him. It’s like the sound booming out of the speakers sparked something inside of him, and he instantly was shining like a star. The light that was pouring out of him was made of pure joy and excitement. It was the kind of charisma that was undeniable. When I divided the room into smaller groups, every time his group came out to the floor to dance, I would look around and see everyone smiling. I mean EVERYONE. It didn’t matter if they knew him or not, they just couldn’t help themselves because  he was such a bright and magnetic force the entire time he moved.

This amazing young dancer reminded me of two moments in my life which were monumental to my discovery and love of dance. The first moment is actually the first time I ever took a class from Doug Caldwell at a Tremaine convention when I was 13. I swear this amazing young boy had the spirit of Doug streaming though his veins! He was wild and crazy and full of passion, just like Doug. I half expected him to start growling halfway through class!! It brings me to tears even as I write this, because Doug was such an instrumental part of my growth and confidence as a dancer. He taught me about love, community, and true connection. His class was  a safe space to explore and feel all the emotions I didn’t necessarily know how to work through in my daily life. He had a certain spark in his eyes that always made you feel like you could achieve anything you wanted, and Evan had the same spark! Secondly, Evan reminded me of when I was a young girl in ballet class, and I was enamored by my teacher and willing to do anything to get her approval. I felt free in dance class and it was the place I could be anything I wanted. Princess one day… bumble bee the next… it didn’t matter, it made me happy!

Maybe Evan can teach us all a little something. As seriously as we take ourselves, maybe some days it’s just about finding the joy in moving. Maybe, we lose touch with that joy because we are constantly trying to prove our worth to others, or maybe even to ourselves. I want to find that joy in every class, and I want to let it radiate out of my pores just like Evan did this weekend. 

I hope you can reconnect with this sense of joy also… maybe we can find it together.

In love and dance,

Keri

New Year, New Ideas…

Photo credit: Tony bellissimo, ried Martin

From: Tremaine Dance Conventions

Thoughts about dance from Kansas City…

So…. I decided to try something new this year. People are always asking me “how did the weekend go?” or “what did you think of the dancers this weekend?”. Honestly, each weekend I teach for Tremaine is completely different! Some weekends are smooth as silk, and some are more challenging to get through. I believe this is because of the unique dynamic of each ballroom, and my ability to feel effective in getting my message across and trying to create an environment where the dancers feel supported and challenged at the same time. 

Writing about my observations and opinions from every weekend actually scares the living hell out of me… and that is why I am doing it! I am most comfortable expressing myself through movement, and using my voice as a writer feels extremely risky. I often speak in my classes about taking risks and stepping into the fear in order to work through who you want to be as a dancer and a person. Well, I decided to take my own advice for once!

Theses are my views and observations from our first convention of the year in Kansas City…

I found myself in an interesting conundrum this weekend. Often, I feel like we as convention teachers judge the success of the class by how loud the dancers cheer and clap for us and for each other. When this doesn’t naturally exist in the room, we tend to feel like maybe the choreography wasn’t inspiring enough or maybe we weren’t exciting enough of a teacher. Though this may be true in a few instances, I have found that there is also another possibility for the lack of energy being sent out to the room. Sometimes, the dancers are so focused on getting the material and truly working through the challenge being given to them in the class, that they are completely self involved  in their own development and struggles, and therefore forget to step outside and support the others in the room. I don’t necessarily think there is anything wrong with this. Every class at a convention is different and offers a unique path to mastery.  Some are based on how much energy you are putting into the room, and some are based on how much energy you are putting into yourself. 

In the senior room this weekend. I felt myself falling into the trap of insecurity as I watched the dancers struggle through the material I gave them. Then, I looked a little closer and noticed that the room was so quiet because the dancers really, truly were putting their best effort into achieving the goals I had given them, which caused them to have to dig deep down in their souls, and work past their comfort zones. This is honestly all I could ever ask from a room of emerging artists. 

So which is better? I really don’t know… I think there is space for both types of classes. And idealistically, there is a way to find a balance of both energies in the SAME class. I think that part is up to the dancers. I encourage dancers to be “selfishly generous” in their classes. To remember that they have to be accountable for their own development as well as be aware of what is happening around them. Working on yourself and supporting other souls in the room who are doing the same thing is absolutely possible, it’s just a matter of your level of commitment and awareness. 

In love and dance,

Keri

STRONG MIND

STRONG HEART

STRONG BODY