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Hilary Fullmer Dance Philosophy and Goals Orientation to Dance 261 8 December 2008 My Gift I want to be inspiring. I want to pull emotion from people, to make them feel something inside. I want to have the ability to impact others for good through my talents. This is why I have a passion for dancing. Dance, for me, is a way to give of myself to others, communicating emotions, thoughts and feelings to those around me. In my opinion a good dancer is one who has the ability to accurately portray their intended message to their audience. However, a great dancer is one who has the capacity to accurately portray their message while sharing the passion they feel with those who are watching. This is my goal: to have the ability to affect others emotions, to strike a chord within. This talent is not only a mark of a great dancer; it is also an indication of a great teacher and choreographer. When a teacher is able to pass on their enthusiasm for dance to their students, and when a choreographer can illustrate through movement the fervor that inspires the dance, they achieve a purpose that, to me, is invaluable. In order to connect to others the way I would like to, I have to understand the emotions I feel and how to properly convey them. Dance assists me in the creative process, allowing me to explore myself; I can

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experiment with movement until I have found something that fully expresses what I want to articulate. The challenge to push my limits, physically and emotionally, feeds my passion for the art form. It is the eagerness to explore the wonders of movement, and of life, that drives us as dancers. When that is instilled in a dancer, I believe that is when dance truly comes alive. Through class discussions I have realized that one of the most accurate ways to describe dance is to move ones body, mind, and spirit, with intent to be dance that is artistic expression. I believe that dance is freedom of

expression and movement. Martha Graham expresses her beliefs about dance in her article, I Am A Dancer. She states, I feel that the essence of dance is the expression of manthe landscape of his soul. I hope that every dance I do reveals something of myself or some wonderful thing a human being can be. Grahams fervor inspires me. Her untainted passion for the art of dance has been a source of motivation for me in my training and learning process. I have recently learned the importance of passion and meaning of movement, not just the proper use of technique. I am trained in classical

ballet, so when I first started to explore the modern dance world it took me some time to adjust. I am biased towards ballet technique because I was

trained in it and have recognized the benefits that come from that training. However, I have recently realized that there are different kinds of technique for different styles of dance. I feel that no matter what kind of technique a dancer is learning, the same characteristics are common among successful technicians. To me, a good dance technician is smart; they can understand

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and apply what they are taught. They are always aware of their body and how to correctly use it. Most importantly, they continually work to improve and build upon what they know. Whether I am in my ballet class or I am learning a new concept in a modern class, I work to apply these attributes because I know it will help me improve quickly. I believe that the ability to dance is a gift from God, given to people for specific purposes. These purposes may range and vary for different dancers and situations, but I think one of the most important reasons is to use dance as a tool to bless and lift others. In his talk titled, The Arts and the Spirit of the Lord, President Boyd K. Packer addressed the spiritual importance of the artsabout the profound impact that music, drama, poetry, writing, dance, and all of the other fine arts have on ones relationship with the Lord. He talks about the responsibility artistsincluding dancershave because of their gift. [You] who are gifted may not be more deserving, but you are much more responsible than the rest of us. He goes on to quote from the Doctrine and Covenants: For of him unto whom much is given much is required (D&C 82:3). I have been taught that my talent is a gift, to be used in the way that God would have me use it. This knowledge has been important to me because it helps me to stay humble and to remember why I dance. With this

knowledge, I am more easily able to keep my life in perspective, especially when frustrating situations or wonderful opportunities arise. It is easy to However,

become caught up in the competitiveness of the dance world.

President Packers advice reminds me of why I have this talent to dance. He

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counsels, Let the use of your gift be an expression of your devotion to Him who has given it to you.But in all ways bless others with it. Knowing the purpose I have, to lift others and bring them closer to the Spirit, influences my decisions and helps direct my paths. In March of 2005, I had the opportunity to participate in the celebration of the 200th birthday of Joseph Smith. Members from around the world

became involved in productions or programs, using their talents to pay tribute to the prophet Joseph. For my contribution, I performed a dance that depicted some of the experiences and emotions that Joseph had to deal with. Through performing this dance, I came to understand more fully the powerful impact dance can have on the thoughts and emotions of others. Although I will never comprehend all that Joseph suffered, I needed to try to grasp what he went through in order to perform and pay tribute effectively. I was not only able to connect better to some of the things he went through; I was able to share those feelings with the audience. In my small way, and with the help of the Spirit, I was able to use dance as a tool to help the audience connect with Joseph just a little bit more. Dance is a powerful tool that can be used to touch others in ways that nothing else can. My love of dance and passion for performing continually

grows as I learn more and more about myself and what I can do with the gift God has given me. Martha Grahams words ring true with me when she says, What I long for is the eagerness to meet life, the curiosity, the wonder that you feel when you can really move. Although I experience much personal

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growth through studying dance, I love having the opportunity to give of myself while I perform. In my opinion, dance can be moving and influential to all who are involved if the dancer and choreographer understand what they are trying to say to the audience. When a dancer uses proper technique, knows how to

communicate and share their passion, and has the help of the Spirit of the Lord, the dancers talent improves while the feelings felt by the audience are instilled within. When I utilize and strengthen these abilities, I am able to

more fully realize my potential as a dancer and an inspiration.