When Others Count Sheep to Fall Asleep , I Count Ballet “ BLACK Steps SWAN . And” Everything FAIL AND THE FallsBALLET into Place ROAD . TO WISDOM
Still , growing up in Indiana , US , Catterson wasn ’ t given the chance to attend a great ballet school , so she trained , but not at the intensity wannabe ballerinas do . She was , however , a bright student , and later majored in Psychology at Northwestern University . There , her fire for dance re-ignited . She apprenticed with Judith Scott Dance Company in Chicago , participated in the American Dance Festival at Connecticut College , experimented with choreography , and received prizes and accolades . Dance won out . In 1968 she moved to New York , to work under mammoth names like James Cunningham and Yvonne Rainer .
She is now seventy and goes to class every single day . “ It is not so much my perfect body that led to my lasting career , but my talent and passion . You can ’ t be mediocre if you are a professional dancer . A plumber can be mediocre and make a living , a dancer no ,” says the seasoned creator , who often tours the world teaching seminars . “ Competition is fierce , and resources are few . To just scrape a living , you quickly figure out that time is money . One moment you learn new steps , the next you throw them away . Let alone the need for constant adjustment . Dance equips you with a mental sharpness , toughness , flexibility and speed ,” monologues a sleek , spark-eyed , astonishingly fit Catterson , who reminisces the times she adjusted her dancing to a wrecked stage , or out of tune violins . But , if , mentally , dance postulates a hyper-versatility that extends from strict discipline to lines and techniques to ample resourcefulness in unforeseen occasions , what holds true in the case of wisdom ?
Does a dancer ’ s short lifespan culminate in long-running wisdom ? “ In a sense , yes ,” answers Catterson . “ When you meet yourself in the mirror in leotards and tights , you learn to deal with your failings and assets . I suffered from an eating disorder for twenty-five years . I managed to overcome it , embracing myself with courage and sensitivity . You see , you need an artist ’ s sensitivity , but courage and toughness will keep the fires burning .” For the celebrated choreographer , there might be something special about the dancers who stick with dance through thick and thin — and conquer wisdom . She steers the conversation into the topic of a fellow dancer , as a perfect example of a prodigy lacking the self-transcendence to “ take the heat ”. “ At one point she got injured , and quit . You could see it written all over her face that she was grateful for her injury . It was the perfect excuse for this supremely talented dancer to call it a day .”
recreational activity ? The same groundbreaking research contains surveys showing that even an expanding posture will increase feelings of power and tolerance of risk , while tilting the head upward induces pride . To the extent that somatic training alters movement patterns , Embodied Cognition claims ballet may contribute to psychological changes associated with wisdom . “ If you ask me , the upright posture I gained through ballet — something I physically lacked — has certainly boosted my self-esteem ,” answers forty-four-year-old Leda Contogiannopoulou , one of the leading artists of her generation , albeit in . . . painting . “ The truth is I wanted to become a ballerina , but I liked food a bit too much . At fourteen I came to grips with the fact that my chunky body frame would mean I would literally need to starve to become a ballerina , so I chilled out end enjoyed ,” the mother of two says .
Contogiannopoulou does not have stories of torment to share . Ballet has made her love her body more , filled her with positive feelings , and taught her the power of teamwork . “ I can see wrinkles in my upper body , and more beautifully sculpted bodies in the mirror . Many of my adult classmates are twenty years younger than me but I am still the second best technician in class and have one of the best memories !” she says . “ Confident , ebullient , quick-witted . . . Wiser ?” “ Ten to one ,” the artist replies in a soft but poised voice . “ I test my body ’ s limits and this gives me valuable self-knowledge . I also have a fixed target in mind , an unshakeable focus . When others count sheep to fall asleep , I count ballet steps . And everything falls into place .”
When Others Count Sheep to Fall Asleep , I Count Ballet Steps . And Everything Falls into Place .
Those who climb the higher echelons of Terpsichore ’ s art might open the gates of wisdom , science says . But , what happens with those who take up ballet as a mere
Leda Contogiannopoulou , first on the left
Stav Dimitropoulos is a journalist and writer who has appeared on CBC , CBS Radio and FOX Channel , and has written for In The Fray , YourTango , Gadgette and many more . Facebook | Twitter : @ TheyCallMeStav
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