Showing Up

The comedian Woody Allen once said that eighty percent of success is just showing up. I think about this when I think about dance class. Dance class, for a dancer, is a place where you show up.  Every day.  Regardless of how you feel or what other things are going on or – especially – how badly you did in yesterday’s class.

Dance class is where you learn to be patient. To take small steps toward a larger goal. Dance class is where you learn to be resilient. To accept criticism without taking it personally or becoming discouraged. Dance class is where you learn that self-discipline pays off. That paying attention and ‘doing it for real” is what makes the difference.  That the only failure is not to try.

One of the most important lessons of dance class is that you can’t succeed if you don’t show up.