They say you always remember your first, and I'm sure most dancers will agree when I say you always remember your first dance-related injury.
I have always said that dance was my one true love; my unrequited love. It was an abusive relationship. I loved dance more than life yet it continually hurt me and I always went back for more. Though I had quite a few injuries during my career (and I remember every one), I was lucky to have dodged the necessity for knee or hip replacement surgery. Yes, I suffered through periodic knee discomfort, and my hips ached occasionally. There was even a period of time when my friends grew tired of seeing me limp around, but I always recovered.
My first dance-related injury occurred during my “I Sing the Body Electric” moment at my farewell to performing arts school performance. My last appearance of the evening was in a funky jazz piece. Before exiting the stage, I had to jump up, kick my feet out in front of me and throw my head back - a very 80’s move! Though I pride myself at being able to remember choreography from that time, (35 years as of this writing) except for the moment of the injury, I have no recollection of the rest of that evening. In school we were trained to get the job and told to take every class like an audition. I’ve added to that statement telling my students to take every class like an audition, rehearse like a performance and perform as if your life depends on it. I was definitely performing as if my life depended on it. I hurled my head back with such voracity it touched my glutes, (a feat I wasn’t built to pull off.) I’m sure I took my final bow, packed my personal items and endured my hour-long bus ride home - simple mundane parts of life the escape my memory. I do remember not feeling any pain the rest of the night as I’m sure my adrenaline was running high.
This final performance was the culmination of three years of hard work, good times and of course dance drama. It was bittersweet - while I was grateful for the experience, I wasn’t sure I was ready to move on. Attending Juilliard was my first choice, but my audition was a miserable failure. Luckily, I was fortunate to secure a scholarship to Alvin Ailey (with a stipulation to gain weight,) and a job offer with the Neubert Ballet Company at Carnegie Hall. All I had to do was make a decision - more school or start my professional career. Continuing my training and education at Ailey could have been a great opportunity. But I had spend 17 years wanting to dance professionally, and waiting four more seemed like an eternity. Time moved more slowly back then. The day after my farewell performance there were only two certainties in my life - I was moving to New York City and I was in excruciating pain.
In the end I chose to go with Neubert Ballet. Achieving my dream of living and dancing in the Big Apple should have been exciting, but during every rehearsal and performance I was physically tormented. Even sitting down, walking through the city, and bending over to tie my shoe was an ordeal. Once the winter season was over I decided to take a break from dance and leave Neubert. X-rays revealed that the tissue in-between one of my vertebrae was punctured. Over the next three years I frequented chiropractors who were only able to provide me with temporary relief, and sought out physical therapy, Kinesiology, acupuncture and acupressure, but nothing helped. It seemed my career was finished.
A friend recommended Alexander Technique, an alternative therapy used by actors, musicians, and dancers. I tried everything else up to that point so I figured I had nothing to lose. My teacher guided me through exercises that lengthened by spine, and retaught me how to stand, sit and stand up, walk and breathe. I never realized how I conducted myself through ordinary activities incorrectly. The discomfort I endured for so long quickly dissipated and never returned. My teacher was so impressed with how I adapted to the technique she suggested I become certified. Though I wouldn’t consider it, I often helped guide friends and co-workers through the exercises or suggested they look into learning the technique to ease their back pain. If you would like to learn more visit https://alexandertechnique.com
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