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KRISTIN SLOAN |
I’m laying low this week. Turns out I have bronchitis. Bummer. But at least I’m at a point right now where I have the ability to really let myself rest (even if it’s against my will).
One of the challenges of being a dancer and depending on your body so much is that when you get sick, it becomes extra challenging, particularly during performance season. You go through it in your head….
How sick am I? If I take today off, or at least take it easy in rehearsals so that I can do the performance, will that be enough rest to feel better?
If I fight through now will I be able to sweat it out?
Do I have time between rehearsals to go to the doctor to get medicine?
I’m really sick but my bosses have told me it is going to be very difficult to replace me for this evening’s performance. Do I get through it and risk blowing the rest of the week? Or make the decision that I absolutely cannot perform?
As I’ve sat and watched some tv the last few days, I came across a feature on how all the competitors on Dancing With the Stars are falling like flies… and most importantly, is the show cursed?
Hmm… most likely it isn’t. I’d attribute it to the fact that dancing is HARD!! Hard on your body, hard on your mind… and if your body isn’t used to an intense environment like that, it has a tendency to shut itself down as a way of telling you to take it a little easier. You wouldn’t jump into a five set tennis match, or a marathon, without having sufficient training. We have to ease ourselves back into rehearsal season after even just a week off.
Maybe they could consider giving the contestants a little more time to build up to the competition…? I don’t know. But what I do know is that dancers are athletes, and there’s probably more training involved than people might think.
:)
photo by doug
