1. That you don't have to be the most technically trained dancer to be a great dancer.
I learned this mostly in taking the ballet classes at NTA. The Taiwanese dancers are all stunning, and very technically trained dancers, probably more so than most of us. But in many cases, they lack emotion and feeling when they dance. The do the steps exactly as you want them but with no feeling behind it. Having a reason and expression when you dance is what makes a dancer not just someone regurgitating steps but an actual artist by making the audience feel something from the movement.
2. That in the United States we are blessed with choices and freedom.
You always here of Asian culture being strict and requiring children to perfect one skill. My parents always let me do whatever I wanted to and if I got bored or tired of something, they let me find something else I loved just as much. It is because of this that I was a professional gymnast, I danced in high school, I was in many different types of leadership positions both in college and high school, I am part of a sorority, and I have held many different kinds of jobs. My skills are numerous and different giving me an array of experiences to draw inspiration from. I was never told I had to be a perfect dancer, so dance has always stayed enjoyable for me because it was just for fun. It has become more serious to me over time, but that was by my choice and not influenced by anyone else.
3.The intricate movement of Chinese dance is what makes the style so alluring to an audience.
Although I struggled with jumping right into the style of Chinese dance, it really gave me an appreciation of the style. It is difficult, takes a lot of stamina, and takes a very skilled dancer to be able to perfect the intricate positions required. I really enjoyed taking part in a style that was so different from my own and I hope to be able to include some of the movements and skills I learned into my own choreographic processes.
4. You can be from completely separate sides of the globe, and still find a common ground.
Even though we had a language barrier and quite the regional distance, we were able to connect with so many of the students we met on our trip to Taiwan. I loved getting to know all of these students and being able to share such an amazing adventure with them. I feel like we were able to learn from each other and really get a view into each other's worlds.
5. You don't need to speak to communicate in the world of dance.
I understand that this seems like something you should already know. Of course dance is about the movement. You shouldn't need to communicate through talking. I was amazed though about how much I could absorb in the dance classes I took where the language used was predominantly Chinese. I may not have understood what they were saying exactly but in watching the combination, I could pick it up just as easily. Even when the professor would give corrections, their body language and hand movement gave me an idea of what they were saying. Even though it may have seemed like a game of charades, trying to guess what was being said, I thought that it was so cool to be able to communicate and understand each other without the spoken word.
This study abroad trip has really opened my eyes up to the world around me. It is one thing to imagine a culture so different from your own, but it is something entirely different to experience it for yourself. It has really given me an appreciation of Asian culture as well as a fresh look at my own culture that I often take for granted. I hope to be able to apply the things i have seen and learned into my own creative processes to make myself an overall better dancer and artist.
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