Amazing things happen when you say YES. Here’s a little story.
I was invited to dance at the Baryshnikov Arts Center, in a concert my friend was producing. Thrilled with the prospect, I emailed Michael Schumacher (partner) to see if he’d be available. When the performance date was set (APRIL 12) it didn’t work with Michael’s schedule.
“Can you dance with someone else?” she asked.
Now, while I’m in the SAYING YES TO EVERYTHING mode, I’m also a pro and a perfectionist. I’m not going to dance in Mischa’s hallowed halls if it’s not gonna be bangin’. Call me snotty, and I will agree with you.
Hmmm. Whose choreography could I do?
I see a Larry Keigwin tweet and it looks like he’s involved in the same show. (Larry of Keigwin + Company. Brill DANCER and CHOREOGRAPHER) It would be so fab to do something of Larrys! His work is so FRESH (and so clean clean) Perfect for the event.
But he was actually talking about another event, and I decided against asking him.
BUT. (this is the important part) I visualized it. It was real. I let myself fully imagine the possibility. There was no Oh I could never ask him, or Oh, he would never…I decided that it didn’t feel appropriate to ask him, but in my mind I was saying YES.
Meanwhile I kept doing my plies. My (motherfucking) grand battements. Keeping my instrument as sharp as I could.
Skip ahead a couple of months. Larry is in Santa Barbara doing a piece (Bolero!) and enlisting members of the community to be a part of it. I’m in NY and I get a message from him. He wants to know if I would do a little cameo with 3 of his male dancers?
Really? (Hmmm. Do I want to dance with three gorgeous young dancers? Is NYC hot in August?)
And guess what day we are rehearsing? APRIL 12. The exact day of my friend’s concert in NY.
So on APRIL 12, while I won’t be dancing at the Baryshnikov Arts Center, I will indeed be working with Larry Keigwin.
Long story short. Put it out there. See it. Let go of the details.
Say YES.
Keigwin + Co Dancers
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