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Susanne shares that over the past weeks a reoccurring theme that keeps coming in. Are we as performing artists better if we leave our ‘day’ outside the door? or can we reframe this statement and lean into the creativity of the art by using these emotions to fuel us in the art?
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Why you shouldn’t leave it at the door.
Hello, and welcome to another episode of the Pointe To Rise podcast. My name is Susanne, and I am your host today.
If you guys have been listening over the past three weeks, one common theme always came up. That was, we need to feel more and do less. I wanted to do an episode on this because it has stuck with me. It has repeatedly come back into my sphere over and over again. Not only personally but within every conversation that I’ve had. I also find it highly interesting because I was that person who never felt or let allow herself to be handled, and how that showed up in my life.
Let’s start with looking at being a professional dancer, or even a dancer, going through the rat ranks, from schooling into the companies, even performing artists. Let’s look at what the story is that has been taught to us, ‘leave your feelings at the door, don’t bring into the studio,’ you always have to be on here there is no room for tears, if you cry, you’re weak, and therefore you’re not going to make it.
This statement was what I have heard, over and over and over and over again. And that manifested itself in my life that I only have one emotion. That was happy and smiling. And sometimes, I didn’t know where to get that happiness because I did not allow myself to be sad or angry. The emotion placed on these feelings was that they are wrong, not helpful, and I should not be experiencing them. Because if I do, I will not get to professional status, so I learned to bury them deep down. And with me not knowing what it felt like even to be sad or to experience any other kind of emotions. I also denied myself to experience joy at its fullest. And if we’re really like drawing this out and looking on where else this affects, if we don’t know what it means to be joyful, ecstatic, or experienced pleasure. If we don’t know what it means to be sad, or heartbroken, or even angry or judgmental, then how on earth are we going to go on stage and tell a story through emotions and movements? That doesn’t work? It doesn’t.
We’re seeing this right now. What is everybody’s doing? Everybody’s practicing their tricks. Look at Instagram. It is all that is being posted.
We move away from feeling and even ask ourselves, how do I want to feel today? We are not always in control, but we can decide that I want to show up today in this way. I want to feel like I can do all of these things. And therefore, your brain reacts entirely differently and then makes different choices that will support you in the decisions that you just made.
I would say that allowing yourself to feel you’re not weak because you have emotions. Emotions are such an integral part of our life. As people and artists, we need emotions to be creative to speak out our emotions and other people who can’t express those feelings. I still feel it all, and sometimes it doesn’t feel good. And that’s okay too. Because we always will learn something through that. We always will have a gauge. If that didn’t feel good, then why? Why am I doing it again? Why am I putting myself into that same situation? To feel not good again? And then ask yourself the question, what can I do the next time differently? Emotions are teachers as well. Therefore don’t deny yourself the learning. Maybe your teacher studio is telling you not to cry or always put on a happy face or leave everything you experienced today at the studio door because it doesn’t belong in the studio.
I 100% agree. Wait what. I know you are asking yourself right now. I agree with that statement. I just finished saying you have to be reflective and to feel every emotion. And I encourage you to ask the question, does that apply? I encourage you to do the research.
What does it mean when we deny ourselves, our emotions, and how will that show up in our later life? When you stop just doing, you start leaning into what you’re feeling when you’re doing things. You want to go here just before entering the studio. Is this who you want to be? Is this how you want to feel and show up every day? Then you can be a much better artist. Leave the emotions that will not support you when you practice your discipline at the door, with love and understanding that you will have space for them upon coming out of the studio. All the emotions are teachers to us, as long as we give ourselves the grace to see the learns.
That’s all I have for today. I’m sending you so much love.
Again, if this resonates with you if you want to learn more about how emotions play a role in our lives, drop me a DM or share one of your biggest takeaways of this podcast. I’m sending you so much love till soon. Bye-bye
I’m sending you so much ❤
Susanne
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About Susanne Puerschel
Susanne, Founder of Pointe To Rise, an Empowerment society for dancers and other artists, Wellness Entrepreneur, podcast host, former international ballerina, and an experienced principal chief executive officer had the privilege to grow up behind the iron curtain in Berlin, Germany.
She’s dedicating her time now, after working in cooperate America and running her own businesses, to building community among dancers and artists, providing mindset and high-performance coaching, and building a media company that will be the springboard to revitalizing the Arts.
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