"she can never be a dancer"
         
or, how I became a dancer and why you can dance too.
         

          I have always loved to move.
          In earliest childhood, my happiest moments were spent           skipping, turning, doing somersaults, dancing, and          watching other people dance.

      Feeling totally free in my body and confident in my powers,
    I was constantly flexing my arms á la people on fitness    magazine covers.
    
   A tot just learning that the earth was round, I saw no reason why I couldn’t use my strength to dig my way to China, which I attempted to do through the sands of Miami Beach. The only thing that stopped me on that magical day was that the sun was setting and it was time to leave the seaside.

Happily I grew into roller-skating, jump-rope, hand-ball, ping–pong, and running up the stairs two at a time. Before I knew there was Yoga, I invented the shoulder-stand, and received great encouragement from my parents.

My favorite achievement was riding my two-wheeler up the short but very steep hill behind my house with my hands raised high off the handle-bars. Lance Armstrong would have nothing on me. I just loved the wonders of physical movement.

and then the outside world presented its rules . . .

In her desire to make all things possible for her six-year-old, my mother arranged an audition with a well-known retired classical ballet dancer who ran a school in the venerable neighborhood of Carnegie Hall. I had not yet heard of Isadora Duncan and the other modern dance pioneers, so whatever the imposing Madame would say to my mother and I, we were prepared to take as the Gospel truth.

Within ten seconds, and before my feet had even warmed my ballet slippers, the edict came down that because my hips were tight and my turnout non-existent, I could never be a dancer.

This pronouncement was so powerful that I went away resigned to the idea that I would not be able to study dance because my hips were too tight.

In my teen years I had a friend who had just begun to study modern dance, but instead of joining her, I compared her spaghetti-like flexible body to my own and immediately censored myself right out of the picture.

serendipity . . .

Serendipity happily appeared in my early twenties, when I was free-lancing as an artist at a publishing house not far from Martha Graham’s modern-dance school, and my co-worker suggested we take a class there after work.

I quickly learned that one of Ms. Graham’s principal dancers had turned-in hips like my own, and that Graham had actually choreographed a wonderful and successful piece especially for this dancer’s physicality.

At the Graham school our teacher was June Lewis, Graham’s protégé, and I was totally enchanted with our class and the ideas Ms. Lewis expressed. When we were leaving, something made me run up to her and ask if she thought I could ever dance.

I can’t remember her exact words, but as she spoke, her gaze burned through my veil of negativity and fear, straight to my core. Without saying yes or no, she threw my question back to me in the form of a koan, or riddle, forcing me to answer my own question. It was like having to choose between life and death, and in the heat of the moment I realized that it had only been me stopping myself.

you can do it too --- it's natural to you and me and everyone

So if you have ever had the inclination or desire to dance, just remember that there is nothing stopping you but yourself. Muscles and joints can be gently coaxed to move in a certain way, and with a little practice, you will be amazed at how invigorated you feel and at the results you will get.

Passing on the magic, knowledge, and inspiration of my teachers is part of my life's mission, so to all who would like to move and dance, I invite you on behalf of all that is possible, to just begin somewhere, anywhere, anytime . . . and remember the old Chinese saying that every journey begins with a single step.

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EDUCATION

DANCE JUNE LEWIS & COMPANY
Studied modern dance first at Martha Graham’s school, then with Ms. Graham’s protégé, June Lewis, at her studio. Ms. Lewis was Dance Professor at Brooklyn College, where she presided over the dance and theater program during her tenure.

NESTA
National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association
• Pilates Specialist
• Bio-Mechanics Specialist
• Core Specialist

THE NEW SCHOOL UNIVERSITY
Graduate Study–Media Studies
THE NEW SCHOOL UNIVERSITY
Bachelor of Arts (Liberal Arts) Graduated with honors.
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
at Farmingdale (SUNY)
Graduated with honors

MEMBER:
Toastmasters International
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Click for
DANCE / MOVEMENT CLASSES

• For all ages, at TRS Suite
• Private classes at your location
• On location for businesses and organizations
• For children who learn differently

Not just doing, but teaching, inspiring others, and carrying forward artistic visual and spoken knowledge have always been Ettie Steg's passions.

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For the children in your life, and the child
in you, here is the new book and video,
Life is a Wiggle©.

Click for
CHILDREN'S DANCE BOOKS

BOOK & Bonus Video

Life is a Wiggle©
Dance like a sea animal – Level 1

Copyright © book, video and phonogram 2009
by Ettie Steg and Monika Pia. All rights reserved.
Published by TheWholeWorks® ISBN 978-0-692-00713-6

 

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Ettie Steg
modern dancer, teacher, writer
NESTA certified:
Biomechanics specialist,
Pilates Specialist,
Core Specialist.
Member:Toastmasters International.

DanceForMyLife™
Studio: The Whole Works®
Phone: 212 575 0765
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TRS Suite
40 Exchange Place 3rd floor  
New York, NY 10005

© 2008, 2011, 2012, The Whole Works® all rights reserved.