Six weeks into the DUTI training program
First published in March 2021
It’s been a positive first six weeks, with shared sentiment of joy and excitement being able to wake up each day and dance. Dancing and movement are things we all love and have been tools to help us:
explore the limits of our body
challenge mental barriers
express our inner and outer selves
While the course has undoubtedly been an amazing experience so far, it has also been met with some intense physical and mental challenges, to which we have persevered and grown through the process.
Pushing your body like never before
Each of us has felt the physical impact on our bodies. Dancing 20+ hours a week means smashed feet, sore limbs, aches, pains and fatigue. With the majority of the group not having engaged in so much physical activity until starting the program, it was a huge transition.
In the first few weeks, we all tried and tested that fine balance between pushing yourself and knowing your limits. It’s been essential to trust your body and understand that, despite wanting to take extra hours of classes, sometimes we need to allow ourselves to rest.
Don’t get caught up in your mind
As with the physical, we’ve also been met with some intense mental challenges. In class, there are times when moves and choreography are difficult to pick up and execute. We can often get caught up in our minds and negative self-talk by comparing ourselves to others or berating ourselves because we can’t do it.
During these times, it’s important not to be too hard on yourself, let go of perfectionism and enjoy the learning process. We also have to remember that this program is supposed to be challenging, and where there is struggle, growth will follow. We can also forget that things take time and results are not instantaneous; often, they require training, practice, and consistency. Through it all, it’s important not to overanalyse and be hypercritical of yourself, and to be proud of yourself wherever you are on the journey.
Be kind to yourself
Being kind to yourself can manifest in many different ways: allowing yourself to rest, telling yourself that you’re doing a great job, or just being completely present in your body and in the moment.
It’s a unique time in our lives when, faced with challenges, we can fully embrace making mistakes, vulnerability, and the process. In the end, all you can do is your best, and understand that your best can look different day to day and class to class.
Witnessing growth
In just six weeks, some of us can see and feel improvements in technique and style, and also feel new strengths emerging. Changes have included:
ability to pick up and retain choreography faster
hitting steps with more strength and power
learning and adapting to completely new styles of dance
transformed body composition
increased flexibility, strength and being able to execute movements we haven’t been able to before
Sometimes we can’t feel or see our improvement, but we can all see it in each other. We see how everyone has progressed in six weeks and need to trust that progress is also occurring within ourselves.
Learning from the best
Our teachers have been a real gift. The beauty of the three-month training program is that with ongoing classes in a small cohort, our teachers can analyse our movements and provide personal feedback on how to improve. It’s rare to have this type of individualised feedback from professionals who are masters of their craft. They also share nuggets of wisdom, which we may not understand straight away, but at some point, become an enlightening experience that can be applied in other classes, styles or life in general.
Supportive dance environment
Unanimously, one of the best things about the course is having a kind and beautiful group to share this experience with. It’s crazy to think that just six weeks ago we were all strangers, but in a short amount of time we’ve formed a great bond. The supportive environment has made it a safe place for us to be vulnerable, try new things, make mistakes and grow together without judgment. It’s fair to say that this experience would not be the same without our lil’ DUTI family cheering each other on and genuinely wanting each other to succeed.
Being at the midpoint of the training program we’ve learnt and experienced so much which has only left us hungry for more. It’s scary to think that the final six weeks of the course may fly by even faster than the first. So, with each day and each class until the end, it’s important that we absorb everything thing we can and approach it with a sense of presence and gratitude.
