Life in lockdown – A unique view from dancer Mariana Rodrigues
< Insight and Inspiration
In some way I've already gone through the sadness of not dancing and performing and of not being able to walk everywhere I wanted. But as I started opening up to the experience I learned some really important things.
15th April 2020
Mariana Rodrigues is a Coryphée with DCD Partner Company Northern Ballet and a DCD REACH Ambassador:
“To all the dancers out there, I feel you.
We miss our daily routine, the high of performing, standing next to your mates at the barre, the freedom of moving through space without hitting the furniture…but we are doing our part by staying home. Being aware of the impact of this pandemic in people’s lives, I understand the bigger picture and take the time to connect to the world through a different lens. I stay at home and feel grateful for all the people out there working day and night to keep us safe. I feel for others that are sick and for their families. It is hard not to worry or be overcome with sadness sometimes. But I am grateful for the human capacity to adapt, and smile as I look through my feed and see our art form still alive and expressing itself in the form of online content, taking creative forms it never had before.
My personal journey is a little different since a month prior to lockdown I was still off injured with a metatarsal fracture. So in some way I already had gone through the sadness of not dancing and performing, but also of not being able to walk everywhere I wanted, because of being on crutches. The thing is, it’s not easy, and some days are going to be hard.
But as I started opening up to the experience I learned some really important things:
Take the stressful and not so nice aspects of our jobs away, and an opportunity comes to be reminded of the beautiful things in it. Since I have started exercising and doing barre again, I appreciate it so much more. I have realised that the main reason I enjoy dancing is because it makes me feel connected to my body, my whole being and also something greater than myself. So when my brain starts judging how much stiffer my arabesque looks, I shift my focus to how good it is to feel my whole body moving again.
I am also appreciating the gift of time. Time to discover who I am outside of dance and time to connect with other interests and passions. Being a creative person I struggled initially when I forced things to happen and decisions to be made. I must use this time to do a course! I must know exactly what my next career will be! I saw a pattern in the thoughts inside my head and remembered something I had learned in a coaching session. I was caught up in all the “musts” and was leaving the “wants” behind. With that in mind, I shifted my focus and started researching courses and careers without pressure. Even if it hasn’t lead anywhere concrete so far, I am now seeking new things without the extra pressure of having to make decisions right away and learning to be OK with not being sure of what I want to do yet.
Having had coaching sessions has helped me immensely and I really recommend them if you are choosing to navigate this territory, and feel like you need a bit of support. Every time I have come out of a session I have felt so much more connected with my passions and with who I am. I have also left equipped with resources and a clear action plan to support my goals. I am still working on what we discussed in my previous session, but once I am done, I will definitely be booking myself another one.
Lastly, I wanted to finish by saying that, if you are like me, you might just be feeling like you are not helping and contributing enough. Teaching a class, calling friends of family, checking on your neighbours, posting creative content for people to watch at home…all of those things bring positivity into people’s lives and we shouldn’t underestimate their effect.
So let’s keep giving, let’s keep moving, let’s keep connecting with ourselves and others and let’s keep learning.
A big virtual hug to you all.”