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 Higher
Ed Voice
Recipe
For Rejuvenation
By Tom
Ralabate
Spirit ailing? Creativity a thing of the past? It may be time
for a remedy.
It’s a
typical day at work: I no sooner push through a laundry list
of paperwork that needs timely attention than seven more items
find their way to my almost-cleared workstation. Once again, I
begin a never-ending cycle of paper pushing, skip my lunch,
and squeeze in another student meeting.
Sound
familiar? Over a seven-year period of performing
administrative work, my greatest challenge as an
artist/educator has been staying inspired. Dance
administrators in higher education and private studio owners
with teaching, artistic, and administrative responsibilities
know this routine (excuse the pun) all too well. In a world of
constant change, dance administrators in either setting
usually face a three-tiered focus—educational, artistic, and
managerial leadership—as they seek to make their programs and
schools the best they can be. Over an extended period, this
striving for excellence can lead one into a syndrome of
burnout, a disorder that undermines spirit and creativity.
Just as
successful artists are risk takers, successful
artist/educators who also administrate take risks by inching
toward concise goals, empowering and motivating those around
them to do their best in the hopes of gaining trust and
support. Good dance administrators think globally by doing
what is best for the students, the program, the studio, and
the faculty, not what is best for them. This kind of
generosity can easily result in personal neglect of both body
and spirit. Such people are too busy taking care of their
surrounding world. Most dancers take pride in their
kinesthetic intelligence and in the sensational pathways in
which movement flows within and around their bodies. Like
performers or athletes who listen to the wisdom of their
aching bodies when they beg for rest, dance administrators
also need to acknowledge the stress and pressure of their
jobs. These ongoing demands take a toll physically, mentally,
emotionally, and spiritually on work performance and
activities of daily life.
In teaching
dance, we use the word “centered” to find that perfect harmony
among alignment, posture, and placement. It is a feeling of
being at home with movement that allows us to shift gears, to
go off-center and then back to center (home), allowing
confidence and ease of movement. It’s a term that applies just
as well to our mental state. Behavioral psychologists, courses
in basic psychology, or spiritual advisors or pastors warn us
against trying to be perfect, stressing the importance of
allowing the meaningful values in our lives to lead us to a
more centered condition.
To make these
changes, we must be responsible and create a balance between
hard work and constructive living. Following the perfect
recipe for balanced living is virtually impossible, but I have
keyed in on some primary ingredients that have aided my
journey as an artist/educator/administrator. The list includes
many variables; mix and blend them to prevent burnout and gain
awareness in the fight against this ailment of spirit and
creativity.
1
Learn to prioritize at work and in your personal life.
Make time
for yourself by knowing where to direct your energy, and when
to conserve it. Your dance training provides you with a keen
kinesthetic intelligence, so listen to your body and try to be
kind to yourself.
2
Learn
to delegate and not to micromanage.
Be open to
other opinions, and try not to be the sole problem solver.
Network with people who have influence and vision to assist
you in making your program the best it can be.
3
Learn to plan
ahead.
Pace yourself
and know where you are with both short- and long-range goals.
This also means that sometimes you will have to say no when
demands outside the realm of your work and personal life come
into play.
4
Learn
through other resources.
Today the
market is saturated with self-help and self-discovery books to
assist us in our self-nurturing and balanced-life journey.
Choose one that fits your situation.
5
Learn
to question yourself.
Periodically,
take a personal inventory and ask yourself: “What is important
to me in my workplace and in my home setting? What value do I
place on the professional and personal aspects of my life?
What are my strengths and weaknesses?
6
Learn
to embrace humor and fun in both the workplace and in your
personal life.
Humor and fun
are excellent remedies for the stress caused by interpersonal
relationships or unexpected life events.
I enjoy the
many challenges of administrative work as well as the rewards
of its productivity; it has allowed me to make differences in
the University at Buffalo’s dance program. At the same time I
have discovered a new love for the magic of teaching and the
creative process of choreography. At work, the studio has
become my escape from the intensity of administrative work; in
my personal life, I surround myself with supportive friends
and loved ones. This combination helps me to keep a balanced
and centered perspective, which serves as an antidote against
those forces that threaten both the spirit and creativity of
the artist/educator.
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