How many of you watch the show, So You Think You Can Dance? Well, I have a confession to make – me too. It wasn’t always like this. While my wife and daughter watched the show, I would just glance at it as I passed through the family room on my way to the ice-cream in the freezer. Then, one summer night last year, they told me “I just had to see one of the dancers because he was amazing.” So, I sat down to watch this one dancer – and have not missed a show since. For those of you not familiar with the show, it is essentially a dance contest, and dancers of every genre and level of training audition in regional contests across the country for the opportunity to advance to the finals by the end of the season. Eventually, the top 20 dancers (10 men and 10 women) are identified and paired with each other to learn and perform new dances each week. Based on judge and audience / viewer voting, one girl and one boy leave the show each week until a final “best dancer” for the men and the women is identified. It’s like Survivor without the island and bad food.
What gets to me about this show – what moves me to the point of being choked up – is after each dance, the judges critique the dancer’s performance. The dancers come to the front of the stage, and each judge honestly, compassionately, genuinely comments on the dancer’s performance. Sometimes the honesty seems brutal – but it is always intended to make the dancers better.
Some of the dancers are professionally trained and have worked for years while others are street dancers without any formal training. Whether trained or not, all dancers reach a point of adversity; they hit a wall that’s higher than they have encountered. And I realize this point is what draws me to this show. These dancers put everything on the line; they take huge risks; and even facing honest critique, they keep trying until they are told they have to leave the show. And, they face the disappointment with grace. They don’t blame the judges, they don’t blame the conditions, they don’t blame their lack of training – they just dance, learn, and keep on trying. And at home in our living room, we root for all of them because they are trying their best in pursuit of something they love
So, what’s this have to do with me? With us? With school? I don’t dance…I struggle to walk down the hall carrying my laptop and Starbucks coffee. But for me, it’s this:
- Take risks – believe in yourself – don’t be afraid to try.
- Learn from honest feedback. Don’t blame falling short of your goal on the conditions. Just do your best, hear the constructive feedback, and try, try again.
- And finally, Support and encourage each other. We do this in many small and big ways each day. Tell each other good luck. Don’t deal in rumors. Seek to understand each other. Don’t let anyone sit alone at lunch. Simple acts that show we care for each other.
So, as you begin the school year, dance to the music you hear, find joy in the things you do, and when the judges give you feedback, listen, learn, and keep on dancing!
Cornerstone 