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“It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.”

-Lou Holtz

My advice to you: Keep Going.

No matter how hard the task may seem or how far off from your goals you are, keep going. You are so much stronger than you think. Dance can be one of the most uncertain and stressful jobs imaginable. Just like any art form, dance is constantly evolving and changing. Thus, the demands and expectations placed on us are constantly changing as well. Sometimes it feels like we just have far too much on our plate to even begin. These unhealthy levels of stress can be paralyzing. I promise you are not in this alone; I feel you. That’s why I’m here to share with you five of the most helpful tricks I’ve discovered for dealing with stress as both a professional dancer and a recent college graduate.

Number 1: Find a Hobby Aside From Dance That You Enjoy.

For many dancers, class or rehearsal serves as a safe space, a place where you can forget about the rest of the world and just move freely. However, occasionally, it’s this environment that is also our main stressor. When I am not in the studio, I like to get outdoors and get some good old vitamin D. It has been scientifically proven that exposure to sunlight reduces depression and anxiety. Go for a walk! Find a cute outdoor coffee shop! Ride a bike! Especially as we transition into summer, give yourself twenty minutes a day to enjoy some quality time outdoors.

Number 2: Journal Your Thoughts

I often have a hard time expressing how I’m feeling. I tend to bottle up my emotions and frustrations. Whenever I find myself overwhelmed, I whip out my journal and start writing. Write about what’s stressing you out or how current roadblocks in your creative journey are making you feel. During COVID-19, I got a book off Amazon called “Burn After Writing”. It has a bunch of helpful, open-ended writing prompts to fuel your mind. It’s been three years, and I still fill out a prompt a day!

Number 3: Take a Drop-In Dance Class in Your Favorite Style

When I am feeling unmotivated or overwhelmed, one of my favorite things to do is take a class in my favorite style of dance. Find a favorite teacher, sign up for a class, and let all of that pent-up emotion out through a combo. As a contemporary mover, I love a nice feel-good combo. I have several teachers that I regularly go take class from whenever I need a mental reset.

Number 4: Set Up Easy, Healthy Habits

It may sound stupid but set yourself up for success with a healthy sleep schedule. Adults who sleep fewer than eight hours a night report higher stress levels. Trust me, I know this can be hard for students drowning in homework and rehearsals. But on your days where you carry a lighter load, try to set up a healthy sleep schedule. Make your bed in the morning and tidy up your space. It is so much easier to start a productive day when your space is in order, and you have a full eight hours under your belt.

Number 5: Just Keep Going!

Whatever stressors life throws at you, just trust the process, and know that it will all work out the way it is supposed to. Everyone’s journey in the dance world is different. Your growth and experiences are just as valuable as the person standing next to you. Don’t give up on yourself. You are so much stronger than you think. My father told me this quote a while back; I still use it every time the stress or anxiety becomes too much to bear. “Next time you think the words ‘I can’t’ I want you to replace those thoughts with ‘I’m not willing to, or I currently don’t possess the skills or knowledge to’”. There is no power in “I can’t,”. Keep pushing to be a better version of yourself each and every day. I promise, if you put in the work, you will accomplish all of your goals and that stress on your shoulders will dissipate. Everything happens for a reason!!

If high school or college has passed, and you have found your place in the dance world that does not mean the stress of the profession goes away. Set yourself up for success now by setting up relaxing, healthy habits that work for you and your goals. Keep your head high, and remember that everyone around you has felt this way at one point. You’ve got this!

Missed out on the last few ProTips? No worries! Look back on past ProTips at anytime here!

Morgan Pinkham (she/her), graduated magna cum laude in April 2023 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Oakland University. While attending OU, Morgan had the privilege of performing works by Greg Patterson, Christina Tasco, Stephanie Pizzo, Ali Woerner, Thayer Jonutz, Liz Riga, Theresa Muller, Mary Murphy, Bailey Allshouse, Craig Miller, Shannon Gillen and Russell Tanenbaum. Throughout undergrad, she also worked as an intern for Brighton Dance Festival, Art Lab J, and Detroit City Dance Festival. Morgan just wrapped up Season 32 with Eisenhower Dance Detroit as a student apprentice where she had the opportunity to perform works by former Ailey dancer Hope Boykin, EDD Artistic Director Stephanie Pizzo, and founding Artistic Director Laurie Eisenhower. She also performed in a collaborative concert with the Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings. This past season Morgan also served as a teaching artist for the School of Eisenhower Dance Detroit. She also worked as a student apprentice with Take Root for the company’s 2021-2022 season. Just this past month, Ms. Pinkham had the opportunity to present her choreography at Ufer_Studios in Berlin, Germany.