Dance 'goal setting' with Mahallia Ward

Why do you need to set goals?

There are wonderful stretches of time when being a dancer truly feels like the dream. Working on a challenging ballet is one of many experiences that fills us with inspiration.

When the work is fulfilling, it is easy to push- it feels good to be tired. But there comes a time, many times, over the course of our careers, when we feel stuck.

All dancers experience the frustration that comes with being overlooked in casting, sustaining an injury, or dealing with company politics. At these times, we are especially susceptible to negativity and must be diligent in maintaining a positive outlook.

The key to continual growth.
Instead of dwelling on the “why’s" and the "what if’s”, try to see a slow spell as an opportunity to self-motivate. Practice finding inspiration within, and focus on areas that need improvement.

Good old fashioned goal-setting is one of the best ways to gain perspective, take charge of your career, and continue to grow.

Here are a few tips and tricks:

1. Start with the end in mind.

Choose something you want to improve or accomplish. Then, work backwards. Break your goals down into maneagable steps. What must you do monthly, weekly, and daily, to achieve your goal?

2. Map it out.

On a calendar, map out the steps you will take towards accomplishing each goal. I like to keep everything colour coded. Dance related goals are in blue, family related in yellow, personal in green. Checking them off also reminds me of my accomplishments on days when I feel down or discouraged. In the highly subjective world of ballet, it can be comforting to have a plan to stick by.

3. Be realistic.

By all means dream big, but be honest with yourself about the amount of work you need to do to get there, and the amount of work you want to do. Adjust your plan so that what you need and want to do align. This may mean giving yourself more time to work towards a goal, or breaking things down into even smaller steps. It is important that your plan is sustainable.

4. Follow through!

Once you make your plan, stick to it. Treat your commitments to yourself with respect. Every time you follow through with a goal, you will strengthen your foundation of self-trust and confidence.*

*That being said, if you do fall off, just jump back on! The whole point of setting goals is to take the stress and guesswork out of reaching your dreams. So there’s really no use in beating yourself up. Remember that goal setting, in and of itself, is a skill that requires practice."

If you have your own bits of advice, please add them in the comments!

All photo credit goes to Cheryl Mann w/ Joffrey Ballet