Artist's Pledge

Every once and a while I get myself into a funk. I forget why I chose the career of an artist, and I get upset when i'm not working constantly, when I make a mistake in rehearsals, and when I feel uninspired. The truth is, this happens to everyone working in the arts and I KNOW I am not alone. 

Today I spent some time online looking for some inspiration and motivation to do something creative with my free time, whether it be dance related or not. I was lucky enough to stumble upon this wonderful artist's pledge and it really lifted my spirits. I can't tell you who wrote it but if you know, please pass along the info. 

It's exactly what I needed to read and I hope you find something wonderful in these words as well. 

I hereby do solemnly swear,

To approach each day with curiosity

To pay attention to the world around me,

To be brave and courageous,

Silly and embarrassed,

Thoughtful and enthusiastic.

I vow to take chances and to stretch my limits

In the knowledge that there are

No mistakes,

Just bad follow-through's

I acknowledge the need to abandon my ego

In the service of art

And in the spirit of ensemble

And generosity.

To better understand the nature of my materials,

I promise to experiment

With light, line, sound, gravity, language

And bit ideas.

I promise to think, feel, move, breath,

Experience and understand.

I vow to dream,to imagine, and to enact

I vow to treat myself and every other

Inhabitant of earth,

With compassion, kindness, and respect.

I vow to live fully every moment I am alive,

And to put something beautiful in the world

That wasn't there before

In order that I may help to put a grin

On the face of the future.

Artists that inspire me. Who inspires you?

Bobby McFerrin

Gene Kelly

Sylvie Guillem