Dancing...with courage.

May 16, 2013 at 1:52 AM

Walking onstage to play Brahms concerto in front of a full auditorium? Replacing a soloist on a recital series on one day's notice? Having a string break in concert? All sound nightmarish--and indeed, the above are the subject of my nightmares. Having endured each, I thought I had been through it all. Enter this month's dance competition...and a concert horror doesn't register on the Richter scale.

Earlier in May, I danced in a charity competition called "Dancing With The Celebrities of Pittsburgh", a regional spinoff of the ABC hit show "Dancing With The Stars". Each week this spring, I performed a different concerto, recital program, or chamber music - and each paled next to preparing a 3 minute "Paso Doble" routine: a traditional Spanish Toreador (bullfighter) double step. When I met my partner, Sandra, things weren't looking good. My busy tour schedule, possessing two left feet, and the difficulty of the routine paralyzed me with fear during each of the rehearsals. I don't have stage fright when it comes to the Franck sonata or Tchaikovsky concerto, but a myriad of fears consumed me: will I look goofy? Will I let Sandra down? Could a dancing injury sideline my concerts? Fast forward to May. Several grueling rehearsals, a spray tan, and one paisley vest later, it was time for the competition. Faced with opening the competition (a position I dreaded), I commenced the routine with a bit of Hubay's "Carmen Fantasie", and then settled into the Zorro-type rhythms. After the exciting choreography, and overwhelmed with gratitude for the beautiful Sandra, I realized I had run towards something that had once terrified me...and didn't fall flat on my face. Who knows - maybe the routine could one day be on the ABC network...but besides that pipe dream, I have a feeling of accomplishment - a feeling that is remarkably different from preparing a concerto.

On a different note, the 12/13 concert season is winding down, and I'm looking forward to this summer's plans. Concerts this spring in Mississippi, New York City, DC, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, St. Maarten, San Jose, Los Angeles, and others give way to summer festival in PA (The Renova Festival), the Fairbanks Music Festival, the Lakes Area Chamber Music Festival, trips to Chicago and northern Ontario, and perhaps a couple of surprises. On an eclectic note, the new-age CD that I recorded with Sean Dockery (Oprah Winfrey Network music producer) will be available on amazon.com and iTunes by June 1st. Exciting!

Stay cool, attend local symphony concerts this summer, and don't forget to practice!

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Dancing...with courage.

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