What You'll Learn
- How to use performance as a tool for building self-confidence and personal empowerment.
- The importance of positive self-talk in overcoming mental barriers in ballet training.
- Integrating personal storytelling and individuality into your artistic movement.
- Strategies for celebrating personal progress and technical milestones at the barre.
About This Video
Refaela Gould’s performance at the 2024 International Adult Ballet Festival (IABF), titled “I Wanna Thank Me,” serves as a profound reminder of why we step up to the barre every day. Ballet is more than just perfecting a plié or achieving the perfect turnout; it is a mental and emotional journey that requires incredible resilience. In this video, Gould expresses a sentiment many adult dancers feel but rarely voice: gratitude toward oneself for the hard work, the discipline, and the refusal to give up.
At Broche Ballet, we believe that the technical side of dance—the crisp relevé and the graceful arabesque—is only half the battle. The other half is the internal dialogue. Gould’s performance highlights the importance of positive self-talk in an art form that often focuses on critique.
By saying “I wanna thank me,” she celebrates the individuality and strength required to navigate the world of dance as an adult. This piece encourages dancers to stop saying "I can’t" and instead recognize their progress. Whether you are working on your first pirouette or mastering complex pointe work, your journey deserves to be celebrated.
This motivational showcase at IABF 2024 is an invitation to all dancers to find their own voice. It reminds us that every time we finish a grueling session at the barre or successfully execute a difficult sauté, we should take a moment to acknowledge our own efforts. Refaela Gould’s artistry shows that when you believe in yourself, the world takes notice.
Let this performance inspire your next class at Broche Ballet as you continue to grow, both as a technician and as an empowered individual. Understanding that your journey is unique is key to longevity in dance. Often, we are our own toughest critics, focusing on a slightly off-balance passé or a missed timing in an assemblé.
Gould’s message shifts that focus. It’s about the 'wanna' and the 'can'—the desire to improve and the acknowledgment of how far you’ve come. For those of us in the adult ballet community, this message resonates deeply.
We juggle careers, families, and personal lives, yet we still find the time to point our toes and work on our alignment. This performance isn't just a dance; it's a manifesto for self-belief. It teaches us that to truly excel en pointe or at the center, we must first be our own biggest fans.
As you watch this video, consider your own milestones. Maybe it was the first time you felt truly stable in a dégagé or the moment you realized you finally understood the mechanics of a fondu. Each of these moments is a reason to say 'thank you' to yourself.
At Broche Ballet, we celebrate these victories alongside you, providing the technical foundation to match your inner strength.
