Challenge 328 Response

Through the Looking Glasses

by Jan Hamlett

The author responds to a question in Challenge 328:

It is possible that the dancers have advanced to this point out of sheer passion for their art. They live to dance and thus, in spite of their astonishing lack of realistic self-vision, have continued to strive for perfection. Perhaps others have encouraged them along the way, giving them moments of clarity when they could catch brief glimpses of possibilities, thankfully.

Sadly, all too often, those with only mediocre talent and abundant confidence succeed instead of those with abundant talent and limited confidence.

Copyright © 2009 by Jan Hamlett

Thank you for accepting the “Challenge,” Jan. Few authors or readers are up to it. A recent discussion on another subject has made this and the previous issue a real treat.

I’m sure readers will agree with you that talent and confidence do not always go together. Of course we intuitively expect a positive correlation: performance will show whether someone has natural ability and training in an art or sport. And we expect that the performers will be able to see those results objectively in some way.

“Through the Looking Glasses” opens a question, which you imply here. The students in the story appear to have mid- or high-intermediate proficiency in ballet, although they’re not yet professionals. In view of the time and effort they have already put into the art and in view of their instructor’s support, why would they have such a disastrous self-image? Any answer would open the door to “larger stories,” probably involving external forces.

A rigorous self-assessment is to be expected from performers at a high-novice or low-intermediate level; they have to decide whether they want to pursue a career in ballet or any other art, or in a sport, or in a profession, for that matter. The dance students in “Through the Looking Glasses” seem to be past that stage; they’re too advanced to be getting cold feet now.

Keep up the good work, Jan.

Don