Music and dance imposed structure and conveyed her self image and message. Hardships became emotions expressed through dance. Dance built robust resilience, Doris Kearns Goodwin's "ability to sustain ambition in the face of frustration."
Art imitates life. It recalled Kevin Bacon's character Ren in Footloose.
Our play and coaching tell a story. The story reveals our dreams, purpose, and will. It illuminates character through teamwork...or selfishness. Like the great Sam Jackson, Copeland studies the period and characters in her performances to animate them through dance.
Basketball fosters freedom and constraints. Years ago, the local girls' high school team led by eight with fifty-five ticks left. They had sidelines out-of-bound possession near midcourt. ATO, the team inbounded the ball to a team captain who immediately jacked up a long three...and missed. Profound unawareness or extreme selfishness? Either way, the play disrespected teammates and the game. Not the story anyone should seek to tell.
Most thirteen year-olds have limited life experience. Expecting them to inject that experience into their play asks the unreasonable. Few can power their physical training and skill into statement play. Their adolescent struggle with identity and self-awareness reveals itself as indecision and inconsistency.
Copeland asserts the dancer as actress, technician, and athlete. With experience, players have the know that and know how to impose skill and will upon the game.
Years ago, I coached a team that 'turtled' in a game, pushed around and submissive. Afterwards, I scolded them, not for losing, but for their attitude. "Stand up for yourselves. How you play reflects how you live your life."
Six months later a player approached me, "that how you play is how you live stuff really got to me." She is a multi-sport varsity athlete now. Coaches never know what players hear. Artistry and attitude find a way. Use art to tell great stories.
Lagniappe: Build strength, balance, and flexibility into your training.
Lagniappe 2: The Daily ATO (at 11 seconds, "baseline drive - baseline drop"). Incorporate winning actions.
Lagniappe 3: "The key to success is WORK, WORK, WORK." - Abraham Lincoln
Double Bonus: "The losing army fights first, then seeks victory." - Sun Tzu
