Quotes I Love: Shane Wuerthner
“And then it happened. A defining moment. The choreographer, an icon in his own right, chose to speak directly to the principal ballerina: “When you step in the arabesque, do it because you choose to do the arabesque, not because it is the choreography. You must make the movement your own. It must come from within you—or it will not be believable.”
—Shane Wuerthner
Okay, this is more of a quote within a quote, but I’m grateful to Shane for sharing this on Instagram a while back. It encapsulates something very fundamental about art and authenticity.
We can know how to do a thing. We can get very, very good at doing it with precision and polish. It is something else altogether to let that thing emanate from your soul. That’s where artistry thrives—in the moment you transition from execution to emotion in the movement.
For me, it is easy to go down the rabbit hole of the math and science of photography. But photography isn’t about getting the light perfect. It is about telling a story. But, the more we practice the technique, the deeper it settles into our muscle memory, and it frees our brain to live in the realm of creativity and emotion.
We are all on a journey that begins with technique. Depending on where we are on our journey, we may focus more on the world of technique, and at other times, more on the world of emotion. They’re reflections of one another. That’s what I love about Shane’s story: the idea that the arabesque becomes much more than something you do, it becomes how you speak.
My hope for your creative dance retreat is that you find that space where you can pause, breathe, and truly dance—a place where we can hear your heart speak.
I’m grateful Shane shared this moment publicly—it’s one of many thoughtful reflections he offers. You can find more of his insights on artistry and training on Instagram at @athletistry.