The Secret Sauce

The ingredients needed to become a Champion.

I’ve been struggling with writing this, as the last thing I want is to come across as snarky. I truly admire the amazing dancers out there today—there's so much talent in the world of dance.

That being said…

From time to time, friends of mine will share videos of competing professional couples, and my first thoughts usually go something like this:

Wow! What a striking couple! Stunning! Their technique, speed, and extensions blow me away!

Back when I was competing, on our best day, we couldn't possibly keep up—hands down, no doubt about it. The standard of dance has been raised to incredible heights.

And then… a song from A Chorus Line comes to mind. I hear it in my head:

"I feel the cold, I feel the snow…"

Alright, Kuka, what are you feeling?

And I answer back in my mind, "I’m feeling nothing…"

As beautiful and talented as these couples are, I often find myself not feeling much at all. I can walk away from watching their performance and not give it another thought—not always, but often enough for me to be writing this. I’m not alone in this feeling, either. Many of my fellow dancers have expressed the same thing.

So, how can this be? What’s the reason behind it?

The “why” behind this lack of emotion is because there seems to be a lack of connection between the two people who make up the partnership.

At times, the only emotion I feel is when they’re turned away from each other.

I was always taught that every dance has a distinct character, and it’s our job as dancers—artists—to connect with our partner and bring that character to life for the audience. But many couples don’t do this, and at times, I feel like they’re actively competing against their partner—competing for attention, instead of working together as one.

Imagine going to a play or a movie where the actor didn’t internalize their character or even acknowledge the other actors. You’d be left with the same emotional emptiness, and I’m sure you wouldn’t recommend it to others or go back to watch it again. Because we all want to feel something! We want to be moved by a performance.

It’s true that dancers are great athletes, but it’s just as true that we should be great artists as well.

Here’s how Webster’s dictionary defines art:

Art noun

1. The expression of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.

2. The various branches of creative activity, such as painting, music, literature, and dance.

Maybe this is the missing ingredient—the secret sauce that makes a true champion dancer: equal parts discipline, athleticism, and emotional artistry.

I can clearly see the athlete in the dancers today, but now it’s time to bring back the "moving artist." After all, dance is the liveliest of all the arts!

Instead of singing, "I feel nothing," perhaps they’ll start singing a different tune. Maybe “We are the champions”—different movie, I know, but you get the picture.

Maybe I’ve lived in Hollywood too long, but I believe being moved by your emotions is something we all crave. I’d personally love to see this emotional connection come back into style. It would take dance to a whole new level.

But, of course, this is just my humble opinion. I always speak from the heart.

Happy dancing to all!

Warmly,

Jaclyn K