Written by Shanna Kirkpatrick, Chara Founder
12.15.2023
Opportunities for Inspiration
Last month, I took a week away from the studio to participate in a “bucket list” continuing education opportunity: a conference for business leaders at Ramsey Solutions in Nashville, Tennessee. The wow-factor—in both the learning and the environment—was huge!
Regular participation in learning events like this have become an important part of my ongoing personal and professional development. Similarly, other members of our Chara staff participate in continuing education opportunities to enhance their growth. As we work to serve the Chara dancers, musicians, and their families with excellence, we find that one of the benefits we receive from additional learning is walking away feeling INSPIRED. Inspiration can mean different things to different people but for me inspiration opens my mind to new possibilities.
Inspiration is a multifaceted concept that encompasses the stimulation of your mind and emotions to produce creative thought, motivation, or a burst of ideas. Motivation, though similar, is a force of influence that can prompt you to take action, pursue a particular course, or create something new. Inspiration can be a powerful tool in fostering motivation.
Inspiration can arise from various sources, including experiences (like my conference attendance at Ramsey Solutions!), nature, art, personal reflections, and other people, such as role models. The feeling of inspiration involves a heightened emotional and cognitive state that drives you to think innovatively, overcome challenges, and achieve goals. Inspiration has the power to fuel your creativity and promote positive change. Its influence is both broad and deep.
At Chara, I have seen inspiration serve our dancers well, sparking their own personal development in their art and in life. I love how our teaching staff believes in creating and cultivating inspirational moments for our students. I’ve seen those moments spring forth through a simple word of encouragement during a routine weekly dance class, or a high five or fist bump in the hallway between classes. One of my favorite inspirational moments to witness is when the younger Chara dancers watch “the big girls” through the studio viewing windows. What a precious sight to see!
I’ve also seen incredible inspiration happen at special events, where our students are pulled out of their comfort zones. Two recent events were full-to-the-brim with inspirational moments: Chara’s annual trip to Dallas to participate in the dance convention Dance Revolution, and our bi-annual studio travel trip, where this year we danced down Main Street at Walt Disney World! There is nothing quite like the inspiration uncovered in a completely new environment, where your dance skills and personal effort are in the spotlight in a novel way.
A closer-to-home inspirational opportunity awaits Chara dancers on January 5th, when we will be bringing in guest instructors from the University of Texas, Texas A&M (Whoop!), and Texas State University dance teams, as well as the dance program from the University of St. Thomas, as a part of our Winter Workshop. We can’t wait to show our students what’s possible for dancers beyond high school. Chara and non-Chara dancers ages 5 and up are invited to have fun and dance with us that day, finding new inspiration as we kick off the new year!
Inspirational opportunities are everywhere, and here at Chara, we’re proud to elevate more and more of them within our walls. Whether it comes from an encouraging teacher, a role model, a special event, or a new experience, inspiration serves to help us all discover more about ourselves and to imagine possibilities. What will be your next inspirational opportunity?
