Madrone Matysiak is 17. She is a dancer, performer, and artist. Madrone lives in Taos on the weekends and in Santa Fe in a dorm during the week, while attending New Mexico School for the Arts, a state-wide charter arts high school that has intensive academic and arts teaching.
She is planning to go to a summer dance intensive in Durham, North Carolina, American Dance Festival where hundreds of dancers come from around the world to participate for six weeks of rigorous dance six days a week. This is an opportunity for her to continue her technical training and increase her confidence as a dancer. To support Madrone’s efforts, go to her GO Fund Me Campaign.
Madrone tells us why she loves dance and how to try it yourself!
Why I love dance
There is always a moment right before the curtain goes up where I feel completely at peace, even if I was trembling with nerves the second before. The audience is perfectly silent in that moment where there is no movement right before the lights come up and the music starts. This moment is when I have the most fun, because everything is possible and I feel powered by this effect that I have on the people in the audience. Something that I also love is when someone who I have never seen in my life congratulates me on the performance that I gave. It assures me that dance is really the sport that I want to do for the rest of my life. Dance is an integral part of human life; we use it to express what words cannot and there is no greater feeling than putting all of yourself into movement. While dance used to be purely about aesthetics, performance, and the perfection of a dancer, the paradigm is shifting to allow more expression and a sense of freedom.
Accomplishments and personal bests
My freshman year, I was given a solo by the chair of the dance department. This was my first year of dancing modern so it helped me to feel like I had a productive year. I once was able to perform for New Mexico State Legislature in the Roundhouse, so that my school could receive more funding for the arts programs. It is also an extremely good feeling whenever a teacher tells me that I had a good class, because it makes me feel appreciated in the department and that I was seen in the class.
How to get started
In Taos, contact Amber Vasquez at Taos Youth Ballet and ask her what classes to take. Amber was the teacher who inspired me even more to dance and apply for New Mexico School for the Arts. She is one of the many people who have supported me and lifted me up to where I am now. Take as many classes as you can, in as many different forms as possible, ballet, modern, jazz etc.
Besides taking classes, try not to only think about what you are doing is pretty. Some of the best art is born out of discomfort and truth. Ballet and dance studios come with mirrors and they can be your best tool for perfecting the line and look of ballet and modern.
Overcoming fears
Even the best of us get stage fright and it is perfectly normal to feel the pressure of being on stage but be confident in yourself and your art and everything will go perfectly.
Just take deep breaths. Sometimes, even, the adrenaline rush can give you the boost you need to do well while performing. One fear may be of getting injured, of which I have gone through plenty. If you feel pain, sit down and ice, it is much more important to give yourself a break now than to keep working and possibly make the injury worse.
Advice to girls and women who are interested in this sport
Take in as much of dance as you can—watch videos and performances and pay attention to the way that dancers move. This will also help you find the style of dance that you enjoy and like the look of. Also, dive into the movement when you are in class; let the movement take over and you’re just the vessel.
Basic equipment/clothing to get started
If you want to try ballet, make sure to have a simple black leotard, light pink tights, and ballet shoes so that the teacher can see your body and make adjustments that will prevent injury. Pointe shoes tend to be expensive ($60-$100) but are not needed until your teacher allows you to use them because they require certain muscles and the ability to “pull up out of the shoes.” Every dance form has its own uniform, but they all usually require a leotard. Invest in one that looks good and makes you feel good and it will be a lifesaver!