Talent vs. Character

Why are we so enamored by talent? When we see someone who has an incredible voice or is an amazing dancer, we swoon over them. Our performance-driven society demands a lot out of us in order to be labeled as "special." In a meritocratic environment, our skill set distinguishes us from the next person. Maybe that's why talent is cherished so highly by the masses. But without character, talent is a flame that's easily extinguished. We're living in a media-drenched world that often oversees character in the pursuit of amazing talent. And that may be hurting our future generation of dancers.

Remember how performers got noticed before Youtube and the Interwebs? Talent scouts would pick out a talented artist at a live performance, a club, or the rare occasional demo. It was harder for dancers or musicians to get noticed than it is today. You could even say that it was frustrating to get your work seen. Now, we can go viral and anyone can become a star overnight. The latest Justin Bieber is waiting to be discovered. What does that do to the mind of a young, emerging artist? Is our technology creating a culture of instant gratification that pushes talented people into the spotlight before they have the maturity to handle all the professional challenges they'll face? Probably so. Like supernovas, these bright, young stars could blaze into existence very quickly and then disappear in a flash. This makes it even more competitive for aspiring artists to become famous because anyone can post a video online as long as they have a computer and an Internet connection.

This is dangerous for our youngest dancers who haven't experienced the world in any other way. To them, talent becomes the most important currency for their artistic survival. They'll think they need it. And that they must hold on to it in order to stay in the spotlight. But talent won't help them make the most important decisions that define a person's path. Only character does. It's the old familiar story that we hear in other stories. Athletics. Politics. Even academics. What we do and how we act is often motivated by forces within ourselves. We make decisions based on our character. And we reap the outcome.

Not enough of this dialogue is happening with our youngest generation of dancers. There's always talk about talent and skill level. But character is never discussed as a priority. Maybe that's because character is so much harder to refine and work on than talent. It's not as instantaneously gratifying. And it doesn't catch people's attention. Our youngest dancers need to know that our art form can be taken in many directions, including financial benefit if they choose. But they'll need character when their talent is no longer valued. It'll be their lifeline in their darkest moments.