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I was watching Michael Jackson the other night on an old VHS tape. I've always enjoyed Michael Jackson's originality and his music. I've often thought of him as a musical magician. One of the striking things I learned from a re-watching of this video was that his moonwalk became popular in the year I was born. I know no one who can do the Moonwalk the way he can. It appears he has been through much, and the media sure likes to make him out to be the bad guy.

One of his most successful videos was Remember The Time. I love that video. I wish he was able to make more videos like this one. "DO YOU REMEMBER, GIRL!?!? WHAT ABOUT US, GIRL!?!?!" The passion and spirit in that part of the song is inspiring.

As far as dance education is concerned, I believe one can train oneself by watching videos or live performances of dancers. Not much else is required in my view. It helps to have someone else with you, but all education can be self-training. The greatest men in history were self-taught and self-trained. To be able to find originality by listening to others' styles of music, to be able to create one's own dance style is the mark of a professional. Look at Gene Kelley in Singing in the Rain, and Donald O'Connor. Look at the dancers in Harry Harris' Alice in Wonderland, or the dancers in Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker and Prokofiev's Ballet "Romeo and Juliet". Anyone can learn much from all of these "shows". Watch Chicago, and the dancers on Puff Daddy's "It's All About the Benjamins" (youtube). Find a style you like and learn from it. Then develop your own.

Confidence is bred over time. Confidence in any field takes time and persistence. Habits are formed through repetition. Self-discipline is a life-long endeavour. Some say it takes six weeks to develop an ingrained habit. If you can train yourself in good-habits and develop self-discipline through self-training, I imagine you can find tremendous confidence in yourself.

Remember, 99% of anything is crap. Go for the things that are timeless, things that have been tested and stood the test of time. You can't go wrong there.

Learn more about this author, Imants Teobalds.
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