3 Ted Talks To Inspire Every Ballroom Dancer
The Transformative Power of Classical Music
This Ted Talk is perfect for:
- A day when you want to feel inspired
- An incredible viewpoint on the power of music and teaching
- New Students who are feeling lost in the process of learning
Why We Think This is Cool
There are plenty of passionate people in the world, but there's something so fulfilling about listening to a passionate teacher. Why? Because they are passionate about inspiring others - making them better than they thought they could become, and doing it in a way that puts a smile on everyone's face.
Benjamin Zander embodies this completely.
You don't need to be a trained musician to see how he conveys his passion for music, and teaching.
From the Master, John Wooden
This Ted Talk is perfect for:
- Any dancer who is a bit of a perfectionist
- The moment that you feel down about your dance results
- Anyone preparing for a competitive dance event
Why We Think This Is Cool
Despite his unprecedented level of success as a college basketball coach, John Wooden has a teaching motor that runs on sustainable, unyielding energy. From the Ted Conference in Monterey in 2001, John shares his talk on The Difference Between Winning and Succeeding. There will come a point when you miss a step, an opportunity, or a call back, but we hope that the words of Coach Wooden ring in your ear.
"Never try to be better than someone else, always learn from others, and never cease trying to be the best you can be..." - John Wooden
Bobby McFerrin Plays The Audience
This Ted Talk is Perfect for:
- Anyone with a pulse and oxygen in their lungs
- Understanding the power of music as a universal expression
- People who have ever scoffed at the song "Don't Worry, Be Happy"
Why We Think This Is Cool
First off - Bobby McFerrin is conducting this experiment at a conference where he is sitting on a panel with neuroscientists! Yep, neuroscientists! As a dancer, you understand the powerful physical and mental benefits of this activity. You understand how this has improved your life, and McFerrin demonstrates how powerful music is, not only to the neuropathways throughout the brain, but as a universal form of communication. Not taking away from anyone on that panel, but McFerrin was a living, breathing, and singing PowerPoint presentation. His facts, research, and anecdotes were all done by creating an experience that the audience was not observing, but, instead, were living.
Final Thought
Results are interesting. We can win a contest, the Powerball, or an award for perfect attendance, but that can be empty without personal growth. Sure, we are ballroom dancers, obsessed with an activity that few people will ever having the pleasure of knowing, and yet it still boils down to that basic need for all living creatures:
Growth.
Did these talks help you grow today?
