Hannah Emerson on Viewing Performances in New York City

I did not grow up in an environment fostering even close to the same amount of support for the arts as New York City. I am truly grateful for the ability to experience an unfamiliar variety of dance, theatre, music, film, and everything thing in between. The variety, a bit overwhelming at first, I now appreciate. Slowly, I watched my personal artistic taste expand from the initial, tunnel vision confinement of what dance is supposed to be, to now seeing just how full the field of a motley collection of performances really is.

I can not honestly state I enjoy every performance I see. Unlike my previous belief of an obligation to do so, I’ve decided it’s okay not to. Recently, when going to dance performances, instead of deciding I dislike what I’m experiencing and leaving it at that, I start to question. What it is about this work that’s making me respond in that way? Is it the structure of the choreography, the musical choice, the theatrical elements, my responsive feeling of discomfort or anger? In the process of uncovering the ruling component of my opinion, I discover how, after accepting my preference for what it is, it is possible to continue watching with the same sincere curiosity as I had before the show began. The fact of the matter is, if I turn myself off, and decide the performance is not for me, I become stale. I am no longer open to a new experience. Why would I refuse myself such an occasion when I can continue watching with hungry eyes? I know I will find at least one element of the work I appreciate, ultimately learning something new every time.

Even though a performance might not be my favorite flavor, I never leave feeling uninspired. Seeing the work of others is encouraging; yet, being surrounded by sheer brilliance and constant creativity can also be intimidating. Being new to the New York arts scene, I find it’s simple to immediately doubt myself, doubt my ability to be successful in a place that seems as if it already has everything it needs. I know, in time, I will find my niche, because the wonderful thing about New York is how the diversity of the arts skips hand in hand with the diversity of the population. Just because I might not throughly enjoy tonight’s performance does not mean the audience member to my right will leave the theatre feeling the same way.