"And now I will tell you about another one of strength's great secrets: rest. Whenever you feel weary, rest. And I speak not only of the weariness of the body, but also that of the soul. Because you want to become better, and better, and constantly better, without stopping, you work without pause, and toil without rest, and even when you're weary, and the joy of dancing leaves you, still you go on, and on, and on! In truth there comes a time when labour and effort are to no avail: and that time comes when you no longer take joy in labouring, for the fount of life and strength is dried up within you, and you don't live your dance any longer, but you only work the steps.
"Cease working when you are not inspired, for fear of becoming like a machine. These artistic factory workers know not what they do: endless mechanical toil avails in a factory, it will not avail in Art. Art is not a routine work: it can't be loveless, or it ceases to be Art. Dance is not technique; dance is joy of life, and you acquire technique only to better express joy of life. If your body is weary and your muscles are stiff, what joy can they express? And if your mind itself is weary, tired, how can it direct your body towards the full achievement and consummation of its power?
"I understand you: you are afraid, afraid at all times to lose your skill, afraid that one day will make a difference; you have learned that it does. But believe me, your body is not a machine; it is animated with all the power of Life, and training does not alone make its talent. And so you will profit a thousand times more from recharging your energy, than from using it up even more to repeat the same movements. I give you an example: your energy, your inner force of life is like a photographic plate, recording all the improvements you make and the work you do. If that force is dried up within you, your body doesn't retain the lessons of practicing.
"Therefore rest, rest, rest, whenever you need, whenever you can't go on: rest with pleasure, with enjoyment, and without fear ever. Keep alive the flame of joy kindled by your art, by movement within yourself, and you will never lose your skill, for it will be animated by Life itself."
-The Living Dancer
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