Our Christmas dinner (on 24th evening - the first of three). Audrey, Suresh, Russell, Roger, Irene, Jerri, Me, Keith
…goes to John O’Brien. I could never pinpoint why John’s classes, and the experience of working with him was quite so different to every other teacher. Then one day, he happened to say in passing, ‘my attitude to class is, this thing [meaning music, dance, teaching, art & so on] is bigger than all of us.’
And there was my answer. If your philosophy is that everyone in the room, including the teacher, is involved in something greater than the individual talents, personalities, opinions, abilities, rank, age, experience and so on, then it’s all so much easier, and liberating.
Happy christmas.
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Tags: Advent 2008
Just thought I’d google John O’Brien and I got your site. What wonderful and true things you say about him. What a wonderful teacher he was to me. I first entered his professional ballet class at 15, back in 1970 (gulp) and he has been the love of my life ever since. The things he taught me, about ballet, about life, about myself, simply by being in his classes, have stayed with me always and buoyed me through many extrememly difficult times. I think of him evey day in one way or another and even if I never move another muscle in my life, I will always remain a dancer in my soul because of Johnnie. If you are still in touch with him, do tell him.