Basketball for Dummies and Actors

Today I was reminded, yet again, of how valuable my high school basketball career is to my theatre life.

In "movement class" we worked out for an hour. We're talking cardio people! Had my life progressed differently, I probably would have run out of the room half-way through the grand-pliés, screaming "I'VE NEVER TAKEN BALLEEEEET!"

Actually, had my life progressed differently, I probably never would have come here in the first place! So hurray for older sisters who guilt-trip you into joining the team with them (hem hem, Mal)! Just kidding. It wasn't a guilt-trip...but she definitely pushed me.

And speaking of pushing, did I mention the workout I had today?? Alright, alright, you get the point. The thing is, at the end of class, I was so excited! The second hour was improvisation. I was not worn out, I was re-energized, and I couldn't wait for the next class.

This unprecedented rush of will-power lasted through my second class, (Adler Technique, more on that in later posts!), spurred me toward Central Park where I was on a mission to find Alice. She was not hard to find, not with happy children climbing all over, and the White Rabbit and Mad Hatter close at hand.

Now this statue has special meaning to me for two reasons:
1. In my mind, this is the sister sculpture to another very special statue. New York has Central Park, the home of Alice, and London has Kensington Gardens, the true home of Peter Pan. I love them both dearly.
2. One of my best friends who lived in New York for two years bade me ESPECIALLY to go say hello to Alice. So I have :)

In conclusion, let me share some ways basketball is the best training an actor can get:
-teaches selfless teamwork
(something most actors never get taught, but COULD land them a job!)

-requires self discipline both physically and mentally
(no brainer)

-forces you to become aware of your body, the space around you, and your teammates
(some of us actors have a natural inclination to not remember that we have feet)

-you have a clear objective, but there are multiple ways of getting there...and most of the time your best bet is the assist!
(objective is always present in an actor's training, and so are the many techniques available...but what we often miss out on, is the importance of making your scene partner/s look good...this in turn makes you look awesome!)

That's all folks.
-G to the H