The Practice, Vol. 1: How Your Favorite Creatives, Makers, & Scientists Live Out Their Art
For our first interview, we have ballerina and artist Kira (@Kiraelon) at the Dance Theatre of Harlem on the practices that nourish her, her daily routines, and her inspirations.
My original username and the title of this Substack started as a reminder to me: If you ever want to make good art, you need to get very okay with making a lot of bad art, most days. It was a guiding light for me, and has unfolded into what I share over the years.
It’s important that people get to understand and see how meaningful work comes into being, both at the start, as well as in tending to it day to day. We live in a product-focused culture, and because of that, many of us and those who follow us don’t always know how to make sense of the hilarious, anxiety-provoking, growing day-to-day process that is required of most meaningful work. When our culture tells us there is no growing process, and that if there is no product it is useless, we end up with the idea that if we can’t immediately do something, we will never be able to do it or enjoy the work at all. From my experience, and that of many creatives and scientists, this is not true (if you’re familiar with the idea of a “growth mindset” or just learning theory generally, you know this).
Because I have this platform, and because I am endlessly interested in the daily stuff that makes beauty and goodness happen, a series was born. In The Practice, we follow along the categories of daily habits and mindsets that make meaningful work possible and sustainable. The title was inspired by the piece by the same title by the physician and poet, William Carlos Williams.
“The poem springs from the half-spoken words of such patients as the physician sees from day to day. He observes it in the peculiar, actual conformations in which its life is hid. Humbly he presents himself before it and by long practice he strives as best he can to interpret the manner of its speech. In that the secret lies.This, in the end, comes perhaps to be the occupation of the physician after a lifetime of careful listening.”
I’ve specifically chosen people for this who I believe have something to offer to those, young or old, interested in making their work work. As a clinician and in my writing in the last few years, I’ve had the incredible gift of feeling a vibrant connection to my work and my value of creating space and beauty in the world. In the current economic climate and after the pushing of STEM/AI for the past decade, my hope for this series to create a space that shows what it’s like to be a person practicing creativity in their daily endeavors, across fields. With each creator, we set a week to work on their interview together, and I edit them for clarity, confirm the draft with the creator, and use pictures they include related to the prompts.
Also Inspired By:
Work It: An Allure video series
Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey
For our first feature of this series, it is a delight to present to you all daily practice of life as a ballerina. This creative is living out what many young girls hope they might be when they grow up, and the work and wonders of it are clear in what she shares online.
Kira Robinson is a company artist at the Dance Theatre of Harlem, and her comment section on TikTok speaks to the joy and beauty of representation, with one top comment stating, “Showing this to my baby she didn’t believe there were ballerinas that look like her.” In our first interview of the series, Kira takes us into the mundane and the meaningful aspects of her life as an artist.
Describe your work how someone from the outside would describe what you do. Then, describe your work and how you see what you do.
From the outside I think people would describe my work as a professional dancer as hard but fun! I think they would describe it as lots of rehearsals, traveling, and performances. I would describe my work as both hard and fun. It’s incredibly challenging, but that challenge is what keeps me coming back. What gets me through the hardest days is the reward of seeing or feeling my hard work pay off. Ultimately, my work is a balance of artistry and athleticism—the beauty lies in blending the two to make dance look effortless.
Describe your most important ritual or routine of rising, or lack of ritual. Are you a coffee person? Do you scroll, or journal, or both? Is there a place you sit each morning with your breakfast? Get specific.
Coffee immediately. After I make my coffee, I crawl back into bed to rot for a bit–usually scrolling through Instagram or TikTok before actually starting my day or I'll go back to sleep LOL. I’m also guilty of setting my alarm earlier than necessary just so I can hit snooze a few times—it’s a process. After my morning scroll, I read my daily devotion, do my skincare, and get ready for the day. Breakfast usually happens right before I head out the door! As for journaling, I save that for nighttime—it’s my way of wrapping up the day with a sense of gratitude.
How do you start your work? Is there a space you go to, a background album or soundtrack, a lab coat, a place that starts you? How do you get yourself to begin your practice of your work each day.
My day truly starts with my devotion—it helps me get into a headspace of gratitude and thankfulness for the ability to do what I love, even when my body is screaming at me. On my walk to work, I listen to music that either boosts my mood or gets me hype for the day, and I feel like all of that energy flows into my work. Once I’m in the studio, I take time to stretch, roll out, and recenter myself—sometimes in silence, sometimes with my music still playing. It’s all about setting the right tone for the day ahead.
Is there a point in your work day or week where you feel most in flow, or the least distracted? What does it feel like for you when your work feels good?
I feel most in flow after a day or two off because my body, mind, and especially my soul start to miss it. That time away makes me more present and eager to move again. I’m least distracted when I’m well-rested, not stressed, and properly fueled—otherwise, it’s way too easy to lose focus. When my work feels good, it’s like everything clicks—my body feels strong and open, my mind is clear, and I can just exist in the movement. It’s a feeling of freedom, like I’m fully present and connected to what I’m doing/ the space around me.
Reverie: Where do you experience boredom, daydreaming, or slowing down in your day? How do you create enough space for ideas to strike?
I rarely experience boredom or daydreaming because dance is so go-go-go—if you’re not in the moment, you’ll miss the step! But occasionally, near the end of a long day, I’ll catch myself drifting a bit—but even that is rare. I make space for slower moments and ideas after my dance day is over or in between fives [breaks]. That’s when I can reflect, reset, and let my mind wander without the pressure of keeping up with choreography.
Beauty: Tell us your one non-negotiable OR favorite part of getting dressed/ready/hygiene for the day.
Lip gloss is my must-have. I always put it on before I head out, and I can’t help but reapply it in between fives. It’s my little pick-me-up and adds that extra touch to my day!
Recipe: Tell us your beverage and lunch of choice during your work day.
For my beverage, it’s always iced coffee. Sometimes if there's a long rehearsal day I'll get another one for an extra pick me up. As for lunch, I’ll usually head to the deli across the street from the studios but if I brought lunch it's usually something from Trader Joes!
Exercise: How does movement factor into your life? Do you see a relationship between exercise, moving your body, and the creative work or ability to sustain that work?
Movement is at the core of my life. As a dancer, moving my body is both my job and my passion. I see a direct relationship between exercise and my creative work. Staying physically strong and conditioned allows me to push through long rehearsals, take on new choreography, and perform at my best. Without a solid foundation, my creativity wouldn’t flow as freely, and I wouldn’t have the stamina to sustain the work. My physical practice basically supports everything I do artistically.
Connection: Tell us about your role models, or describe the type of person who inspires you to keep growing in your work.
I inspire myself by seeing my own growth—it’s a constant reminder of how far I’ve come and pushes me to keep going. I’m also deeply inspired by everyone I dance with. Many of them were role models for me growing up, especially since I didn’t see a lot of Black and Brown ballerinas. Now, I get to dance alongside them, and that experience is incredibly empowering.The ones who not only excel in their craft but also remain humble and grounded, no matter how successful they become, are the most inspiring to me. Their hard work, fire, and drive that I see every day in the studio push me to never settle for less and to always strive for greatness.
Tell us about a habit or ritual you really, really tried to like, but that simply does not work for you.
Speaking of the morning journaling—I could not get into it! People always talk about how great it is for clearing your mind and setting the tone for the day. But for me, it just makes me stressed and feel like I don't have enough time to hash out everything I'm thinking. This is why I prefer to end my day with writing down my thoughts!
What advice would you give 16-year-old you about your day to day creative work? What advice do you think 96-year-old-you might give you about your work?
If I could give 16-year-old me advice, I’d tell her to work as hard as you can every single day and to never be afraid to shine. Don’t hold back, and trust that your efforts will pay off, even if it takes time. As for 96-year-old me, I think she'd be proud. I think she would remind me to take care of my mind and body and to never forget to appreciate every step of the journey.
Who is the coolest creator/inventor/scientist you think more people should know about?
I would say Arthur Mitchell! While he’s not traditionally seen as an inventor or scientist, his contributions to the arts are groundbreaking. As the first African American principal dancer at the New York City Ballet and the founder of Dance Theatre of Harlem, he revolutionized the dance world, creating a space for dancers of color to thrive in ballet. His work broke racial barriers in the arts and I'm incredibly honored to continue his legacy by being a part of the company today.
Thank you so much to Kira for her willingness to do this interview, and her lovely insights into how she lives a day to day life of artistry.You can follow and find out more about Kira’s work on her TikTok & Instagram, which I highly recommend!
I am so excited to finally launch this series, and can’t wait to share our upcoming creatives, makers, and scientists who live out big dreams.
Thanks, as always, for your attention.
Margaret of Bad Art Every Day