Savvy Women

I knew the moment I watched this CNN video that I’d have to blog it. It’s a story that resonates with me on many different levels.

First of all, Sibahle Tshibika, the video’s protagonist, has a very strong presence in the film despite being so soft-spoken. When I look at her, I see a deep-seated sadness (or world weariness) in her eyes, but, while watching her dance, I can’t help but feel that she’s learned to use her emotionality as a kind of fuel, one that will take her far in life (it has already carried her across a vast ocean) even if she doesn’t end up being a professional performer. Rosemary Ringer, the viewer who felt compelled to contact Atlanta Ballet after watching the HBO documentary, mentions, when discussing Tshibika’s early life, that our dancer grew up in impoverished surroundings. After taking a look at this very interesting site about the township where our aspirant was born and had her formative experiences, it’s easy to see that Ringer was perhaps being a bit generous in her assessment of the place.

As a student of the arts, I have often been fascinated by creative endeavors done by “outsiders,” meaning people who are not part of the cultural elite. These artists are often called “self-taught” and the work that they do is sometimes referred to as “naïve.” I would say that Sibahle falls into this category. I would also say that it would be a misnomer to call her (or her dancing) naïve, at least in the more pejorative sense of what that word can mean. (An aside: one of my favorite women “outsider” writers is Tillie Olsen, profiled here.)

Now, getting back to the CNN video. I found the message to be a powerful one: When one door closes, another one always opens. I have discovered this to be true in my own life. I can’t think of many times when I didn’t get a second chance at something after the first one came and went.

To use another metaphor, there really is truth to the old saying that every cloud has a silver lining.

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