The author describes dancers as a very athletic breed of people, yet I know many people in the dance community as well as theatre community that do not seem to be as athletic as one might think they would need to be in order to be a great dancer. So, I guess my questions are:

1. Does an athletic body really mean toned muscles and a nice extension, or can it really be referring to an energetic state of mind that all dancers must be in in order to achieve greatness?

2. “Excess energy is necessary only for playing a specific character…” Why does the author think this? Shouldn’t a dancer be putting 110% in at all times, yet look like it is effortless?