“Criticism is easy, but art is difficult.”

Two days ago, I finished a long series of Giselle performances — twenty-six in total, including four in the demanding “pas de deux des vendangeurs” (pesant pas de deux). What stayed with me from this run is a phrase I first heard from my French host family when I arrived in France about fifteen years ago:

“La critique est facile, mais l’art est difficile.”
(Criticism is easy, but art is difficult)

It’s a simple sentence, but it holds so much truth, especially for artists.

As performing artists, we live in a constant dialogue with feedback. In ballet, this relationship starts from our very first ballet classes: we’re trained to listen, to obey, to absorb every correction in the pursuit of perfection. We learn to welcome criticism, even to seek it. Yet, as we grow, we also learn that not all criticism helps, and not all praise does either.

Negative or non-constructive feedback can sometimes hit hard, especially when we’ve worked relentlessly, made countless sacrifices, and felt we had truly “given it all.” But excessive praise can be just as dangerous. While it can build confidence, particularly for someone who doubts themselves, it can also create complacency. General compliments given over a long period don’t help a dancer improve; they only nurture ego, blur direction, and make the next critique emotionally harder to take.

Over the years, I’ve also learned something that isn’t taught in school: we must learn to choose which feedback to listen to. As students, we’re expected to follow every instruction. But as professionals (and as adults) we become responsible for filtering what truly helps us grow. Everyone has an opinion, and often they contradict each other. It’s impossible to please everyone, and certain advice, let’s be frank, just isn’t good.

The shift is from a passive to a proactive mindset. Instead of waiting for feedback to come to us, we can seek out the people and places that will offer thoughtful, constructive advice. That, too, is an art.

So these are my reflections after this long Giselle series. The way we handle feedback, both in art and in life, is itself a form of art, and it defines your progression. Ballet has taught me more about this than anything else. And I hope to apply those lessons to all my other paths as well.

Speaking of which, after Giselle, I have a few days off before rehearsals begin again for Notre-Dame de Paris (Roland Petit). I’m thinking a lot about my colleagues preparing for the Concours de Promotion in the next few days, and I’m so proud of them and wish them all the courage in the world for this challenge.

As for me, I’m using this short break to focus on building my own wealth management firm. After two and a half wonderful years working on PerformanceS by EMD, I’m now launching my own independent firm: Wing Patrimoine. I’m excited, motivated, and, once again, learning to manage feedback: this time not on stage, but in business.

Writing this during my Sunday morning walk, a habit I’ve developed. I really enjoy this time I give myself to clear my mind and just be in the moment.