Editor’s note: In the Spring 2024 “Life Without Limits” issue of Showstopper Magazine, we reached out to seven people who showcased what it means to live “without limits” and found ways to break physical, creative, and social boundaries that stood in the way of their love of dance. Portions of these interviews appear in print, but we wanted to share their full stories with you here.
Showstopper Magazine: What does it mean to you to “live without limits”?
Sam Shapiro: When you have nothing getting in the way of you from reaching your goals and achieving your purpose.
Showstopper Magazine: You overcame a major injury that could have changed your life and dance career forever. Can you tell us that story?
Sam: I was two weeks into my new job with Boston Ballet. It was never an option for me to let this trauma become my identity, or my fate, and so I did what I knew to do, worked hard, recovered, and continued to build the life I had been working so diligently for. Being a victim of gun violence at such a young age gave me a fierce perspective on how I wanted to continue to live my life, to the fullest. I developed a mantra, at its center love and gratitude, strength and grace. I thankfully was able to overcome the physical and mental exhaustions from the experience and fulfill my journey as a dance artist and performer all over the world.
Showstopper Magazine: What was your process for making your way back to dance after that?
Sam: The process was simple in theory. Heal, recover, get back to dancing. However, it was not easy in practice. I had a great community of people who rallied, encouraging me along the way. However, my mind was made up well before the accident, and I had no intention of altering my path as a dancer.
Read more: Meet the rest of our “Life Without Limits” features.
Showstopper Magazine: You are a guest lecturer at Wake Forest University and an instructor at UNC School of the Arts. How do you encourage your students there to live and create outside the box?
Sam: I ask my students to be honest, to trust themselves, and not let judgments form or maintain. We can live freer this way, and therefore, creativity will have a better habitat.
Showstopper Magazine: Can you tell us about your urban farming project?
Sam: I wanted to learn how to grow my own food so that I could inspire people in my community to learn, as well. It’s an education I believe should be available to everyone so that we grow up knowing how accessible food can be.
Showstopper Magazine: How did you get involved? What does that work mean to you?
Sam: Being part of a small community set the stage for this. It has become very important to take care of each other both with knowledge of growing food but also creating space for people to gather and build relationships amongst neighbors. I love having a role in the social and cultural fabric of my community and consider myself part of an overall strategy that promotes environmental sustainability, growing and eating foods that support overall health and well-being.
Showstopper Magazine: What advice would you give to someone trying to overcome their limits or break barriers?
Sam: We form a sense of invincibility once we realize that the things we perceive to be bad or difficult are actually what make us grow stronger and provide us with tools. The pursuit of growth and love for the process can drive us to overcome anything.
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