Meet Morgan Sicklick

 

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Morgan Sicklick. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Morgan below.

Morgan, we are so happy that our community is going to have a chance to learn more about you, your story and hopefully even take in some of the lessons you’ve learned along the way. Let’s start with self-care – what do you do for self-care and has it had any impact on your effectiveness?

Self-care has been an ongoing journey for me, and I continually find new practices to help me achieve more peace and balance in my everyday life. One important aspect is therapy. I typically meet with my therapist once a week or every other week. I’ve found that having an objective individual to both support and challenge me with alternative perspectives has made a huge difference in how I can show up for myself, process difficult situations, and strengthen my relationships with others. I’ve also been working on my self-compassion. Whether that means having more patience with myself, taking a step back when my nervous system becomes overstimulated, or completely acknowledging and feeling my emotions, I’ve made a conscious effort to change my habits and responses to certain situations. It’s definitely lowered my stress levels and allowed me to stay in or return to the present moment. Lastly, slowing my pace of life down has proved to be useful. As someone who loves to be productive, it can be hard for me to truly relax. Prioritizing quality time with friends, maintaining close and meaningful relationships with my family, or having downtime at home with my cat has helped me reset and recharge. And, of course, little “treat yourself” moments never hurt! There are lots of little wins worth celebrating in life, and it’s good to acknowledge them on a more regular basis.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m currently in my 10th season as a company artist with Wonderbound, a contemporary ballet company located in Denver. Since 2015, I’ve found an artistic home with Wonderbound and have had the opportunity to play many diverse characters over the years. I love our collaborations with local musicians and artists of other mediums, how I’ve been able to explore who I am as an individual through dance, and the fact that we’re producing work unique to and reflective of the company. It’s very special to have originated 20+ roles over the past 10 years, and I’m certainly proud of my contributions to this organization as it continues to evolve. Check out wonderbound.com to see information about our upcoming performances!

I’m also a choreographer and am working to expand my reach both in Colorado and across the country. At the moment, I’m choreographing for the youth company of New Paradigm Dance Theater, a new non-profit located in Westminster. It’s been a wonderful experience to work with so many eager dancers, and the process has challenged me to think outside the box choreographically. I’m allowing myself to make movement choices that are spontaneous and a bit quirky, which has been fun! As I’m nearing the end of my performance career, I intend to dive into my choreographic work and see how far it can take me. I really enjoy leading others through movement creation. While I may be the one directing, it doesn’t feel like it’s about me. The final product is a beautiful amalgamation of so many individuals, influences, and interpretations, and I love being able to step outside of myself in this way.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. Resilience – No matter what industry you’re in, it takes hard work and dedication to succeed, especially when you’re faced with obstacles. I think that my ability to consider multiple perspectives and cultivate self-confidence has allowed me to bounce back from hardships. I never give up and have become better at adapting to change. With each new challenge, I become stronger and more capable of handling whatever comes my way.

2. Self-assurance – Many people will have many opinions about your work, but really, it’s most important that you believe in yourself and what you are producing. I’ve felt most proud of myself when, mentally, I’ve been able to find a balance of calmness, confidence, and a deep sense of knowing that I’m in the present moment. Sharing what you have to offer the world from a truly genuine place can help build longevity in a career.

3. Accepting help – As someone who likes to take care of and be responsible for myself, it can be hard to accept help. But I’ve done myself a disservice by trying to be too independent and not wanting to impose on others. Your truest supporters want to be there for you and ease your load. I’ve fostered greater connection, decreased my stress, and found more freedom by opening up to others. I’m truly thankful for my support system!

My best advice for developing or improving on these qualities/skills, which all fall into personal growth, would be to stay the course. Things don’t always work out the first, second, third, or even the tenth time. But by committing yourself to the work, there’s a much higher chance you’ll see some sort of evolution. And it’s an unpredictable journey. Some days may be better than others, and that’s okay.

What is a challenge you’re currently facing and how would you handle it?

I’m currently recovering from a foot injury that has sidelined me from dancing for several weeks. While this is not the first injury that has taken me out of performances, it’s still a difficult experience. Much of my time is focused on recovery. Whether that’s doing PT exercises, icing, going to acupuncture, or doing Pilates to try to keep the rest of my body active, I’m keeping a close eye on how my foot is feeling. Healing is never linear, and there are a lot of ups and downs, but I’m doing my best to keep a positive mindset and make smart choices to heal as quickly as possible. The mental and emotional aspects of injuries are just as challenging as the physical part. I’m not always the most patient with myself, so in a way, it’s good for me to slow down and honor what my body needs. I would be lying if I said I hadn’t felt frustrated, sad, or angry with the situation, but it’s also an incredible learning opportunity. I actually find the recovery journey to be eye-opening and exciting. I always acquire new tools for taking care of my body and dive deeper into my anatomy and musculature. I’m grateful to have the time to build strength and expand my knowledge in new ways.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Personal photo: Photo by Danielle Lieberman, edited by Elizabeth Moser
Photos 1, 2, & 6: Amanda Tipton
Photos 3 & 5: Martha Wirth
Photo 4: Brett Pruitt & East Market Studios

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?

Coffee? Workouts? Hitting the snooze button 14 times? Everyone has their morning ritual and we

Highlighter Series
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?

Our deepest wounds often shape us as much as our greatest joys. The pain we

Highlighter Series
Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?

Culture, economic circumstances, family traditions, local customs and more can often influence us more than