S2 E13: Creativity! You Can’t Escape It So Be Fearless, with Paula Frasz

Buckle up for some laughs and incredible insights from this chat with my friend Paul Frasz. She and I danced together in the late 80’s after which she continued her lifelong career as a dancer, choreographer, and educator.

Paula is a retired professor emeritus (emerita?) and presidential engagement professor from Northern Illinois University, where she taught for 30 years. Now three years into retirement, she remains deeply engaged in creative pursuits and busy, busy, busy!

We talk about where her creative spark came from, how it was nurtured, and how, now that she’s beyond the studio walls, it continues to permeate every aspect of her life. As she says,“don’t deny yourself” the urge to create.

📝Key Takeaways

🌸 Marinating in Creativity

Long before she became a professional dancer & choreographer, Paula was immersed in creativity at home. Inspired by an artistic mother, a storytelling father, and her brother’s eclectic record collection, she spent hours moving, inventing stories, and living in rich fantasy worlds. Through these early experiences she realised that creativity is less about talent and more about paying attention to the world with curiosity and wonder coupled with the determination to have your voice heard.

🩰 Unplanned Sparks Can Change the Course of Your Life

Paula only started to dance at 13 because her diving coach suggested ballet would improve her form. Very much to her surprise, she immediately fell in love with it and began choreographing almost as soon as she started training. What began as an extremely reluctant experiment became a lifelong career, reminding us that sometimes our greatest passions are discovered by accident.

🌱 Creative Growth Requires Courage & Permission

Paula was encouraged throughout her university training and really found creative freedom during her MFA studies. She learned that creativity flourishes when we stop worrying about looking foolish and start experimenting & a pivotal moment in Paula’s development came when a teacher encouraged her not to be afraid. Whether you’re dancing, writing, cooking, or arranging flowers, vulnerability is often the doorway to originality.

🎓 Gifted Teachers Permit Others to Unlock Their Creativity

During more than 30 years as a university professor, Paula shifted her students from simply mastering technique to embracing exploration and improvisation. She believes everyone is creative, but many people need permission to trust themselves, take risks, and discover what is uniquely theirs to express.