'Secret Language'
1) Ballet terms such as plié, relevé, and saut de chat. To the average Joe, these things are simply part of the French language. To a classically trained dancer, these words and many more make up the everyday technical exercise that is a barre and ballet class. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for ballet and its strict structure even though I'm not a ballerina by trade. I believe ballet is at the core of a strong dancer and is a great way to warm up and understand your body.
2) Improvisation The concept of improvisation can be applied to any discipline. In dance, many encourage improvisation to be the exploration of how the body wants to move naturally. It is very much the opposite of traditionally structured technique classes, but those technical skills can be applied to the improvisation quite easily. I love just improving in a space and recording myself, some of the most interesting movements can come from this exploration as well as a euphoric feeling of freedom.
3) Modern Modern is considered another genre of dance and is my primary style. Different techniques include Dunham, Humphrey, Horton, and Graham. However, the concept of modern dance also includes any new work created in the present day. Like modern art, modern dance is considered too eclectic for some, as many people prefer classical and commercial dance. I personally love the artistry and technique that modern brings to the dance world.
"Oh, you're a dancer. So you're flexible?"
While it seems like a simple question, flexibility is not a necessity to be a good dancer. Many styles of dance don't care whether or not one can kick his/her leg up past their face. The answer for many dancers (including myself) is a simple, "Yes, I am." But that sort of qualifier is degrading to many dancers and the variety the entire world of dance offers. Also, one can be talented in many different styles and genres of dance. Like an instrument, you don't have to pick just one, and every style should be respected for what it is.
I like that you chose "Modern" as one of your 'secret language' words because it's so common and multi-faceted that most people might think they DO know what you mean when you say it, even though you're actually referring to a specific style or period of dance. It's the same with music. A common complaint among the music school instrumentalists is "Oh, I don't wanna play that, it's too modern." Upon hearing this, every musician in the room immediately understands and, probably, empathizes with this sentiment. But I wouldn't be surprised if this raised the eyebrows of some non-musically inclined folk, who might think we're stuck in the past and only like to play music from 1900 or before.... It's not that way... right?
ReplyDeleteI like how much you enjoy improv especially for the purposes of that kind of exploration. It's such a good way to discover new things about yourself not just in your field of expertise but for you as a person. It's an organic way to experiment and test the waters with what you have. I also love it because it's something that anyone can do at any level of experience.
ReplyDeleteThat's very cool to hear that flexibility is not a prerequisite for one to be a good dancer - I admit that I have often had this idea in mind, which I think has prevented me from putting myself out there and trying to get involved with various styles of dance (something that I have always been interested in!)
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