• Contributors
    • Catherine L. Tully, Owner/Editor
    • Dance Writers
      • Rachel Hellwig, Assistant Editor — Dance
      • Jessika Anspach McEliece, Contributor — Dance
      • Janice Barringer, Contributor – Dance
      • José Pablo Castro Cuevas, Contributor — Dance
      • Katie C. Sopoci Drake, Contributor – Dance
      • Ashley Ellis, Contributor — Dance
      • Samantha Hope Galler, Contributor – Dance
      • Cara Marie Gary, Contributor – Dance
      • Luis Eduardo Gonzalez, Contributor — Dance
      • Karen Musey, Contributor – Dance
      • Janet Rothwell (Neidhardt), Contributor — Dance
      • Matt de la Peña, Contributor – Dance
      • Lucy Vurusic Riner, Contributor – Dance
      • Alessa Rogers, Contributor — Dance
      • Emma Love Suddarth, Contributor — Dance
      • Andrea Thompson, Contributor – Dance
      • Sally Turkel, Contributor — Dance
      • Lauren Warnecke, Contributor – Dance
      • Sharon Wehner, Contributor – Dance
      • Ashley Werhun, Contributor — Dance
      • Dr. Frank Sinkoe, Contributor – Podiatry
      • Jessica Wilson, Assistant Editor – Dance
    • Dance Wellness Panel
      • Jan Dunn, MS, Editor
      • Gigi Berardi, PhD
      • James Garrick, MD
      • Robin Kish, MS, MFA
      • Moira McCormack, MS
      • Janice G. Plastino, PhD
      • Emma Redding, PhD
      • Erin Sanchez, MS
      • Selina Shah, MD, FACP
      • Nancy Wozny
      • Matthew Wyon, PhD
    • Music & Dance Writers
      • Scott Speck, Contributor – Music
    • Interns
      • Intern Wanted For 4dancers
    • Contact
  • About
    • About 4dancers
    • Advertise With 4dancers
    • Product Reviews on 4dancers
    • Disclosure
  • Contact

4dancers.org

A website for dancers, dance teachers and others interested in dance

Follow Us on Social!

Visit Us On YoutubeVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On PinterestVisit Us On FacebookVisit Us On Instagram
  • 4dancers
    • Adult Ballet
    • Career
    • Auditions
    • Competition
    • Summer Intensives
    • Pointe Shoes & Footwear
      • Breaking In Shoes
      • Freed
      • Pointe Shoe Products
      • Vegan Ballet Slippers
      • Other Footwear
  • 4teachers
    • Teaching Tips
    • Dance History
    • Dance In The US
    • Studios
  • Choreography
  • Dance Wellness
    • Conditioning And Training
    • Foot Care
    • Injuries
    • Nutrition
      • Recipes/Snacks
  • Dance Resources
    • Dance Conferences
    • Dance Products
      • Books & Magazines
      • DVDs
      • Dance Clothing & Shoes
      • Dance Gifts
      • Flamenco & Spanish Dance
      • Product Reviews
    • Social Media
  • Editorial
    • Interviews
      • 10 Questions With…
      • Dance Blog Spotlight
      • Post Curtain Chat
      • Student Spotlight
    • Dance in the UK
    • Finding Balance
    • Musings
    • One Dancer’s Journey
    • Pas de Trois
    • SYTYCD
    • The Business Of Dance
    • Finis
  • Music & Dance
    • CD/Music Reviews

Technical Dancer Vs. Expressive Dancer

May 3, 2011 by 4dancers

So here’s one for you…

If you had to describe to someone what the visual difference was between a dancer who is technically excellent, but doesn’t express themselves, and someone who does–how would you do it?

What is it about someone dancing that connects with the audience/viewer? How can you make this type of distinction? It isn’t purely the facial expression, as you can’t always see that. Musicality perhaps? I tend to enjoy watching a dancer who can really phrase the music well…

I have certain theories on this…but I’d love to hear from readers. What do you think? How do you describe that elusive quality that makes one dancer amazing to watch, and another just “so-so”?

And do you think it can be taught–or is it innate? Do tell…

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Filed Under: 4dancers, 4teachers, Editorial

Join Us on YouTube!

Comments

  1. Kimberly says

    June 2, 2011 at 12:14 pm

    Expressiveness is the difference between a performance and an experience. A performance is something that is put on, it’s not in itself an authentic action or emotion, and given that it’s one sided (a performance is viewed) it’s always just a little removed. An experience is fundamentally different, it is an actuality, it is authentic and it is vulnerable. You aren’t watching an event, but rather are invited to experience the moment.

    In my own choreographic experiences, I have found dance to be a distilled moment. As if you could pause life for a little while and in that moment, distill and divulge all the intricacies and nuance – the highs and lows – the extremes and the subtleties of what living that moment feels like. It takes that moment and displays it, inviting everyone in the audience to experience it too. It is both the common experiences, as well as the honesty of the dancers interpretation of the movement in the moment, that connects with an audience and brings them along for the ride.

    As a dancer, I’ve found more enjoyment, more personal growth and professional development through bringing my experience out into the open. The ability to meld the movement being asked of your body with the honesty required by the movement coupled with a fresh, honest and in-the-moment development and discovery in a public way IS the art.

    I also beleieve you can absolutely teach it and learn it. Teaching dancers to access honest emotion, honest experiences within structured movement or movement scores should be a part of any serious dance training, in my opinion. To learn it, you just need an open mind, open heart and a teacher with the same.

  2. 4dancers says

    June 2, 2011 at 12:51 pm

    Kimberly–this is so well articulated–thanks for your comment! This is a subject that can be difficult to wrap words around, and you have done so eloquently.
    When I was younger, I thought this was an innate skill, but I have come to believe, as you, that it can be taught–although I don’t know if I believe everyone is capable of achieving it. I’ve actually taught it–I’ve seen it happen with students, and it is amazing when it does!
    Out of curiosity, what type of dance are you involved with? I’m beginning to think that those who are in the modern field are better at teaching this connection than those in ballet….

  3. Kimberly says

    June 3, 2011 at 9:01 am

    Thanks so much!

    I’m a modern choreographer and dancer. Though I LOVE Ballet and have been trained in that too. I do think it is more directly applicable in modern since there is no story line or theme handed to you like in Ballet – though I think the best Ballet dancers also utilize the idea of honest connection.

    Not that Ballet and expressiveness are mutually exclusive – just that the roles/charachter archetypes/story are all built into the vast majority of classical Ballet and technique…it can be a crutch if one isn’t careful. I think it can be often more difficult to connect to the classical movements (which each have their own history and charachter) with the story and your role in it as well as attempting to bring your own honesty and personhood into the mix…it’s a difficult mix.

    I think that largely, this can be taught because it’s not just about performance, it’s really a way of relating to the world. Some people are going to be interested in it and others are not. But excellence in dance as an art form really is about connection as much as, or in some cases, more than the technical feats acheived by the body.

Dance Artwork

Get Your Dance Career Info Here!

Dance ebook cover

Podcast

Disclosure – Affiliate & Ad Info

This site sometimes features advertising, affiliate marketing, or affiliate links, such as Amazon Associate links and others. When you click on these links, we get a small sum that helps to support the website operations. Thank you! There’s more detailed information on ads and our disclosure policy under the About tab in our navigation at the top of the site. We clearly mark any and all posts that contain these features.

Copyright Notice

Please note that all of the content on 4dancers.org is copyrighted. Do not copy, utilize, or distribute without express permission. We take cases of infringement seriously. All rights reserved ©2022.

Copyright © 2025 · Metro Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in