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…
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.
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….
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.