On Saturday April 18th I taught a great workshop at Elana's Solstice studio in Santa Rosa. The topic of the workshop was Dynamic Dancing and I think it is a workshop that all belly dance performers could benefit from! I taught different ways for a dancer to change her mood and movements in order to convey more of a spectrum of emotions. The most memorable performances are those where the dancer is dynamic, or conveys more of an emotional spectrum. If you put more of yourself out there, the audience can feel it and connect with you! Too often, unfortunately, a performer will convey just one emotion or one side of her. I started the class by asking the students how they would describe the female experience. They came up with a great list!
- sensuous
- flirty
- mysterious
- elegant
- powerful
- nurturing
- soft
- creative
- strong
- playful
- sad
- longing
- passionate
- joyful
- energetic
- drama
- comical
- sexy
- romantic
And that's just scratching the surface! Now, I'm not saying that a dancer has to be all of the above for each performance. You have to know your music and know your audience. For instance, you probably aren't going to pull out the "sexy" you at a kid's birthday party or the "sad" you at a wedding! But, if you have a spectrum of music then definitely convey a spectrum of emotions. Be playful, flirty, elegant, sexy, and romantic at the wedding performance. Be comical, energetic, longing, and creative at the restaurant show. Be powerful, flirty, sexy, and joyful during your drum solo. If you are a powerful dancer, then show the audience your soft and tender side as well. If you are a coquettish dancer, the show the audience your powerful side as well. If you are a playful dancer, show the audience your dramatic side as well. You get the picture.
Bellydance at its best encapsulates the full female experience! Tap into your spectrum of experience and emotions and put it out there to move your audience. They will be awed by what they see!
