The essence of a movement

July 18, 2006 04:01 PM

This season I’ve been experimenting with ways to discover the essence of a movement. We work hard at the studio perfecting technique and alignment. Technique training takes time, repetition and muscle memory drills. When struggling to master difficult combinations or techniques, it’s easy to miss the spirit of the moves. But experiencing the heart of dance in the classroom, and not just on stage, is important — probably more important than all the technique we’ll ever learn. So, how do we capture the essence of a movement?

Sometimes we discover a whole-body feeling for a movement when we step away from the details and let ourselves be inspired by the music, body, breath or an idea. Sometimes it helps to imagine the quality, texture or color of the movement. Channeling energy through movement is what makes dance engaging.

A movement most often comes to life when you add a part of yourself to it. Learning how to imbue a movement with your personality is tricky. It’s similar to reading between the lines or communicating without words. Thinking about what feelings inspire a movement can help you to make it your own. It’s the final layer, like seasoning a meal or icing a cake ;-). Adding your own flavor or spirit to a movement makes it compelling. Sharing the spirit of a movement is the difference between doing a step and dancing.

So, for the remainder of summer we’ll be exploring the essence of our dance at the studios and in our summer shows. We hope you’ll be part of the journey!

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