We grow up dancing as we feel led by the music, whether it's in church, in the club, in our homes, or some random park with friends. We don't necessarily think about our movement, we just dance to have a good time. Once you start getting into dance seriously, the structure comes in. All of a sudden you are dancing to counts, using phrases, and specific movement in specific styles. Dance now has technique to it, and the fun, relaxed, no pressure part of it subconsciously gets stored far away in the back. You end up having to frequently remind yourself to have a good time even with this structured movement. Is it possible to successfully keep both the technique of dance, and the natural, effortless, and non structural flow of it? Welcome to today's post dancer friends!
I remember seeing a professional dancer I follow on instagram saying how she truly connected with dance once she set aside her technique. In a dance video she posted, she moved without any external motivation - no music, no sound, no nothing in the background. She determined her rhythm and moved as she felt led to. She was angry and she expressed that through her movement. While this was very intriguing, it brought up some discomfort within.
As someone that loves structure, I love that I can sit down and write out an entire routine. I love that I can breakdown a routine to 8 counts and the mathematics of it all makes sense. Seeing this new perspective caught me off guard. On one hand, it was affirming because it takes us back to the beginning where we move as we feel, without the need to play by the rules. On the other hand, I feared that the technical side of dance that works for me, couldn't translate to a "true" dance connection based on this narrative...So back to our earlier question, is it possible to successfully keep both the technique of dance, and the natural, effortless, and non structural flow of it?
I have come to realise that if we aren't careful, the structure and technique of dance can limit us to just that. Truth be told, I have found myself struggling to let loose and dance for the fun of it without thinking about all the rules that come with it. At the same time, embracing the technical and structural part of dance has been such a huge help when it comes to creating, choreographing, and teaching. The beauty of dance is that it's versatile. We need not to limit what it can do for us. Yes, technique is very beneficial for our foundation as dancers, and yes, we can freely move without worrying about details. Yes, structure is great for organisation, and yes, "disorganised" expression is sometimes what we need to clearly translate what's within. It doesn't have to be either - or when it comes to dance, it can be both - and.
Keep creating & sharing!
~Your dancer friend
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