When you hear music, What do you think of…How do you listen to music…What do you hear…How do you ‘feel’ music… How do you move to music…
There are so many responses – rhythm / time signatures / melodic phrasing / instrumentation / orchestration / vocalization / emotional response / interpretation / movement – the list goes on and on, and for most dancers it’s daunting and scary. I also felt that way, and I suppose it is the fear of the unknown in term of music genres that are foreign to us.
As westerners we dance mainly to 2/4, 3/4 & 4/4 rhythm, it’s known to us, we grow up with it, our ears are tuned for it and it’s familiar. Oriental music is different, even 2/4 and 4/4 rhythms sound different – it is in the application of the rhythm, in the instrumentation, as well as the feel .
There are different ways to be musical – some dancers flow in and out of music like water, some dancers focus on melody, others to rhythm, some dancers are merely consistent, never missing a beat. This difference also influences a dancers ability to grasp and retain choreography / dance with others in a group, do improvisation etc. I approach this topic with a sense of balance and Fun and a lot of out-of-the-box attitude. Performance technique and theatricality also play an important part in my pedagogy – through the creative use of imagery, breath work, solar plexus work, gesture, and character-play. Over 35 years of dance training has made me realize one thing: ‘ all dance is connected.’
We will focus on a set of generic movements found in most dance forms, and explore them, break them down, mold and shape them to the different characteristics and feel of the music style. Be prepared to amaze yourself, to think out of your ‘Belly Princess box’, step OUT of your comfort zone and really explore the dancer within. By using different musical genres [African / Cuban / Argentine Tango / Ballet and R&B], we will finally end with Oriental [ both orchestrated & vocal ], we will break down and explore the emotional context of music , dance and interpretation.
To grow as a dancer, to be more than the sum of the different genres you have learnt through the years, you need to make each rhythm part of your heart beat, be able to control the pulsating beat throughout your body. Only then do you bring your whole self to the art, to mold it into something greater.
Studio: Daniel Swanepoel Dance Studio
Address: 65 14th Avenue, Northcliff , Randburg
Cost:R250 [All Levels]
Time: 11h30am – 1h30pm
Duration: 2 hours Level: Intermediate / Advance / Professional Props: veil
Bookings: ava@akasha.co.za
