 |
| internet source |
So what makes up our dance? Actions!
All syllabus figures are formed by grouping actions together, all dances you dance are fundamentally body actions,when you watch a world class show, a professional competition, you may not be able to tell the figures, but there are familiar actions. To be a choreographer, you need to be able to make use of all possible actions in order to create a dance. It is easy to understand 'using all possible actions of the body to present a dance' if this is for contemporary, jazz or hip hop; however, this is not so easy to make this an essential concept in Ballroom Dancing.
The Ballroom Standard dances have their own issue as the International Style only allows closed position, it leaves very little space for body actions except a nicer CBM or other foot actions. The American Smooth does allow open position and therefore a good show gives more opportunities to show off. The Ballroom Latin has dances in open positions, but in general in competitions they make their limbs as an extension of the body, and maybe no surprising movements as some competitions ban lifts and drops. It is understandable because competition does impose some restrictions, now if we get to watch some GOOD shows, like Burn the Floor, we can see there are all kinds of body movements. So in short, being a choreographer, you need to know what makes up your dance(s), then you need to know whom you are creating the dance for, and what limitation are there.
Actions for your feet
Here, let's jolt down a number of essential actions that we dance in different dances:
- step
- turn / spin / swivel
- twist
- point
- ronde
- kick
Combining the actions together you have different figures:
- A forward walk step and a turn can be spot turn or switch turn;
- Stepping back after the turn will give you a fan;
- Hip twist is just an action, if you take a step before the twist, it can be open hip twist or closed hip twist; incorporating the swivelling action then you have continuous hip twist;
- A step to the side can be side step if you keep stepping sideway; or cucarachas if you do not travel along and bring the feet together;
- A step with part weight then a replace forms a rock step.
Now if you apply different rhythms, you can have different moves:
- A step can be a forward or backward step, then give it a half timing and bring the feet together will become a chasse step.
- A step without full weight and followed by a replace can be a check or a rock.
- If you apply syncopated timing, you can make the rock a break.
- If you give a step on the ball with a quicker timing and a replace, that is a ball change.
- A side step with a cross behind step before a replace is a whisk; you do it 123 is Waltz, do it 1a2 is Samba; it is a matter of timing that makes a romantic Waltz a hot Samba.
Other Possible Actions for your feet:
- Developpe
- Jack
- Jump
- Leap
- Shunt
- Skip
Actions apart from the feet actions
- Head slap,
- Finger snap,
- Arm circle,
- Ripple,
- Hitch,
- Hip grind,
- Hip roll
You may doubt why I do not include the Cuban hip actions, as we see the Cuban hip action a natural result of the correct use of your body, it itself is not an intentional move. However, already there are a number of actions we can use in our shows. Certainly, not all actions are suitable to be put in a dance, it somehow depends on the styles of the dance, so that is why I stated in part 1 that musicality is one of the main qualities for a choreographer.
Next week, we are going to see how can you brings creations from actions.
part 1- quality of a choreographer
part 2- (You are here) bodily actions
part 3- actions & creations
...................................................