Dancing Modern 1 greatly changed the way I viewed dance. Having been involved in dance and rhythmic gymnastics since I was 6, I feel that says a lot. I've always talked about art being a passion of mine but both the dance and art class I took this semester really challenged the preconceived notions I had about it. It also freakishly helped be more comfortable and honest with who I was as an artist (this word is still scary to use but less scary than before. I'm using it now to prove a point. heh) and as a human being.
December 2013
Coming in as a first year, I knew I wanted to reignite my love for
dancing which I did a few years back but there was always this
perception of it just being a hobby of mine as opposed to becoming a
part of my direction of study.
However, this class, along with my surprising participation in two other dance pieces, evolved not only the way I understood dance, but also the areas of study which I want to pursue in the future. I think the message from the talk by Susan Foster resonated deeply in me and highlighted a theme which reoccured throughout my study of dance: authenticity. The more I watched dances and engaged in the ideas presented in the articles, my focus shifted from a dancer who was eager in nailing every step and technique to one that focused on what she wanted to say through her body.
I remember the class being rather hesitant to move during the first day of class and I think it was partly due to fear—fear of making mistakes, looking stupid or not dancing “well.” I feel very enlightened to have learned how varied dance and body movements can be outside of the conventional ideas of what society may assume dance to be. It was those little moments on the dance floor where Daphne told us to listen to our bodies, center ourselves to the present, and to move as we liked as opposed to what our minds were telling us to do that mattered most. I felt I learnt a lot about myself and how sometimes I get too caught up in wondering what other people are doing or how I looked executing a certain movement. But as the classes progressed, I felt I became more confident in my own body and inclination towards how my body wanted to move.
However, this class, along with my surprising participation in two other dance pieces, evolved not only the way I understood dance, but also the areas of study which I want to pursue in the future. I think the message from the talk by Susan Foster resonated deeply in me and highlighted a theme which reoccured throughout my study of dance: authenticity. The more I watched dances and engaged in the ideas presented in the articles, my focus shifted from a dancer who was eager in nailing every step and technique to one that focused on what she wanted to say through her body.
I remember the class being rather hesitant to move during the first day of class and I think it was partly due to fear—fear of making mistakes, looking stupid or not dancing “well.” I feel very enlightened to have learned how varied dance and body movements can be outside of the conventional ideas of what society may assume dance to be. It was those little moments on the dance floor where Daphne told us to listen to our bodies, center ourselves to the present, and to move as we liked as opposed to what our minds were telling us to do that mattered most. I felt I learnt a lot about myself and how sometimes I get too caught up in wondering what other people are doing or how I looked executing a certain movement. But as the classes progressed, I felt I became more confident in my own body and inclination towards how my body wanted to move.
The interweaved cultural and choreographic aspect of
dance got me thinking about all the
stories that the dancers told just by the significant gestures they
executed. The different dance styles and emotions conveyed through their faces and bodies could be a representation of a culture or a community's way of life. It became something more than just a performance.
I think the ability of dance to be a form of communication or expression of self or even a community through choreography, movement, and style is so powerful that it has become a facet I wish to incorporate in my future studies.
I think the ability of dance to be a form of communication or expression of self or even a community through choreography, movement, and style is so powerful that it has become a facet I wish to incorporate in my future studies.
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