Study their performances and ask yourself what specifically makes their performance special or spectacular. Watch dance professionals! You can learn so much from watching those that are at the top of their field. There are ways that you can take that next step toward becoming a dance artist, however. The environment at your studio, the outlook of your teachers, even the support you receive at home will play a vital role in helping you develop artistry in dance. Artistry is cultivated, encouraged, fostered, emphasized, and grown. Artistry is rarely something one can just ‘do’ as if they were turning on a light switch.

Or perhaps you are looking for ways to discover what this term means. Perhaps your teacher has asked to see more artistry in your dancing. Not all dancers will become great dancers, but all dancers – young, old, beginning, advanced, career-minded, or recreational – can strive to develop artistry in dance. Some of these abilities will come more naturally to a particular dancer and some will require additional attention to achieve. Movement quality (making smooth transitions between movements/steps, attacking sharp/strong movements or exhibiting control with smooth or sustained movements, etc.)Ĭreativity (taking the choreography in and then making it your own, an expression of yourself). Performance (being engaged in the movement, the expression, or emotion of the piece, check out these seven secrets of super performers)

Musicality (ability to connect with the music, interpret it, phrase and add dynamics to movement in relationship to the music in a way that is unique or interesting),Īcting ability (a talent for displaying emotion, depth of character, or communicating intent/motivation) Technical ability or virtuosity (impressive skills), Certain skills or strengths will stand out above the others, meaning a dancer might be known for displaying prowess in a particular area but, generally, great dancers develop outstanding skill in all of the following areas: The pieces of a great dancer’s puzzle fit well together because they have spent much time and energy shaping each piece.

Someone showing superb artistry, then, would be a dancer that has worked hard to put all of the puzzle pieces together into a dazzling picture. Therefore, I like to think of artistry in dance as the whole picture, of which technique and “soul” are important and perhaps equal pieces. Technical prowess usually plays a big part in our perception of great artistry, however. Technical polish and accuracy are spoken of sometimes as if they are on one side of a coin while artistry, which is considered to be the “soul” in dance, is on the other. It is accurate and concise but doesn’t tell us much about this term which is thrown about a lot in dance. The above is Webster’s definition of artistry. MARCH 31, 2009 by NICHELLE (OWNER/EDITOR) Plus, when you master timing more people are going to want to dance with you because they can make sense and follow what you are doing.What Is Artistry and How Do I Develop It? You are being music, and the experience is much deeper. On the contrary, when you are dancing on time with the music it is the equivalent of making music, with your body. The equivalent would be of someone banging on the drums (Or playing whatever instrument) with no rhythm, it holds no meaning it just then becomes random noise. When you are not dancing on time you loose that connection with the music and the experience of dancing becomes shallow. When you are dancing with a partner, you have a relationship with your partner, and what is holding that relationship together is the music you both are listening to. When you are dancing by your self, you as a dancer have an established relationship with the music.

As a dancer, if you are not dancing on time with the music, then you are not dancing (although it might look like your dancing, your just randomly moving to no beat). If musicians did not have any timing then they would not be able to coordinate the music that they create, therefore you wouldn’t have songs. Musicality and timing are EVERYTHING! It doesn’t matter how great you look, how many turns and spins you can do, how flexible you are or your great posture, it doesn’t matter how fast you can move, or how great your styling and footwork are IF they are not done on time with the music.

Musicality definition in dance