Artistry

[DancingDuck]

Everyone knows a powerful dancer when they see one. I don't know how I can let go and stop worrying about my technique and actually start dancing. I love dance, it's what I think about all the time. I think I am losing sight though of the beauty of it when I dance myself. How can I stop thinking about the other people watching me, and the corrections and be more powerful with my steps and more emotionally involved?

[Mel Johnson]

Heather, class is for developing technique until it's an automatic thing, and you don't have to think about it any more. Performance is when you can let go and dance what's been given to you. Now is the time for class, and actually thinking about what you're doing - rehearsals are for building freedom and the performance is when you can really cut loose and dance (within the confines of the choreography, of course). 13-16 are important years for building a dancer.

[spaghetti]

DancingDuck, I have the same "problem" if that's what you want to call it. I also am a very strong technician and am told when I go out to summer programs that the only thing holding me back is my "dancing" and expressions. But I have been working on it this year and think I really have gotten a lot better. As well as my technique, I focus on my upper body and "connecting" with the audience. It's a hard concept to explain but you will get it!