Intermediate Dance Hacks: 5 Essential Tips to Elevate Your Contemporary Performance
As a contemporary dancer, you're likely always looking for ways to improve your technique, increase your confidence, and take your performances to the next level. Whether you're a student, a professional, or somewhere in between, these intermediate dance hacks are designed to help you do just that.
Tip #1: Focus on Your Core
Your core is the foundation of your movement, and it's essential to engage it in every dance. This means drawing your navel towards your spine, activating your transverse abdominis muscle, and using your core to generate power and control. To do this, try incorporating exercises like planks, crunches, and leg raises into your warm-up routine.
Tip #2: Play with Dynamics
Contemporary dance is all about conveying emotion and telling a story through movement. One way to do this is by playing with dynamics – think volume, intensity, and texture. Try varying your movement quality by using different parts of your body, such as your arms, legs, and torso. Experiment with slow and fast movements, big and small gestures, and soft and sharp attacks.
Tip #3: Experiment with Timing
Timing is everything in dance, and contemporary is no exception. To add some excitement to your performances, try experimenting with different timing techniques, such as accents, rubato, and syncopation. This will help you create a sense of tension and release, and add some much-needed variety to your movements.
Tip #4: Use Your Environment
Your environment is a valuable tool in contemporary dance, and it's essential to use it to your advantage. Think about the space you're performing in, and how you can use it to enhance your movements. For example, you might use the floor to create a sense of grounding, or use the walls to create a sense of containment. Don't be afraid to get creative and experiment with different environments and props.
Tip #5: Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a powerful tool in dance, and it can help you stay focused, relaxed, and present in the moment. To practice mindfulness, try incorporating mindfulness exercises into your warm-up routine, such as deep breathing, visualization, or body scan meditation. This will help you cultivate a greater sense of awareness and connection to your body, which will translate to your performances.
By incorporating these intermediate dance hacks into your practice, you'll be well on your way to elevating your contemporary performances and taking your dancing to the next level. Remember to always stay curious, stay open-minded, and most importantly, stay true to yourself.
