Hi everyone!
Being a dance major, I am expected to fulfill certain requirements that the dance board proposes. These reuired courses include ballet and modern technique classes, anatomy for dancers, theory classes, composition classes, and history classes. Two other major requirements are performance units and crewing units. Dance majors are reuired to have 6 performance units at 2 units each, and 3 crewing units at one unit each.
Right now, I am fulfilling my first crewing requirement. The kind of crewing I am participating in is stage crewing for a dance show next weekend. We have been meeting every night since this past Monday and will continue these until the show is over. Basically, being a part of stage crew is surprisingly challenging. I expected to just change the little color for the side lights for the stage, sweep the floors, and learn some termanology of the stage. It turned out to be hanging lights, focusing light, queing lights, flying curtains in and out, mopping and other minor details that i didn't realize even happened during a show.
It's a long and tiring process, but i'm learning a lot about what it takes to put on a dance concert, and I'm even building a little muscle from flying to curtains in and out!
Friday, April 22, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Auditions!
Hi! So tonight I am going to be talking about dance auditions.
A dance audition is typically the part of being a professional dancer that people dread. I see auditions as complete opportunities, whether I get the job or not. Auditions are all about putting yourself out into the dance world and not being fearful of other people's opinions about you. It's also about growing as a dancer, and also as a person. If you get denied a job once, you may want to come back again after you've improved your skill/style/technique - this with push you to become better. If you've come back a few times and still have not gotten the job, then the learning experience will be to learn to move on to a different goal.
In my opinion, auditions may be very nerve racking, but they are extremely fun. In the past few months I have auditioned for several programs and attending these auditions have taught me so much about myself and also about the industry. Despite the countless hours waiting in line to register and sometimes even waiting to audition, try-outs of any sort gets your adrenaline and blood pumping. The feeling of excitement when waiting to show the authority what you can bring to the table is the greatest and most thriving feeling. I was recently told at an audition that "anyone who is scared to go through with the audition shouldn't even be here." I think that this is a true statement because auditions can be long and draining enough as it is, and you need to have a confident mind-set and heart in order to do your absolute best when it counts.
If you ever plan on auditioning for something, please have confidence and a positive heart and attack it with all you've got so it is worth it. If they don't like you or what you bring, there is someone out there who will.
<3
A dance audition is typically the part of being a professional dancer that people dread. I see auditions as complete opportunities, whether I get the job or not. Auditions are all about putting yourself out into the dance world and not being fearful of other people's opinions about you. It's also about growing as a dancer, and also as a person. If you get denied a job once, you may want to come back again after you've improved your skill/style/technique - this with push you to become better. If you've come back a few times and still have not gotten the job, then the learning experience will be to learn to move on to a different goal.
In my opinion, auditions may be very nerve racking, but they are extremely fun. In the past few months I have auditioned for several programs and attending these auditions have taught me so much about myself and also about the industry. Despite the countless hours waiting in line to register and sometimes even waiting to audition, try-outs of any sort gets your adrenaline and blood pumping. The feeling of excitement when waiting to show the authority what you can bring to the table is the greatest and most thriving feeling. I was recently told at an audition that "anyone who is scared to go through with the audition shouldn't even be here." I think that this is a true statement because auditions can be long and draining enough as it is, and you need to have a confident mind-set and heart in order to do your absolute best when it counts.
If you ever plan on auditioning for something, please have confidence and a positive heart and attack it with all you've got so it is worth it. If they don't like you or what you bring, there is someone out there who will.
<3
Friday, April 15, 2011
Back Again
So after an insanely busy past couple of weeks, it's back to the blog.
I think last time I had just finished discussing how the quality and dynamics of dancing is very important. Now I am going to talk about how technique is also very important.
Technique in dancing is the skill that one has when one is trained so precisely in their form of dance. In ballet, the technique is all about the entire body: having correct placement, nice lines, impressive feet, etc. In jazz the technique is about the trick ability: having high kicks, being able to do mulitple piroettes, being able to execute high leaps, etc.
It takes years to develope good technique in dance no matter what the style.
here's a video that shows the dancers' ability to look stunning on stage and also dance together so precisely. we're actually working on this piece in my pointe class, and it's not as easy as it looks....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8YVza2ri7o&feature=related
I think last time I had just finished discussing how the quality and dynamics of dancing is very important. Now I am going to talk about how technique is also very important.
Technique in dancing is the skill that one has when one is trained so precisely in their form of dance. In ballet, the technique is all about the entire body: having correct placement, nice lines, impressive feet, etc. In jazz the technique is about the trick ability: having high kicks, being able to do mulitple piroettes, being able to execute high leaps, etc.
It takes years to develope good technique in dance no matter what the style.
here's a video that shows the dancers' ability to look stunning on stage and also dance together so precisely. we're actually working on this piece in my pointe class, and it's not as easy as it looks....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8YVza2ri7o&feature=related
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Commercial Dance World
Hey!
Extremely long day once again. I taught at my old dance studio from 9am-6pm, and then I had to take my sister (and chaperon her) at one of her friends' parties. I barely got home, so I'm literally pooped.
But back to dance.
As I mentioned in my last post, commercial dancing is a lot about performing from deep within your soul so it really reads to the audience you are performing it for. Dynamics and quality of the movement being performed is so extremely important and good execution of this is how a commercial dancer can stand out and succeed.
Here is a hip hop routine from So You Think You Can Dance from a few years back. I've seen it so many times already, and when I just watched it a few minutes ago..it still gave me chills at some parts because of their exquisite dynamics. You will really be able to see the passion through every movement, and also get a feel of a story being told. It's an incredible piece, and I'm excited to share it with you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JwWtTbUOlE
Entertainment is something that goes hand in hand with dynamics and quality. And as you can see, some of the movement that the dancers executed were raved upon by the audience members, and you probably got a little bit of the chills too. ;] Well leave some questions if you have any, and I'll ttyl!
Extremely long day once again. I taught at my old dance studio from 9am-6pm, and then I had to take my sister (and chaperon her) at one of her friends' parties. I barely got home, so I'm literally pooped.
But back to dance.
As I mentioned in my last post, commercial dancing is a lot about performing from deep within your soul so it really reads to the audience you are performing it for. Dynamics and quality of the movement being performed is so extremely important and good execution of this is how a commercial dancer can stand out and succeed.
Here is a hip hop routine from So You Think You Can Dance from a few years back. I've seen it so many times already, and when I just watched it a few minutes ago..it still gave me chills at some parts because of their exquisite dynamics. You will really be able to see the passion through every movement, and also get a feel of a story being told. It's an incredible piece, and I'm excited to share it with you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JwWtTbUOlE
Entertainment is something that goes hand in hand with dynamics and quality. And as you can see, some of the movement that the dancers executed were raved upon by the audience members, and you probably got a little bit of the chills too. ;] Well leave some questions if you have any, and I'll ttyl!
Friday, March 18, 2011
Commercial Dance
Hey everyone!
So this week was one of the busiest of the semester so far for me. Lots of dance stuff like teaching classes, choreographing routines, auditioning, dance department midterms. And also a math midterm this week which I probably did not do very well on. Anyways, to say the least, I am so worn out and ready to relax... but I have a non-stop weekend and I anticipate the next few weeks ahead to be more full and tiring than this week. So I'm definietly trying to brace myself and stay healthy.
What this post is actually about, though, is commercial dancing. Commercial dancing is the kind of dance that you see pretty much in any part of the entertainment industry. The kind of dancing in the performances at the Grammys, in music videos, in concerts, on shows like So You Think You Can Dance, and also in commercials and movies. This kind of dancing is the type that tends to be extremely entertaining and have a "wow" factor to it. It can be very styleized like hip-hop funk, or it can also be a strong contemporary piece that gives people chills.
Here's an example of a contemporary piece that definitely wowed the audience:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk8ImwtnCug
As you may have noticed, the overall quality of the dance is very fluid and soft, but there were various tricks and elements of passion that really set it aside from just a soft contemporary piece. This is what commercial dancing is all about. Performing from your heart to touch the audience.
I'll be talking more about commercial dancing tomorrow and post some more videos because there's some really great stuff out there.
Now it's sleeping time. Night. :]
So this week was one of the busiest of the semester so far for me. Lots of dance stuff like teaching classes, choreographing routines, auditioning, dance department midterms. And also a math midterm this week which I probably did not do very well on. Anyways, to say the least, I am so worn out and ready to relax... but I have a non-stop weekend and I anticipate the next few weeks ahead to be more full and tiring than this week. So I'm definietly trying to brace myself and stay healthy.
What this post is actually about, though, is commercial dancing. Commercial dancing is the kind of dance that you see pretty much in any part of the entertainment industry. The kind of dancing in the performances at the Grammys, in music videos, in concerts, on shows like So You Think You Can Dance, and also in commercials and movies. This kind of dancing is the type that tends to be extremely entertaining and have a "wow" factor to it. It can be very styleized like hip-hop funk, or it can also be a strong contemporary piece that gives people chills.
Here's an example of a contemporary piece that definitely wowed the audience:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk8ImwtnCug
As you may have noticed, the overall quality of the dance is very fluid and soft, but there were various tricks and elements of passion that really set it aside from just a soft contemporary piece. This is what commercial dancing is all about. Performing from your heart to touch the audience.
I'll be talking more about commercial dancing tomorrow and post some more videos because there's some really great stuff out there.
Now it's sleeping time. Night. :]
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Competition
Hey!
So I think last time I finished by telling you the hours of dance team practices. Something else I would like to mention about these practices is that they are always mandatory. It is extremely extremely rare that someone is absent at a practice. I believe this is because our coach wants us to utilize all the practice time we can get as a team, and also thinks it is just a professional thing to do.
During our first few practices of the year (which are in September) we work on time-out and sideline dances for basketball games and other events that we may possibly be assigned to. After about a month of practices, our coach introduced us to our songs for our competition routines and gave us an idea of what our costumes would be like. He gives us multiple variations of choreography including technique so it could give him an idea of who can do what kind of tricks. It was a little bit nerve racking at first -- especially since I was a rookie.
After he has evaluated our technical skills, he started setting formations and choreography permanently so he could move along with completing the routines. It is definitely a very long and strenuous process to complete and perfect a competition routine before nationals, but it is also really fun and interesting to watch your team grow as a whole.
We do a heck of a lot of cleaning up of the dances before we leave for nationals, and one can really see the difference in our performance. We were very motivated to take it all in Florida, and we wound up leaving with 2nd in jazz and 9th in hip hop. we were extremely excited for placing in the top ten in hip hop because it was the first time in Cal State Long Beach Dance Team history that the team has competed a hip hop routine. We definitely felt very accomplished.
Next time I will talk more about commercial dancing. Don't know what that is? No worries.
Watch this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YTbVW_SZvs
So I think last time I finished by telling you the hours of dance team practices. Something else I would like to mention about these practices is that they are always mandatory. It is extremely extremely rare that someone is absent at a practice. I believe this is because our coach wants us to utilize all the practice time we can get as a team, and also thinks it is just a professional thing to do.
During our first few practices of the year (which are in September) we work on time-out and sideline dances for basketball games and other events that we may possibly be assigned to. After about a month of practices, our coach introduced us to our songs for our competition routines and gave us an idea of what our costumes would be like. He gives us multiple variations of choreography including technique so it could give him an idea of who can do what kind of tricks. It was a little bit nerve racking at first -- especially since I was a rookie.
After he has evaluated our technical skills, he started setting formations and choreography permanently so he could move along with completing the routines. It is definitely a very long and strenuous process to complete and perfect a competition routine before nationals, but it is also really fun and interesting to watch your team grow as a whole.
We do a heck of a lot of cleaning up of the dances before we leave for nationals, and one can really see the difference in our performance. We were very motivated to take it all in Florida, and we wound up leaving with 2nd in jazz and 9th in hip hop. we were extremely excited for placing in the top ten in hip hop because it was the first time in Cal State Long Beach Dance Team history that the team has competed a hip hop routine. We definitely felt very accomplished.
Next time I will talk more about commercial dancing. Don't know what that is? No worries.
Watch this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YTbVW_SZvs
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Prepping to Compete
Hey everyone!
A lot of people think that dance team is all about being "pretty" and having "fun". I guess it can be a lot of that, but it also is something you probably wouldn't expect. I will be explaining a little bit of that.
First of all, I consider dance team a very demanding sport. It requires strength of your muscles, a good physical stamina, and kinestetic awareness. Another important and unique part of this sport is the required memorization of routines. As a team, we know probably around 20 different routines and sidelines that we perform at different games. Some of them we learned at camp during the summer, and others we learned during our normal practice hours. We are expected to know each (minute long) routine for the entire season, no questions asked -- this helps us to develop advanced and professional dancer skills, and also preps us to memorize our 2 minute long competition routines.
We practice 3 times a week for 3 hours. Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday: 7-10pm. It is definitely a challenge since I commute and since I have this 8am class after every night of practice, but I try to push through it.
Well I figure you're already pretty bored from this so far... so I will expand next time.
Until then...
A lot of people think that dance team is all about being "pretty" and having "fun". I guess it can be a lot of that, but it also is something you probably wouldn't expect. I will be explaining a little bit of that.
First of all, I consider dance team a very demanding sport. It requires strength of your muscles, a good physical stamina, and kinestetic awareness. Another important and unique part of this sport is the required memorization of routines. As a team, we know probably around 20 different routines and sidelines that we perform at different games. Some of them we learned at camp during the summer, and others we learned during our normal practice hours. We are expected to know each (minute long) routine for the entire season, no questions asked -- this helps us to develop advanced and professional dancer skills, and also preps us to memorize our 2 minute long competition routines.
We practice 3 times a week for 3 hours. Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday: 7-10pm. It is definitely a challenge since I commute and since I have this 8am class after every night of practice, but I try to push through it.
Well I figure you're already pretty bored from this so far... so I will expand next time.
Until then...
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