Dance can be defined as an art
form which involves movement of the body in a rhythmic manner. It is often
used as a form of expression, social interaction or entertainment.
Throughout the 18 years that I have been
dancing, I have come to realize how accurate this definition is. When I first
started dancing it was just a hobby to keep me occupied, but after a few months
I realized how much I actually enjoyed it. Soon I began competing and
travelling with my studio. Once I graduated high school I was
fortunate enough to find a competitive dance team at university and a job
teaching at a studio. Both these activities I am still involved with and it
allows me to keep up my technique but also have the chance to explore teaching
and choreography. My passion for dance did not stem from
the competitive element or my desire to win, it was from having the
freedom to express emotion and tell stories through dance. It offered a
creative outlet to de-stress and to distract myself when school and work became
hectic. I would channel any emotion into the choreography I was
given.
Through choreography, feelings of happiness,
sadness, or anger can be conveyed. Adding elements such as music and costumes
helps to further the story-telling. Whether dance is used just for
personal expression, social interaction or even as entertainment, there is
still meaning behind each movement. Before a choreographer even begins choosing
movement, there is usually a meaning behind it, whether it be a personal
experience/ social issue or even through a piece of music that stirs a certain
emotion. It is a popular belief that lyrical and contemporary dance are the
only genres that are used to tell a story, but it is really any type of
dance that can be used to show emotion. Below are two examples of dance which
each tell a different story for their audience.
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