create magic, captivate attention & cultivate artistry in your dance classes

photo credit: KT Miller Photography

In dance training, if technique is the "what" and the "how", then artistry is certainly the "why". Artistry is the element that lifts skill, makes it human, and makes connection possible. 

Artistry  is what makes dance feel *magical* to us all.

Like dance technique, it has to be cultivated and it requires an environment where students feel safe to take chances, find their personal voice, and try something new. The good news -- the "when" and the "who" -- is that you can start anytime and with any age level.

Here are the three best ways I help my students get comfortable with exploring artistry and feel the magic of dance:

Preschool Age
I build my dance classes for this age group around an imaginative theme. Everything thing we do in class relates to the theme, which makes the learning process feel like a fun adventure. "Show me" is one of my favorite phrases to use with this age group, to help guide creativity and artistry. For example, "We just pretended to be penguins sliding on the ice. Can you show me how YOU think a penguin loves to move?". Preschool age dancers often feel very comfortable expressing themselves through movement and are excited to show and share their ideas. One of my favorite dance games to play with this age group is a prompted or guided freeze dance exercise with movement cards. Preschoolers are gifted improvisers, ready to jump in with you and go for it.
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Elementary Age
You know in the story of Peter Pan, when Tinkerbell starts to lose her powers because people don't believe in her? That's how I feel when I see my elementary age students begin to look to one another for approval when I ask them to "show me their best moves" during class. At this age, their social-emotional maturity and their technical training can be a little at odds with their own self-expression. Their technique classes have more structure now and that is what is comfortable for them. To keep the spirit of Tinkerbell alive, I like to sneak lessons in artistry into their classes by asking them to add their individuality in very small ways. I'll have them add arm choreography of their choice into a combination we've learned or I'll turn off the lights and have a 60-second disco ball party at the end of class. I also find that collaborative warm-up & step-based choreography games are great for this age group because they allow the class to work as one, as well as learn the basics of choreographic structure. They are usually eager to participate, rolling the dice or drawing a card to make our class combo or warm-up.
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Middle School & High School Age
In your technique classes for these ages, your dancers are learning how movement can be a powerful vehicle for expression. The choreography or class combos they are working on likely have an emotional element or tell a story. For me, the trick is getting these dancers to translate that expressiveness into self-expression and individual artistry. Learning to choreograph is a skill and young artists need tools to practice with. For me, choreography starter games are the best way to help my dancers on their way.
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What are your favorite ways for infusing artistry into your dance classes? 

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