How to be discovered as a dancer

How To Develop Your Unique Style As A Dancer

Do you have your own unique style as a dancer??? YES, YOU DO. Although you draw inspiration from dancers that you look up to, YOU still dance like... well, you. Whether you know it or not, your unique style as a dancer is just waiting to be discovered, developed, and shared with the world! Follow this guide to bring out that flavor that's just waiting to shine~

What kind of music do you like?

Dance comes from the music. Rather than trying to come up with some dance moves out of nowhere, start by listening to music you love. House? Gangster rap? Acoustic covers of Adele songs? Make a playlist of the songs that make you want to dance. Then, let them make you dance.

How would you move if you've never seen ANY dance moves before?

But even if you want to move organically, you've already seen too many videos of people dancing to almost every genre of music...And there are so many dancers that you look up to and want to emulate. Just for a bit though, try to forget those videos and those dancers. It's just you. Let go, and let your body react to the sounds. Many street styles were created exactly like this. People were at clubs and parties and just did the things their bodies felt like doing.

There were no rules, no mirrors, no trophies to win, no YouTube videos to copy. They just went to have fun, vibe out with each other, and let the music make the moves. Then later, they were like "Dang, that's pretty cool. Let's make it a thing." You, too, can make your own unique style as a dancer by first letting your body free.

Put some structure around it

It's not that you should ignore whatever training you've had so far. If anything, it's about building on top of your base of movement as you explore different pathways and pictures. Don't try to "look like Keone" or just do the footwork you've learned from House sessions, but use that knowledge and muscle memory to guide your movement. Continue refining those movements through training. Learn fundamental styles that you gravitate towards, whether it's Popping or House or Ballet or Ballroom. These drills can help shape your movement and give more direction in your freestyles, choreography, or execution. Think of your dancing as a coloring book. You color the shapes in with your own flavor, but having that outline helps define and polish your movements.

Come up with your own concoction

Did you know that Chris Martin started dancing as a b-boy? This explains why he loves incorporating floor work and how athletic his choreography is.

Did you know that Franklin Yu was/is a Popper? Hence his strong hits and isolations in his pieces.

Melvin Timtim's been training in Krump, which adds another layer of style to his choreography.

You can trace dancers' styles back to their different influences. They all have different different tastes, train under different people, and go through different experiences that make their style what it is. It's about using everything you have – the muscle memory your body developed from ballet training from when you were 5, choreography influence from the directors on your team, creative inspiration from those 2 am session in the parking lot...Take all of those ingredients to cook up your own unique style as a dancer!

Some choreographers' tips on developing your own unique style as a dancer

"Own what makes you, you"

Try not to confuse what you enjoy doing and how you naturally move with what looks "cool." I love the way Vinh Nguyen dances, but I don't move/choreograph like him (no one does, haha).But you can take influences from his movement and shape it to your own liking and comfort.I suggest freestyling and recording yourself to see how you move and also to have a better understanding of your body. No one can move exactly the way you do, but that's what makes you, you.

– David Lee

See Related Article: 3 Dance Tips From David Lee

"Take inventory of what inspires you"

When I think of my “style” I think of where I’ve been and where I’d like to go.I incorporate everything I’ve learned and combine that with experimentation and derivation from art to inspire me.

– Markus Pe Benito

See Related Article How To Make Your Moves Match Vocals With Markus Pe Benito

"Know yourself"

Know who you are and what you like! This is the very key, not only in dance, but life too!

– Charles Nguyen

See Related Article: 7 Exercises To Boost Your Popping Fundamentals With Charles Nguyen

"Stay a student"

First, find some sort of inspiration! Creating your own style doesn’t necessarily have to be crafted 100% on your own. Every idea starts somewhere.What I like to do is to take class from choreographers I feel would help me with my vision/style.For example, if I want to work on my footwork and somehow combine it with isolation, I’ll take Ray Basa's house class and then Anthony Lee's – two choreographers sharing their own individual knowledge/experience.You can find inspiration anywhere! Live in this world with an open mind, go out and explore. You'll find the puzzle pieces that make your own unique style as a dancer.

– Gina Hong

See Related Article: How To Dance Like A Bad B*tch With Gina Hong

Developing your unique style as a dancer is not an overnight process. Creative choreography and mind-blowing freestyles and eye-catching quality of movement is born from years and years of hard work. Luckily, that hard work is also a lot of fun! Put these tips to use and have fun exploring what makes you uniquely you. T

rain your fundamentals, learn from different choreographers, and explore all kinds of moves– all on STEEZY Studio.

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3 Tips for How to Become a Professional Dancer

To The Pointe

Follow us to stay updated on the latest news from our school & faculty. We also aim to provide inspiration and encouragement to aspiring dancers and their families interested in learning more about the world of ballet!

Sep 29, 2021 | Ballet

Ballet dancers practice one of the oldest arts of movement in the world, one that uses centuries-old techniques to express emotions and entertain with grace on stage. Dancers are storytellers – using a mixture of free-flowing and choreographed routines to share their narratives.

While there’s no clear-cut path to becoming a professional dancer, there are ways to train your skills enough soar through an audition.

The First Steps to Take to Become a Professional Dancer

Just like any other skill, education can do wonders for extending your knowledge and honing your abilities as a ballet dancer. Getting training from established teachers allows you to learn from the best of the bunch.

Training with reputable dance companies like Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, for instance, can help you develop your muscle memory, flexibility, discipline, and technique so that you can propel your talent to greater heights.

If you want a less traditional route, you can also get a bachelor’s degree to unravel the technicalities behind choreography, production, your specific dance history, and extensive training to enhance your body alignment.

Training helps build your foundation and strength but being versatile in today’s professional dance world is essential. Having experience and taking classes in character, modern, and even hip-hop will help you become the dancer that a director can count on.

Aside from gaining experience from other forms, it helps to attend as many auditions as you can to build your strength in a high-pressure environment. This is closely related to acquiring more real-world knowledge on how dance works in the professional world, so you can step out of your comfort zone and boost your reputation in the process.

The Bottom Line: The Steps to Turning Your Talent into a Profession

The road to becoming a professional dancer and flourishing on stage is unique to every individual, but the steps to reach your dreams of dancing can feel clearer when you know the basics.

Why Choose Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet?

Are you looking for a ballet academy in Central Pennsylvania? If so, then the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet may be for you!

Marcia Dale Weary founded this reputable ballet academy in 1955, so we’re known worldwide for providing one of the finest classical ballet training programs.

Train with us today and see what we can do to fuel your passion!

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where to study, salary, pros and cons

Author: Professional Guide

Updated by December 17, 2022

Dancer is a person of art who performs rhythmic movements to music, taking part in theatrical performances, shows. The profession belongs to the type “a person is an artistic image”, it requires excellent self-discipline and, of course, talent. Children who distinguish literature, physical education, music and singing from all school subjects can become dancers. By the way, the ProfGid career guidance center has recently developed an accurate career guidance test that will tell you which professions suit you, give an opinion about your personality type and intelligence. nineOl000

Brief description

This profession has a rich history and is closely associated with the arts. However, the success of dancers by more than 50% depends on dedication, endurance, self-discipline. A specialist can work independently, performing solo choreographic numbers, it is also worth highlighting pair and collective dances. There are a lot of types and techniques of this art direction:

• ballet;
• pop and folk dance;
• historical dance and others.

See also:

Also distinguish styles such as street jazz, hip-hop, R'n'B, contemporary dance, street dance, etc. Dancers choose the style and type of performing arts based on their physical abilities, temperament, personal preferences. On stage, they create artistic images, convey emotions, making the hearts of the audience tremble. nine0003

Features of the profession

Anyone can become a professional dancer, but it is worth starting training in childhood. Choreographers recommend giving children to dance studios at the age of 3-7 years, which will allow them to develop good posture, plasticity, stretching, a sense of rhythm and other skills necessary for professional performance. Dancers most often work in 1-2 overlapping styles, they pay special attention to training and rehearsals, maintaining excellent physical shape. A career is short, because its peak is at the age of 15-25 years, and after 30 years, most specialists change their field of activity. They can realize their talent and knowledge in other areas, working as directors, choreographers, school teachers. nine0003

Dancers independently or under the guidance of a choreographer create performances: choice of music, sequence and rhythm of movements, costumes and image, facial expressions, plasticity. Before performing the dance, they rehearse for a long time, honing their skills. Many members of this profession often travel around their home country and travel abroad, where they give concerts. The activity is associated with certain difficulties, which leaves an imprint on the lifestyle and character of the dancer. nine0003

Pros and cons of the profession

Pros

1. Excellent physical development, because dancing strengthens the body and willpower.
2. Opportunity to work on the best stages.
3. Talented dancers achieve success quickly.
4. The profession is interesting, active and ambitious people will like it.
5. Opportunity to earn income from various sources, because dancers work alone or in pairs, can take part in private productions, star in music videos. nine0016
6. Useful business connections in the world of art.
7. The opportunity to change the field of activity, because dancers often open schools, give private lessons, work as choreographers - the choice of directions is huge.

Cons

1. High injury rate.
2. Serious injuries can put an end to a professional career.
3. Short career period.
4. Very high competition.

See also:

Important personal qualities

Dancers have excellent plasticity, but in this profession not only technical performance is important, but also emotionality. The dancers convey the idea of ​​the performance with the help of movements, facial expressions, so they must be distinguished by well-developed artistry. Increased efficiency, resistance to physical stress and low pain threshold are very important, because rehearsals and performances often end with sprains, dislocations and other minor injuries. nine0078 Only those people who do not suffer from laziness, negligence, and excessive self-confidence ascend to the pinnacle of success.

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