Young dancers need help learning how to connect breath to movement. Here are 4 ways dance teachers can encourage this development in dance class.
Improvisation
Tools For Tap Dance: Pocket Steps
Deep Pockets Ask tap dancer Jason Janas what he thinks about pocket steps and he will tell you, “The pocket always wins.” Pocket steps can be current and dazzling, or classic and nostalgic. The positive response from your audience is all the proof you will need that you are indeed winning. What Are Pocket Steps? […]
In The Moment: Ten Improvisation Tips
Dance improvisation is a movement skill that involves creating and executing movement without any premeditated choreographing, as well as a dance form that takes practice to master just like any other. For those new to improvising, here are some words of advice that can help in any situation where you may be asked or required to make up movement on the spot.
Teacher’s Top Three: Improvisation and Composition Studies
Jenn Romano works with high school dance students and in two after school dance programs for at risk youth. Jenn’s Top Three comes directly from her work, teaching dance composition in New Mexico high schools. She uses these “games” to practice improvisational skills as well develop student-generated choreography in her classes.
Tools for Tap Improvisation: The Time Step
Improvisation is an absolutely essential part of dance education and perhaps more so in tap than in other styles. Tap dance is a very virtuosic art form and the ability to ‘think on your feet’ is absolutely necessary in order to experience everything that tap has to offer. Learn how to use a time step structure as a starting point to hone improvisational skills and express individuality.
