So You Think You Can Dance

Ever since season 1 when Nick beat out Melody for the title of “America’s Favorite Dancer”, I have been hooked on So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD for short).  BTW- I wonder what ever happened to Nick? Or Sabra? Not to mention all those runners-up that have come and gone?  Anyway, I digress.  This is one of the few TV shows (and probably the only reality show since “The Mole”- but only when Anderson Cooper was the host.  Celebrity Mole was awful!!) that I watch faithfully and without fail, from the auditions until the mountain of confetti is unleashed upon that season’s winner.  I have even gone to the live SYTYCD stage show a couple of times.  All the way to Greensboro! In the middle of the week! You know I must love it if I am willing to forego sleep and brave the wilds of the Triad to be there!

The thing is, I can’t really say what it is about this show that I find so very compelling.  Of course the dancing is sublime and oh so technically challenging, the choreography is beguiling, innovative and cutting edge, the judges (or “jedges” as the charming and beautiful Cat Deeley pronounces it in her lovely British accent) are, in turn, eccentric, poetic, emotional, and LOUD, and the costumes, production values,  song choice, and set design are all top-notch.  But I think what draws me in time and again is the dancers and their sheer love of the dance.  This passion and dedication radiates from each dancer’s very core and permeates every aspect of the show.  It isn’t something that can be faked or manufactured – or at least not for very long.  The contestants who don’t live, breathe, eat and sleep the dance are quickly  left  in the dust (or spangles or feathers) of the rest of the cast.

 If I could have one wish (other than world peace and an end to hunger, poverty and global warming) it would be to be able to be one of these dancers just for one dance.  To feel the power of a young, able, conditioned, trained body, the joy of being able to live my passion and my dreams, to share my love and gifts with others in such a compelling and global way, to have such gifted choreographers composing pieces for me! Little old me!!, to receive the constructive criticism of knowledgeable experts and put it to use to better myself, and to be vulnerable to the world judging me and actually voting on how well I did under such tremendous pressure - and handling this judgment with grace and aplomb— would be wonderful, scary, exhilarating and perhaps even life-changing.

But since that is never going to happen (at least not unless there really are Freaky Fridays!), the most I can hope for is to learn a vicarious lesson from this show:  you don’t have to be the very best technical or trained dancer in order to be America’s Favorite Dancer.  But you do have to have heart, soul, commitment, tenacity, passion and the ability learn from your failures in order to be the best that you can be.  So while the odds are that none of us will ever be America’s Favorite, we can all at least be our own favorite dancer if we are willing to model our efforts on the young kids involved in this show.  Then we will all truly be winners.

Bruce Wayne has nothing on us!

Batman is awesome, that is true.  But his alter ego is a billionaire who merely inherited his fortune.  Many of our WIM instructors, however, have much more exciting lives outside of the studio than that! 

Take, for example, Glenn, our intrepid BodyWork instructor.  His talents extend beyond the realm of body alignment, martial arts and British charm; he is also an accomplished guitarist, member of the local phenoms, The Lost Nomads, and author of many children's science books that are known the world over. You should check them out some time- with titles such as "How Loud Can You Burp?" and "Why Is My Snot Green?", they are sure to be a hit with any curious kid you know.


Then there is Milagros who works as a software developer and designer at SAS, speaks fluent Spanish, was a sharpshooter in the US Army, who has trained in modern dance, and who helps with her husband's dog training and boarding business (Good Dog). Talk about a full plate, balanced with beauty and grace!

Sara is one of 3 of our instructors who speak Japanese, and she puts that skill to good use in her everyday life as an ESL tutor for Japanese nationals living here in the Triangle.  She is also working on the final edits of her first novel, is an accomplished artist who has designed artwork for books, tattoos, and murals as well as company logos (including World In Motion's!), creates her own unique belly dance and street wear out of recycled and re-purposed materials, does graphic and website design on the side, performs with 2 dance troupes (Blue Moon Dance Company and Sparkle Oasis), is a successful and in-demand soloist and seminar teacher, and writes her own blog (http://romancingtheweird.blogspot.com/) .  We always knew that Sara was flexible, but maybe not quite as much as this!

Next we have Vanessa, our indefatigable Zumba instructor, who is a third-year medical student (enough said right there!) and currently a clinical research fellow at the National Institutes of Health here in RTP.  Her research focuses on the role of genetic variation on cardiovascular disease (a mouthful!), hence the reason she absolutely advocates for helping her students improve their cardiovascular fitness.  She manages to teach 3 classes at WIM (maybe more!) as well as several others in the Triangle, and although she would say, “I’m a geek at heart”, she is just a natural born cheerleader. (She was, in fact, the cheerleading captain and choreographer of her dance team in Ecuador.) My goodness- just the medical school part would do me in!

Heather, one of the co-owners of the studio, not only holds down a demanding job as an International Studies Coordinator at a local community college, but is in charge of all of the marketing for the studio, acts as a liaison to the community at large, teaches here and in Clayton, is a member of Twilight Tribal Dance, is the Secretary for ACCMED (our local professional Middle Eastern dance association) does publicity and marketing for her husband (the aforementioned Glenn), wrangles cats at home, and puts up with me and Emily to boot!  It just makes me tired talking about it!

All of our instructors bring a wealth of experience, knowledge, passion and joy to their classes, and they each have full and productive lives outside of the studio.  So move over,  Diana Prince, Barbara Gordon and Clark Kent- we have a few super heroes of our own.

Your Solo Debut!

This week's post is by Sara Beaman, one of our phenomenal instructors at World In Motion. If you have ever seen one of Sara's sublime performances, you will know that her advice on this subject is invaluable!


Your Solo Debut

Have you been taking dance classes for a while? Do you hear the stage singing siren songs in your ear? Are you longing, itching, dying to perform?
To perform, perhaps, a solo?
“But I’m not experienced enough to perform by myself,” you might tell yourself. “And I don’t really know how to make a choreography, or how to do improv. Besides, I’m sure I’ll get horrible stage fright, and I’ll forget everything I planned to do as soon as I’m out there in front of people.”
My professional advice is to ignore yourself and go for it. You have nothing to lose!
If you live in or near the Raleigh-Durham area, there are plenty of performance opportunities for everyone regardless of experience level, and plenty of audiences who are waiting to cheer you on. The only way to get better at performing is to perform, so you might as well get started.

Most people can mitigate a good amount of their performance anxiety simply by being prepared. This article will cover some basic aspects of performance preparation, step by step. Please leave your questions and requests for additional clarification in the comments.

Step One Music
Before you do anything else, pick your music. A good rule of thumb for your first performance, especially if you plan to choreograph a dance for the first time, is to go for something between two and four minutes long. If your music has lyrics, make sure they’re appropriate for your venue. (If the lyrics aren’t in English, ask your teacher if they can help you figure out what the song is about.)
Pick something that you love enough to listen to thousands of times, but something that also helps to highlight your strengths as a dancer: perhaps something slow if you are good at isolations, or something fast if you are good at traveling moves and shimmies.
Listen to your song over and over until you can “hear” all of it in your mind even when it’s not on.

Step Two  Costuming
Start getting a costume together that fits your music. If you’re not sure what to wear, consult your teacher for advice. Each style of bellydance has its own costuming, and the costume helps tell the audience what to expect from your performance.
If you have the ability to buy or make your own costume, great! If you’re on a limited budget and/or you don’t know how to sew, don’t worry. Try borrowing items from friends, fellow students or mentors, or looking on online bellydance communities such as bhuz.com where professionals regularly sell their costumes for cheap.
Your hair and makeup are a crucial part of your costume. If you’ve never done stage makeup before, you should start practicing well before the day of your performance. It’s fun! Youtube is a great resource for all sorts of makeup and hair tutorials!
Remember to borrow or acquire a coverup as well, and footwear if necessary.

Step Three Venue
Investigate your performance venue options. World in Motion hosts quarterly Student Showcases, and there is a regular “open mic” style performance event called Undulation Nouveau at Fullsteam Brewery in Durham. Look at ncbellydance.org to find other upcoming events. Some haflas and shows are invitation-only; at others, you can apply to perform.
Find out what to expect at your venue from the event organizer. What is the sound system like? Will you need to bring a CD or send in a sound file ahead of time? What is the surface of the stage like? Is the stage raised, below the audience, or at the same level as the audience? Is the event outside or indoors? How large is the stage or performance area? Is it an all-ages event, or is it adults-only? Is there a changing room? a backstage area? Where should you park? Is water provided for performers? Do performers have to pay to get in? What about their guests?
Knowing as much as possible about your venue will help you plan ahead for a smooth debut.

Step Four Planning 
If you are doing someone else’s choreography, ask their permission and how they would like to be credited.
If you are doing improv, plan at least the beginning and end of your dance so that you don’t freeze! (And don’t neglect Step Five...)
If you are doing choreography, start working. Trust yourself. Remember that there is no “wrong” way to put the moves you know together, unless you are trying to accurately represent one of the folkloric styles. Try not to second guess yourself or get mired in details. If you need help, try booking a private lesson or two with your teacher.

Step Five Practice (Practice Practice) 
Practice your dance as often and for as long as is reasonably possible given the reality of your life. You probably have more free time than you think, by the way. Try not watching television for a week--perhaps the week before your performance!

Step Six Dress Rehearsal
At least a week before your performance, practice in your full costume, including jewelry and hairpieces. Make sure you have your full range of movement and that your various items don’t get stuck on one another. If your costume doesn’t fit quite right, start pinning it until it does, then baste over where you’ve pinned, then pin it again. No one likes a costume malfunction.
If you have the opportunity, perform your solo for a trusted friend--preferably someone who knows something about dance, but at the very least someone who will be both honest and kind when giving you feedback. Even better: schedule a private lesson with a trusted teacher and have them help you polish your dance before you take it to the stage.

Step Seven Performance Kit
Put together a bag to take with you to the performance full of emergency supplies and necessities. Some ideas for what to put inside include safety pins, double-stick tape, deodorant, an extra lipstick in a shade appropriate for the stage, makeup remover, tissues, hair pins, bobby pins, hair elastics, hair spray or product, needle and thread, an extra copy of your music on CD, arnica gel, a pain reliever, migraine medication if you get them, a calming essential oil, and more safety pins.
If you are getting changed at the venue, put your entire costume on (including hairpieces and jewelry), then pack it as you take it off. The first layers to go on your body will be on the top of your suitcase, and you’ll be sure you packed everything.

Step Eight Recruiting
Ask your friends from class and your “normal life” (if you still have one) to come support you at your performance. It helps immensely to know that you will have friendly faces to look at in the audience. If you want, you can even coach them to zaghareet and cheer for you.
On the other hand, if it would make you nervous to dance in front of certain friends (we all have them), don’t invite them... at least not at first.

Step Nine Affirmations
Make a list of three or so wholly positive phrases to repeat to yourself before you go onstage for a little self-brainwashing. Here are some examples:
“I am fabulous and gorgeous and a fantastic dancer.”
“My choreography is awesome and I look great performing it.”
“Everyone here will love watching me dance.”
It is NOT acceptable to use phrases with the word NOT in them. These are NOT affirmations. Examples of such negative phrases include:
“I will NOT screw up my choreography.”
Repeating this to yourself will probably just make you worried about screwing up your choreography.
Once you have your affirmations written down, say them to yourself in the mirror several times and make yourself believe them. Memorize your affirmations and be prepared to repeat them to yourself silently before your performance.
This may sound insane, but it WORKS! Besides, your sanity is a small (and necessary) price to pay on the way to becoming a fabulous performer.

Step Ten Glamorize
On the day of your performance, do whatever you can to make yourself look and feel fantastic. If it makes a difference to you psychologically, and you can afford it, go get your hair and nails did. For me, just doing a good job on my makeup makes me feel ready to perform. You’ve practiced these skills ahead of time so you know you can do a great job and look super gorgeous without making yourself go the bad kind of insane.
Make sure to avoid foods that cause bloating or gas before your performance, and try not to go crazy with caffeine, either. (Or alcohol... or other substances.) HOWEVER. Make sure to actually eat something before you perform. It might need to be fairly light so you can exert yourself without feeling gross, but don’t fast--you don’t want to end up feeling lightheaded on stage.

Step Eleven Debut!
Get to your venue early, but not hours ahead of time. Bring something pleasant to occupy yourself with: a book, an iPod, a friend, a (supportive and engaging) significant other. Find out when you are dancing. Repeat your affirmations. Warm up. No, for real. Warm up as if you were about to do a hardcore practice session. Repeat your affirmations. Safety-pin your loose ends. Repeat your affirmations.
Now GO! GO ONSTAGE! Out into the open, not alone, but with a crowd of people supporting you and giving you their energy and love.
Acknowledge the audience with gratitude before leaving the stage or performance area at the end of your performance.
Stay in performance mode until you are out of the venue. Be gracious when receiving feedback, especially praise. Conduct yourself with as much professionalism and poise as you can summon up--you’re a performer now.

We, your adoring audience, are already waiting anxiously for your fantastic debut!