During my first decade of dancing, I wanted to nail all the flashy moves. They looked like what was central to the dance. It's only in this second decade I've nurtured an appreciation that it's how much someone loves the foundation of the dance which separates the master/mistress from the novice.
I've analyzed dancers to try and emulate them for size w/o your filter for background, personal aesthetic and music. It's another lesson I wish I realized sooner! I separate them into personal aesthetic, dancers that speak to me and my favorite dancers' favorite dancer.
Personal aesthetic refers to dancers who I don't have to try to hard to be able to successfully imitate we share similar body type or style. My trajectory is already headed in their direction. And they're the lowest hanging fruit. I didn't bother to distinguish them in the past because I they weren't aesthetically pleasing to me.
Dancers that speak to me are those that look beautiful to me but for various reasons I will not be able to emulate them in this life. I can analyze what they do and try it on with the results being that what sticks will stick but most will not.
My favorite dancers' favorite dancer are those people who have been critical in creating styles within a dance that many imitate but never duplicate. By analyzing them I learn entire movements as opposed to individual moves and deepen my understanding of the genealogy of styles—what style begot what style.
I love the gifs and the Mickey Mouse feet to enhance understanding. 🐭🙏
I wanna hear more about your journey to graceful cockroach extermination.
Oh man! I think we all go through a phase where we think we should only learn the flashy moves! I've definitely done that and later found that anyone who's had any experience with the dance can easily spot that you skipped all the basics and jumped into the cool stuff.
I love your idea of studying not only my favorite dancers, but their favorites too. I've added it to my list of things to explore.
Cockroach extermination is still in the works! I'll be posting here as I progress. Lol
Wow Rachel what don't you do? Weightlifting, dancing, capoeria. This was a fun read because I've never thought so intently about dancing but I found myself watching all the videos multiple times to catch the technique they were using. And the takeaway for me is universal, that we should give ourselves more permission to make things our own.
Loved dropping into the micro-questions of a world I know nothing about—until today. Your conclusion that there is only a right way for YOU is so broadly applicable to any discipline and good thing to keep in mind when apprenticing to any art. Like writing for example!
you did! that's my favorite kind of domain expertise writing, where someone's craft is communicated in a way that cross-pollinates with other disciplines
During my first decade of dancing, I wanted to nail all the flashy moves. They looked like what was central to the dance. It's only in this second decade I've nurtured an appreciation that it's how much someone loves the foundation of the dance which separates the master/mistress from the novice.
I've analyzed dancers to try and emulate them for size w/o your filter for background, personal aesthetic and music. It's another lesson I wish I realized sooner! I separate them into personal aesthetic, dancers that speak to me and my favorite dancers' favorite dancer.
Personal aesthetic refers to dancers who I don't have to try to hard to be able to successfully imitate we share similar body type or style. My trajectory is already headed in their direction. And they're the lowest hanging fruit. I didn't bother to distinguish them in the past because I they weren't aesthetically pleasing to me.
Dancers that speak to me are those that look beautiful to me but for various reasons I will not be able to emulate them in this life. I can analyze what they do and try it on with the results being that what sticks will stick but most will not.
My favorite dancers' favorite dancer are those people who have been critical in creating styles within a dance that many imitate but never duplicate. By analyzing them I learn entire movements as opposed to individual moves and deepen my understanding of the genealogy of styles—what style begot what style.
I love the gifs and the Mickey Mouse feet to enhance understanding. 🐭🙏
I wanna hear more about your journey to graceful cockroach extermination.
Oh man! I think we all go through a phase where we think we should only learn the flashy moves! I've definitely done that and later found that anyone who's had any experience with the dance can easily spot that you skipped all the basics and jumped into the cool stuff.
I love your idea of studying not only my favorite dancers, but their favorites too. I've added it to my list of things to explore.
Cockroach extermination is still in the works! I'll be posting here as I progress. Lol
...what an awesome deep dive on a topic i know so nothing about...really enjoyed every bit of this!...
Thanks CansaFis!!
Wow Rachel what don't you do? Weightlifting, dancing, capoeria. This was a fun read because I've never thought so intently about dancing but I found myself watching all the videos multiple times to catch the technique they were using. And the takeaway for me is universal, that we should give ourselves more permission to make things our own.
Lol. Try everything at least once right? To be fair, capoeira was back when I was a teenager, I don't do it anymore. Glad to hear you enjoyed it!!
Loved dropping into the micro-questions of a world I know nothing about—until today. Your conclusion that there is only a right way for YOU is so broadly applicable to any discipline and good thing to keep in mind when apprenticing to any art. Like writing for example!
Thanks Rick! It was a fun challenge to write something niche but still make it relatable enough for others to appreciate.
you did! that's my favorite kind of domain expertise writing, where someone's craft is communicated in a way that cross-pollinates with other disciplines