Chicago Dance Gazette October 2006
To the Pointe: Why Watch Dance?
By Amy Chen
I often tell my beginning ballet students to watch as much dance as possible—go see live performances, watch recorded performances, watch advanced classes, observe other students. Take in as much as you can as often as you can. Whether you are a beginning dancer or a seasoned professional, here are just a few of the many good reasons to watch dance.
Dance is an art form—it can’t be learned in a vacuum. The dance steps we learn are like words to a writer, or paint to a painter. They don’t mean anything until we invest ourselves as artists into using the steps to tell a story or invoke an image or a feeling. Watching professionals perform is a great way to gain a contextual understanding of the dance steps learned in class and to witness the marriage between technique and artistry.
Whether you are a beginning student or a professional, watching dance is a great way to broaden your horizons as a dancer. The trend in dance has been away from specialization, such as only being a ballet dancer, or only being hip-hop dancer, towards more versatility. Seeking to watch performances in dance styles other than the one you practice can help you branch out as an artist.
Did you know that an injured dancer can help maintain their skills just by observing dance? According to the University College in London, through a phenomenon called the “mirror system,” when dancers watch dance their brains perform a simulation of the movement, as if it were sending the movement instructions to the body. It may be because of the mirror-system that seasoned dancers find watching dance performance so rewarding. This concept can also be used to maintain and restore movement ability during and after injury.
And perhaps the most important reason to dancers to watch dance: Support the arts and your fellow dancers. What is more rewarding than performing for an appreciative audience?
Coming up next month: Getting the most out of your dance-viewing experience, and what dancers look for when they go see a dance performance.
See a listing of select Chicagoland community events here
About UsChicago Dance Supplyleni@chicagodancesupply.com10/20/06