Hi everyone!
I recently saw a video where a prominent dancer in the Salsa/Mambo community commented that he no longer worried about doing fancy turn patterns as he has outgrown them.
This was fascinating to me. I feel the SAME WAY. In a weird way, I sometimes feel like I lead pretty basic things when I dance socially, but I feel like I am more in tune with the music. Even though it’s the ONE thing we are dancing TO…it seems like no one is dancing TO the music.
Does that make sense?
How does one go about becoming musical in their dancing?
This is a HUGE thing in dance. I recall when I first REALLY started learning and getting into the dance, that my good friend and teacher at the time, Sekou McMiller (you know him, right?!?!!?) was very ‘in tune’ with the music as was my other dear friend, Leah Patterson. I would sit there and watch them move so effortlessly in the music and wondered how as the music was IN THEM.
After getting to know them better, I discovered that they both had musical backgrounds and that they understood the music on a deeper level. I initially thought to myself:
“How the f@#@ am I supposed to achieve THAT level of musicality while I’m learning how to keep my basic!?!?”
I was distraught. I didn’t know how to achieve this deeper connection and I wanted desperately to know how. For those of you who don’t know, I didn’t grow up dancing, far from it. I didn’t take a first step until well into my 20’s and only did a side-to-side slide at ‘da club’ before that. I didn’t get drawn into dance until I learned from Sekou and got introduced to Mambo. I had no prior musical training and had terrible posture.
SOOOooo…
Fast forward and one of the things I hear a lot is I appear to add movements and musicality to my dancing. The thing is, I learned to dance by choreography mostly. Since the choreography was made SPECIFICALLY to the music, it made sense to accentuate the music with certain body movements and whatnot. The movements and the music are in harmony, they work in unison to create a visual sight to an audible sound.
I find myself dancing this way when I social dance as well. I no longer do ‘shines.’I don’t try and memorize patterns. I DO try and interpret the music and LISTEN. You know how you can hear, but not listen?
Exactly….LISTEN! Pay attention to all the layers and start finding new rhythms in the music. Latin music has an abundance of afro-rhythms in it and I/you/we should explore more and in turn sync up our bodies more to the music. I have noticed that with the passage of time and my comfort with the dance increases, that I now ‘find more time’ in the music.
New students tend to rush a lot when they are dancing and the feeling of rhythm in the music also finds you the more you do it. This shouldn’t discourage a young student, on the contrary, it should provide something to look forward to. It’s never a good idea to rush your progress, it’s a process.
I’ve read that some people have innate musical awareness and certain things come from inside of oneself. Unfortunately, this is all speculation and many teachers have tried to pass along the concepts of musicality to their students. I suppose the important thing to do is to have students increase their awareness after the technicalities of the dance are learned and can be performed on auto pilot.
Do you guys find that you ‘feel the music?’ Have you noticed a better connection to the music as you’ve danced longer?
It’s fun to think and talk about these ideas and feel free to add your two cents, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
To your dancing,
Thanks Del! I love thinking about connections like this w/in one’s life. This is exactly what we were talking about last night–about bringing other experiences and passions to all aspects of our life…and then using that passion to influence how we act or respond. I never saw a more true connection b/w music and dance until I lived in Africa. The people of Swaziland have this innate musical/dancing/rhythmic way about them. It’s beautiful to watch, and beautiful to let oneself get caught up in it…to dance unabashedly. Thanks for reminding me of this. I will try to incorporate it into mambo! Cheers. jennifer
I love this post! Thanks so much for bringing it into discussion.
For me, music existed before dancing. the dancing cannot exist without music, and so dancing ‘to the music’ is a way of honoring the musicians.
What does that mean? Well both music and dancing are means of communication. Every song, carries information in the rhythm and melody and lyrics. The owner wants to tell us something. As a dancer, dancing to the music is like a nod to the music, saying “hey, i got your message” or “i know exactly what you mean/how you feel”
Learning intricate patterns is (good) practice for learners. Remember all the complex math and long essays and memorizing periodic tables in school? These are drills to get your muscles in shape, not for practical purposes.
Most of the dancers and partners that I adore dancing with are not fancy or flashy. They connect with me and the music.
Which is another thing that fancy turn patterns distract from, or take the leads attention away from the partner.
Awesome post hun and thanks for the shotout :)!
Oh wow Del! thanks so much for bringing this up. Feeling the music and be aware of my body as I let it connect to the music, it’s what makes my dancing experience magic! Always guided by my body’s natural ability to respond spontaneously to the beautiful sound waves of the music. Yes! I do feel the music!