3613  social vs stage dancing

Date: Sat, 9 Jul 2005 21:10:31 -0700
From: Igor Polk <ipolk@VIRTUAR.COM>
Subject: social vs stage dancing

Inspired by Christopher L. Everett's idea
"to make comfort/connection and athleticism/presentation opposite ends of a
spectrum and draw a
line somewhere between them."

I am trying to think what could differentiate social and stage dancing.

Social:

- One must be able to make good impression to any partner - including an
unknown partner or a weaker partner or much older partner, hmmm, and much
better partner too;
- One must respect other couples dancing in the same place;
- One must know how to experience a pleasure dancing for himself.
- Look is important, but inside feeling is more important.
- No need to rush, one can stop and have a glass of wine, chat. Dance is a
part of a good evening.
- If you dance differently that others, you may get a bad look;

Stage:

- Usually done with a well known partner with time available for rehearsal;
- One must know how to make a dance interesting for auditory. ( Dance in
front of other dancers should be very different than a dance in front of the
general auditory;
- One must know how to use all available space, light, and surrounding
things; ( Well, that is all part of the stage technique, much more can be
said here );
- One must know how to make a story out of the various dance elements;
- Stage dancers generally are not bound with a style - they can use elements
of all sorts of dance and mime;
- Look has absolute importance - some elements may cause pain, or require a
lot of energy. Dance must go on even with danger to health;
- One must create his own style - be unique is some way.


Would you like to add to this list?

Igor Polk