Perhaps it’s akin to learning zils too early, it can ruin your natural movement of hands…(but that’s an extreme)

I dropped out of most choreography classes…because I found it artificial and constraining…to the internal dancer.

I wanted to dance to the music as my body and spirit insisted…and not to do the same movements over and over…in sync to what was seen by someone else.

I DO know dancers who can’t do a damn thing without it being choreographed…They are chained to a dance…and where is the dancer?

I am teaching now….just started this year…and I won’t teach any choreography. IF my students want that there are plenty of studios who will do that.

I want them to be fully aware of how their bodies have potential to move and for movement.

Choreography is chaining the spirit and the body to the earth.

I want them inventive!

Teela (who is also Lady Nyo)
Teela´s last blog ..Teela Gets Her Groove Back, Part II

1_Many emphasis choreography only….and that usually is teachers with troupes.

2) Using various “set” exercises to teach improv.

3) many teach assorted step combinations for students to incorporate into their own dance styles.

I am sure I lifted this from some other site, so apologies all around.

However, there is really no “Chinese Wall” between using choreography and developing improvisation as dancers.

I think we need to first sound out the body. To see what the new dancer does with her body. What her range and limitations are in the beginning…and build on that. Of course this is NOT what the potential is, but we have to work with where the dancer is right now.

I do know that there is a great sense of frustration and then accomplishment when you do finally learn ONE piece of choreography. you have succeed in something you didnt’ think you could!

But the problem is with dancers that can’t go beyond this. And there are some who can’t.

So, perhaps the best is tromping through all the zones possibities….and then some…and spending a lot of time on what each individual dancer can do with her body.

This is all very new to me, but I am seeing that women are AFRAID to move….to let their bodies free to do things that they think will embarrass them in some ways.

So…I am doing a couple of things….I have studied the dvd “Luscious” The Belly dance Workout” which they say is for beginners, but it really is intermediate/advanced…and I am working from that perspective. And layering is important to make a complete statement early. They hate it, but tough…using our arms, etc…is very important early.

I am also making them listen to drum music…solos, and since I have two dumbeks here, I am making them beat to the rhythms. Hard, but it is something that will develop internal rhythm. I did and my dancing went up a lot.

I am going to make them listen to Sigur Ros’ “Ara batur” for an arm dance today. Standing in place and dancing with just the arms….very emotive.

ahhh…there is so many ways to go about this issue….but getting the body to dance in natural ways before you get stuck in the forms of choreography is important.

Kathreen, I’lll blog about this later on my own blog, but reading you and your students is great!

Hugs!

Teela (aka: Lady Nyo)
Teela´s last blog ..“Tin Hinan”, Chapter 7, Part 2

You don’t see that in choreography…because the impulse to conform to the steps (and remember them!) is all…

The pure flying joy of dance is missing to my opinion.

Teela
Teela´s last blog ..Teela Gets Her Groove Back, Part II

Perhaps it’s akin to learning zils too early, it can ruin your natural movement of hands…(but that’s an extreme)

I dropped out of most choreography classes…because I found it artificial and constraining…to the internal dancer.

I wanted to dance to the music as my body and spirit insisted…and not to do the same movements over and over…in sync to what was seen by someone else.

I DO know dancers who can’t do a damn thing without it being choreographed…They are chained to a dance…and where is the dancer?

I am teaching now….just started this year…and I won’t teach any choreography. IF my students want that there are plenty of studios who will do that.

I want them to be fully aware of how their bodies have potential to move and for movement.

Choreography is chaining the spirit and the body to the earth.

I want them inventive!

Teela (who is also Lady Nyo)
Teela´s last blog ..Teela Gets Her Groove Back, Part II

I have also learned from great teachers who only teach choreography. I find it frustrating, but instructional. Of course if you are dancing with other dancers you need to work it out together, but even that can be done with improv.

It is so liberating to be able to just feel the music and dance, without worrying about the steps or if I will mess up the choreography. I love the freedom.

I had just sent Kathreen this quote (prior to reading this blog): “Classes will dull your mind, destroy the potential for authentic creativity.” ~ A Beautiful Mind – Movie

I was brought up on choreography and never really truely enjoyed dancing until I met Kathreen. She has taught me to (and continues to) “dance from my heart”. After meeting Kathreen over a year ago, I have learned to feel the music and go with it. I finally found what I was missing. Kathreen’s classes are not just classes, rather they are a transformation into self expression. That experience is perhaps better than great sex (lol)! Just trying to make my point – I want to be authentic in my dance and how better than to dance from my own expression. Thanks for opening up my heart to the real dance.

Petite FiFi