Fearlessness
Dramatic flair, spunk, fearlessness – call it what you will, but
your performance probably doesn’t have enough of it. Most
performances are missing dramatic flair. You need something in
your performance that sets your show apart, that is uniquely you,
and sets the tone for your performance as professional quality.
Zaina -
Fearlessness
People seem too afraid to really go all out. Too many people worry
about what others will think about a larger than life personality
on stage. Bert Balladine, my mentor who was a globe-trotting
performer and teacher, wisely shared with me – “Be a diva on
the stage, project your personality beyond the stage lights. Don’t
worry about other dancers hating you for being a diva. Just don’t
be a diva off the stage, and you’ll be fine.”
Zaina of Poland, a professional costume designer and award
winning dancer, has a memorable performance wearing a 3
meter yellow silk skirt attached at the wrist – enthralling the
audience when she turns to reveal her rhinestone encrusted bra
and belt. As Zaina danced and moved her skirt-veil to reveal her
tiny and dramatic costuming – you could see her eyes connect
with the audience and returning a smile, while her energized eyes
indicated her connection with the audience. No, not everyone
has “body perfection” or is a skilled costume designer – but we
can all consider how we can add fearlessness to our shows to
create performances with personal power and personality that
energize the audience.
Inessa - Fearlessness
What to try for FEARLESSNESS: Most performances are
missing a focal point. You don’t need to pack in all the dance
moves you have ever learned. You just need one or two uniquely
performed movements or dance moves with fantastical,
whimsical, and/or extremely dynamic styling – to make a
unique statement as a performer. Unique, bold moves – which
may even be tiny personal touches or even stillness (e.g. Elena
Lentini of NYC, a dancer with dramatic pauses and poses) can
create a performance with strategic and powerful focal points,
and dynamic styling, that stuns audiences. Try for bold artistic
performance that elevates your dancing beyond just technique.
Thoughtful Design
All audiences can relate to design details in performances that
made the shows exciting. Many performances by nonprofessional
dancers contain a series of dance steps - they just link steps,
poses, and drilled movements and isolations together and believe
it is performance. The missing element in these “step-hip, walk”
shows as I call them – is thoughtful design. Without thoughtful
July 2017
The Belly Dance Chronicles
23