Thread: Finding your voice, what you want to say as a dancer...

OK, can someone tell me what this means?

What I want to say as a dancer through my dancing? Do you say stuff with your dancing? And if so, what are you saying? My hips dont lie?

No but seriously tho, how would you say you have found your own style?

Thanks for posting this, Sumaya. I really struggle with this myself, so I have no answers, just more of the same questions. I'm looking forward to hearing what others have to say.

Well, after 30+ years, my "style" is still evolving...g.: Love to try on different personas and give new styles, or new editions of old styles, a try to see if they're a "fit."

But, my voice -- or what I want to say through the dance -- has always been multi-level: 1) this dance is beautiful, both to do and to watch; 2) this dance is creative and allows me to express myself through the combination of movement and music; and 3) (and this one probably isn't "visible" to the audience) this dance is ME -- it satisfies me in a way no other endeavor I've undertaken does; it is as much a part of my everyday life as breathing.

I try to have a clear intention for each performance, what I want to express. Some of my best performance experiences have been when I had a powerful intention that was meaningful to me. I wrote an article about this on my website at Belly Dance Music and Dance Articles
You have to scroll down the page to find it, the title is The Role of Intention in Artistic Belly Dance.
caveat: I am changing DNS servers and I am not sure how this will affect the website. The change is happening in the next day or so.

I posted an entry on my livejournal about this a couple years ago. (Wow, has it really been that long?)

"Back to Basics" - What do I have to say as a dancer?

Your post here reminded me about it. I guess the conclusion I came to then was that what I have to say is "It's okay to dance! It's okay to move! It's okay to enjoy yourself!" - partly because that was the message I caught from the first dancer I saw perform, which made me want to try it for myself.

Edited to add: Of course, that's sort of the overall message I want to send, but each individual performance should have a theme or a story to tell, which would come from the music - its mood, its orchestration, its lyrics - and be reflected in the costuming and the movements I would use. But as a dancer, that's what I have to say for myself. :)

I think what comes across from me is "I'm having so much fun! How 'bout you?"

Deborah

Originally Posted by kat

Well, after 30+ years, my "style" is still evolving...g.: Love to try on different personas and give new styles, or new editions of old styles, a try to see if they're a "fit."

I LOVE this!! I definately believe that we are always learning, and that we should always consider ourselves professional students - no matter what our profession.

I love picking music that has an emotional connection in some way. Be it saying "I'm having the greatest time of my life" to "mourning innocence lost". It really depends on what strikes me and when. This is why I love fusing western lyrical dance with bellydance. Bellydance and lyrical have always felt "right" to me, and to fuse them together gives me an outlet to express my creativity through choreography and stage presence.

This ain't an easy one - these "touchy-feely" things never are.

The very short, uncomplicated answer to a very long, complicated question is: "Myself". Who "myself" is, changes from day to day, and season to season.

Does that make any sense? .w.:

Originally Posted by zorba

This ain't an easy one - these "touchy-feely" things never are.

The very short, uncomplicated answer to a very long, complicated question is: "Myself". Who "myself" is, changes from day to day, and season to season.

Does that make any sense? .w.:

That's how I feel... I've been going through the whole "what do I want to say?" question. I want to overall be strong and beautiful. I want my dance to be expressive and work well with the music.

With a movement vocabulary of hip drops and shimmys, how does one convey innocence lost or other difficult-to-express ideas? I can visualize a three minute piece in the genre of modern dance exploring the topic, but belly dancers don't usually have the option of standing around looking sad or throwing themselves to the floor and curling up into a fetal position . . .

Patting one's heart and shaking one's head while the singer of an Egyptian song wails about his broken elbe/elba works well, but I just can't see belly dance movement sustaining the idea of sadness or ruefulness or whatever . . .

Maybe I'm too literal . . .

Deborah

Originally Posted by casbahdance

With a movement vocabulary of hip drops and shimmys, how does one convey innocence lost or other difficult-to-express ideas? I can visualize a three minute piece in the genre of modern dance exploring the topic, but belly dancers don't usually have the option of standing around looking sad or throwing themselves to the floor and curling up into a fetal position . . .

Patting one's heart and shaking one's head while the singer of an Egyptian song wails about his broken elbe/elba works well, but I just can't see belly dance movement sustaining the idea of sadness or ruefulness or whatever . . .

Maybe I'm too literal . . .

Deborah

At least for me lot depends on the choice of music(both the melody/rhythm and the lyrics). Just as how I dance ("style-wise") is different when I dancing to Rompi Rompi than it is when I dance to Tahtil Shibbak, it's different when I dance (emotional-wise) to Saad's Bellydance than it is when I dance to Ferrando's Yearning.

Originally Posted by casbahdance

With a movement vocabulary of hip drops and shimmys, how does one convey innocence lost or other difficult-to-express ideas? I can visualize a three minute piece in the genre of modern dance exploring the topic, but belly dancers don't usually have the option of standing around looking sad or throwing themselves to the floor and curling up into a fetal position . . .

Patting one's heart and shaking one's head while the singer of an Egyptian song wails about his broken elbe/elba works well, but I just can't see belly dance movement sustaining the idea of sadness or ruefulness or whatever . . .

Maybe I'm too literal . . .

Deborah

Facial expressions. I think how you execute a move plays into the mood, too.

The first few years I really struggled with the concept of speaking from within myself. Troupe performances were fun but just didn't do it for me. And knowing that I was searching for my voice was frustrating when I still didn't know enough of the vocabulary and grammar to put the words together.

It was more than just finding a style; more like finding myself in the dance. And finding myself is still an evolving project since I really have a lot to say!!

One advantage of being an amateur peforming mainly at workshop shows, haflas, and galas is that most of my solo performances are for other dancers. That is a challenge in itself, but I think you let yourself work through a wider range of emotions from a stage, particularly those that might be more raw or make you more vulnerable, than you can do when you are dancing close to or in the midst of your audience.

In other words you can do a little more clutching your broken heart (or liver) and expressing longing, joy, bittersweet regret, ectasy when you are not in someone personal space (especially with Americans who seem to back away from such displays automatically.)

Souzan

Originally Posted by casbahdance

With a movement vocabulary of hip drops and shimmys, how does one convey innocence lost or other difficult-to-express ideas? Deborah

but this dance is not just a bunch of moves, are you really saying you have never seen any subtlety or communication of something profound in a raqs sharqi (or beledi or tribal etc etc) performance, or felt something pour out of yourself when you were with the music and sharing with an audience?

I dance with my heart and soul. I don't really have a particular style. When you enjoy the dance so will your audience. For me my first teacher taught me: listen to the music and dance with your heart the steps will come to you. Corny as it sounded when i first started. When performing it makes sense.
I wish i could explain it better into words but thats how Iemotionally sum it up.

Alrana

I think if there's one think I want to commincate with my dancing, it's joy. Sometimes it's the earthy joy of baladi, sometimes the sassy andout for a good time joy of shaabi, sometimes the bittersweet joy of Om Kalthoum. I know it's what I feel inside when I dance to these songs, so I hope at least a little bit of it comes out in my performance.

Originally Posted by jilyan

but this dance is not just a bunch of moves, are you really saying you have never seen any subtlety or communication of something profound in a raqs sharqi (or beledi or tribal etc etc) performance, or felt something pour out of yourself when you were with the music and sharing with an audience?

Absolutely BD is not just a bunch of moves!

I've seen plenty of subtlety. But communication of something "profound?" Can't say I have. Perhaps it's because I don't see BD as profound . . . maybe it's just my definition of the word . . . I have seen profoundly beautiful dancing . . .

Something pour out of myself? Yes. But 99.99% of the time at home; I sometimes outright bawl! Of course, music of many genres has that effect on me. I have also practically bawled during other people's performances.

Hmmmm . . . why might this be?

<thinking>

<still thinking>

Okay, maybe this is it: I didn't take up belly dancing to
1) discover anything about myself; I was 9 years old when I first exprienced it
2) explore my femininity; (see #1)
3) try something new/different; it was different, but it wasn't new to me
Further, I didn't take up BD because
4) I fell in love with the music as an adult; I absolutely love it, along with Aaron Copeland's music, the music of JS Bach, GF Handel, M Praetorius, the Beatles. the Eagles, you get the idea (see #1)
5) I held a bunch of heady orientale fantasies; well, those are fun, I admit!

I guess one could say I kinda took up BD by default because my mom took it up. I remember loving the music. I remember attending classes my mom took and I remember attending classes my mom taught.

When I was about 14, I began accompanying Mom to her shows as her assistant (costume/music/etc). Mom broke her ankle when I was 16, so she finished out a series of classes with me doing the demonstrating. And life has never been the same!

I found great personal joy in dancing to interpret music! I had always loved dancing, and always danced "interpretively," but now I had a real vocabulary with which to do it! I wish I had the words to describe the feelings I had then . . . the same feelings that continue to this day!

I love expressing music through dance. I hope my interpretation of the music allows an audience to hear the music better so they can feel it for themselves.

Deborah

Originally Posted by sumayasaahir

OK, can someone tell me what this means?
No but seriously tho, how would you say you have found your own style?

I mostly think I don't have a "style" because I'm changing as a person. I'm definitely drawn to more earthy types of music though, and I don't see a four minute taxsim in the near future. My dance voice has changed not only as my dance vocabulary and exposure has increased but also because of where I am as a person. I hate to go all esoteric on you, but I would say that my performance reflects where I am at that moment since I generally just do improv. Some nights I have a great show and others are flat and suck.

It's hard for me to imagine the way others see me because after all, it's just me. I don't think I have such a strong style that if danced with a bag on my head people would know it was me. Some people have signature moves or musical tastes, but I'm not sure I really have an underlying thing that makes my dance mine. I hope this makes some kind of sense.

Originally Posted by Andrea2

I mostly think I don't have a "style" because I'm changing as a person. I'm definitely drawn to more earthy types of music though, and I don't see a four minute taxsim in the near future. My dance voice has changed not only as my dance vocabulary and exposure has increased but also because of where I am as a person. I hate to go all esoteric on you, but I would say that my performance reflects where I am at that moment since I generally just do improv. Some nights I have a great show and others are flat and suck.

It's hard for me to imagine the way others see me because after all, it's just me. I don't think I have such a strong style that if danced with a bag on my head people would know it was me. Some people have signature moves or musical tastes, but I'm not sure I really have an underlying thing that makes my dance mine. I hope this makes some kind of sense.

Yes you do have a style. You dance with tremendous strength of spirit and power, absolutely committed to every movement. There's a lot of Yousry in your style, but you're not a Sharif clone, either, there are other influences. You're head-on in your music and not afraid to challenge your audience. Your style is earthy and grounded, but also a little jazzy. You've got that certain 'shaabi girl' quality even when you're doing oriental.

I "found my voice", found "what to say as a dancer" the minute I let go and just allowed myself to be. The real me came out then.

Kinda like what Zorba says. It changes as much as the season/my mood changes. But the music affects my mood (usually positively, no matter how I was feeling before), so affects what I naturally project. Yep, "finding it" is about "losing it" first for me. Losing the self-consciousness and then finding my "being".

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Yes you do have a style.

Who knew? ..l;,

Originally Posted by Freddie

I "found my voice", found "what to say as a dancer" the minute I let go and just allowed myself to be. The real me came out then.

I second this. As soon as I stopped thinking of bellydancing in terms of moves, I finally realized what my style really is. And it's an ever-evolving style.

As I was reading this post, I thought about "So You Think You Can Dance". It's so clear whether a dancer is actually into the piece or not. And those that are bring emotion into you just by watching it on a screen. I find myself smiling at some pieces and others bring me near tears. It's amazing.

Originally Posted by casbahdance

With a movement vocabulary of hip drops and shimmys, how does one convey innocence lost or other difficult-to-express ideas? I can visualize a three minute piece in the genre of modern dance exploring the topic, but belly dancers don't usually have the option of standing around looking sad or throwing themselves to the floor and curling up into a fetal position . . .Deborah

Think of a really sad peice of music - possibly one with a violin solo. How would you move to that? How would you express your vocabulary of movement to a song where the singer sounds angry? Bellydance is DANCE - we are expressing ourselves through the art of dance. Most of the time the music is happy and upbeat - ala restaurant work, birthday gigs, etc... But, delve deeper into your library of music and I bet you can find a peice of work that the musician used to express sadness, anger, joy, etc... As a dancer we are the instruments that interpret the music in a visual manner to an audience. We enhance the audiences experience by adding more elements and more texture to a show...

*beware, shameless plug coming on*
I did a peice that to me refelcted some inner conflict I had recently experienced and the acceptance of the conflict.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ztdn771s8A]YouTube - Oracle at Nicola's Restaurant 2007[/ame]

Originally Posted by oracle

As a dancer we are the instruments that interpret the music in a visual manner to an audience. We enhance the audiences experience by adding more elements and more texture to a show...

Of course! Couldn't have said it better!

My first post (#10) was seriously flawed and expressed very poorly a number of thoughts I was having about the subject and its many tangents.

samayasaahir's original post:
"OK, can someone tell me what [finding your voice] means?
What I want to say as a dancer through my dancing? Do you say stuff with your dancing? And if so, what are you saying? My hips dont lie? No but seriously tho, how would you say you have found your own style?"

Perhaps partly because of my start in the wonderful world of BD (see post #17), I'm a rather pragmatic dancer. I tend to dance for GP audiences that simply want some entertainment; my presentation or style, which tends to be light-hearted and playful, with a bit of the coquette mixed in, fits that bill pretty well.

Music makes a dancer do things; I think it's fair to say that someone who can't hear the music will not be a very good dancer. Should a person wish to "say something" or give voice to his/her emotional state with his/her dance, that's great! If a person thinks to do certain movement when he/she hears certain phrases in music, then he/she, too, really is "feeling the music" and is expressing him/herself, even if it's no deeper than "gee, this music makes we wanna do a bunch of hip drops . . . isn't this great?!" with a big smile on her face or "gee, isn't this the sexiest music you've ever heard? I'm gonna show you . . . " with an intent, internalized attitude.

What concerns me most about the discussion of "finding one's voice" and similar topics is that we can, usually inadvertently, suggest to other people, especially newer dancers, that unless we feel a certain way then we're not really dancing; that unless we delve deeply into our emotional wells, as it were, then we're not real belly dancers. (Please understand that I am not saying that anyone on this board has done that; this is a generalized statement about the idea of "voice" and how it can be misused.)

I guess it reminds me too much of the idea of requirements; doing this or feeling that as a test of the truth and strength -- the reality -- of one's commitment to something or ability to do something. I just want to impress upon folks who might be feeling inadequate because they don't think they "feel enough" while they're dancing because they're not expressing their deepest emotions all the time or whatever, that it is wrong for others to place upon you the onerous idea of "enough." Doing that, to put it bluntly, is just plain wrong.

Deborah

Originally Posted by casbahdance

I love expressing music through dance. I hope my interpretation of the music allows an audience to hear the music better so they can feel it for themselves.

Deborah

Beautiful!! I feel this way too.

thank you for your post, and everyone on this thread. it's so interesting where people come from with everything. i'm in a space right now where i'm having trouble expressing myself with language let alone dance and hearing about other people's experiences is helping me get back in touch.