Thread: Improvising in class seems so much harder than when performing

I take a advance class at my belly dance school. Each session focuses on a certain aspect of the dance (right now is chifetelli) and we review different things we can do and then we do group improvise with the last 2 weeks we each go up individually. Now I love this class as I think it has helped me immensely. The last session was drum solo and at my last performance I did the best drum solo I have ever done. But I swear I have a harder time improvising in class than I do when I am performing. I don't get it. Last night, the first song, I did pretty good. Second song, awful. I feel like I get more nervous in class than outside. Is that weird?

The EXACT same thing happens to me..I am glad to not be the only one.I can go dance in front of 200 people & be & feel awesome & then in class in front of 5 I feel like an absolute newbie.Weird

I think it's normal! When you're improvising a performance, you like to think your audience is enjoying you and having a great time.

When you improvise in class, you feel like your audience (teacher and classmates) are evaluating you, keeping some kind of 'score' on how how well you're doing. Can't help feeling like they're evaluating how well you're interpreting the music, whether you used the same move too many times, etc.

Improvising in class is more like dancing in a competition -- not because you're competing against anyone, but because you feel like you're being evaluated by judges.

I think it's TOTALLY normal to feel more nervous and stressed!

Yes, I think that feeling of being "caught in the headlights" when improvising in class with only teacher and other students watching is very common. The other thing about class is, you are not wearing the persona-altering disguise that you don for a performance and which makes you feel like a real dancer . . . the gorgeous costume, the make-up, the jools (the wig? heh heh). It's just ordinary old you with nothing to see but the moves you make.
It's a very good practice though, to make yourself push through the resistance and do it. Just don't let it worry you if it feels awkward or you don't feel like you did well. Bear in mind that does not mean you won't do well in a real performance. You could think of it as a form of "practicing with weights on."
Rosette

Yes, yes, yes. What you guys all said is exactly what I am feeling. I totally love the class as I know I am learning a lot. But I wish I can get over being so nervous. And as Yazeena said there is usually like only 5 other students. Yeesh! The last session at the last class, we all actually dressed up a little (I usually go in a sports bra and yoga pants). I donned harem pants and a cute top to help "get in character".

Originally Posted by Rosette

It's a very good practice though, to make yourself push through the resistance and do it. Just don't let it worry you if it feels awkward or you don't feel like you did well. Bear in mind that does not mean you won't do well in a real performance. You could think of it as a form of "practicing with weights on."

Ohhhh, this is SO true!!!

Also true about the lack of costuming. I used to get really uncomfortable when my students wanted me to do a little demo dance for them in class -- without a costume I felt very naked dancing. I *think* I'm finally over that now.

Goddess Bless, I truly thought I was the only person in the world that felt that way!!!! Put me in front of a crowd and I can improv my little heart out - have a great time - even smile and even laugh while I'm performing. But put me on the spot in class and suddenly I can only remember the most basic moves. WEIRD!

What you feel is very natural, all of us feel the same way....Even when my teachers at present in my public shows...I get sooo nervous...
I started improvising in my classes from the early time in my dance career, and I found it easy (thanks to Jim Boz for this...) if I focus on one part of my body, and (thanks to Morwenna Assaf) focus on what combination I like to improve that week or month...this way, each week or month or period of time, I learnt and drilled something new, and thaught to my muscles what to do. Then I started adding more and more...well this is little off subject but I think to feel more comfortable in front of your fellow dancer friends and especially teacher, ones also should drink couple glasses of wine...just kidding!!!!, feel better about the moves and technique. it is not Quantity, but quality, and practice.

but I also forgot to add that I feel priviledged to have teachers that tell me what I do wrong or does not look good...I trust my teachers and corrected my mistakes...that lead me to become a better dancer than before.

Whew! so glad I read this post! Like most of you, I feel the same way when improving in class. I feel like I'm able to put on this different persona on a stage or in front of an audience, but put me in front of my teacher and fellow students and I close up like a clam. It's gotten better with time. I remember when we first started improving in class I would actually break out in a sweat!! I have found that being conscious of my mind set going into class helps immensely...and what I wear helps too.

The other thing that helps me is knowing the music. I find it so hard to improv to a song that I've never heard before, but after a few weeks I find that the improv gets much easier as I learn the song and can plan my movements a little more.

Im never nervous when im performing but im always nervous when I dance in front of a teacher in class!

It is harder to dance in front of classmates than it is to dance for just about any other type of "audience!"

I've been doing this thing for about 30 years professionally, but when I was taking an advanced class with Mesmera a few years ago, we were required (well, if you just couldn't, then she wouldn't make you) to do about 2 minutes at the end of every class. She would go first, to show what she was looking for, then everybody would solo to that same music.

It was difficult, especially the first time. I didn't know anybody in the class and each "audience" was expected to evaluate what she saw in the dancer-of-the-moment. Oy!

Deborah

I must be the only one who is opposite. Im not nervous at all when improvising in class, but really nervous when trying to improvise a performance.

The feedback I get is definitely constructive criticism so I was I wouldn't get so nervous. Does it get easier? Though at least I stopped freezing and just stopping, but instead now I sometimes can't commit to a move. Very frustrating. I don't do that when I am performing. It is easier when I know the song, but I like dancing not knowing the song as I see that as practice for dancing with a live band.