Thread: Tell me your improv fears and ah-hahs!

I am teaching my very first workshop in El Paso Saturday, and the only subject I feel confident enough to teach is the art of improv. I have been an improvisational dancer since I began. My reason... errr, excuse... is that it is the traditional way of dancing this dance. (I have weaknesses in the choreo dept., but lets not go there right now...)

I have my outline and talking points ready to go, but I would like to hear from people who are really afraid of it and why - as well as any instructors who may have a light bulb idea that I can share.

I am afraid of repeating the same moves too many times and being boring.

I'm afraid of looking stupid! I freeze up and forget my movements!

Edna

afraid of being too repetitive.
of freezing up, because my brain doesn't go fast enough to make up a move to music
of not being able to predict the music (the only times i've been able to do improv was on music i knew by heart, and yes, i kept freezing up and/or repeating the same 2-3 moves...)
somehow when i do improv, my dance move list is reduced to 2-3 moves. i can't think of anything better on the spot.. i feel like a beginner (which i am, yes, but not that much!) and feel like a fool because i know i should be able to do better... i get frustrated and annoyed at myself lol

I'm afraid of blanking out. I like to have something memorized so I can fall back on that if need be.

If it's music that I don't know well and it's fast, I'm afraid I can't keep up. I prefer to move slowly or medium tempo, because it gives me a chance to sink into the music more than fast music generally does.

Improv woo woo! Just let go, people will appreciate it more if you're enjoying it rather than worrying if they will like it.

Sometimes I get self-conscious that the moves I'm doing are too repetitive when I improv. However, I've been told that the dancer gets bored with stuff well before the audience does, so I've been trying to take that advice to heart.

One thing I don't like is how sometimes my transitions don't flow very smoothly when I improv. They either look stiff or awkward.

Another problem I have is when I loosely choreograph a few sections of the music ahead of time, sometimes I'll be improv'ing up to that section, and then when I get to that point in the music, I find myself in a place where I can't do what I had planned to do there (weight is in the wrong foot, I'm on the wrong part of the stage, etc.). Then I usually end up with a few botched steps or a really muddy transition.

Woo hoo! My home town!
I'm afraid of blanking out and looking like I forgot my choreography
I'm afraid of dancing to live music

people will appreciate it more if you're enjoying it rather than worrying if they will like it.

The same could be said for sex...easier said than done...was it good for you dear? Did I shave my legs? Onions for dinner??

I can put on a cd in my house and dance to the whole thing... I hope it's not twisted but I've even videoed a little just to see what I look like... not bad... Put me in front of people... any people at all and my mind goes completely blank.

I'm not afraid of improve, its the only thing I do, I'm actually afraid of chorography. Even still I saw when I watched videos of my self that I was to rapacious, so now I break my music up in sections depending on the rhythm/tempo ect changes, and I put in 1 move that I usually don't fall back on. This way I know that I did at least 3 unique moves.

Originally Posted by mrsnj20

I am afraid of repeating the same moves too many times and being boring.

I'm not afraid of improve, its the only thing I do, I'm actually afraid of chorography. Even still I saw when I watched videos of my self that I was to rapacious, so now I break my music up in sections depending on the rhythm/tempo ect changes, and I put in 1 move that I usually don't fall back on. This way I know that I did at least 3 unique moves.

Originally Posted by mrsnj20

I am afraid of repeating the same moves too many times and being boring.

Originally Posted by anala

I am teaching my very first workshop in El Paso Saturday, and the only subject I feel confident enough to teach is the art of improv. I have been an improvisational dancer since I began. My reason... errr, excuse... is that it is the traditional way of dancing this dance. (I have weaknesses in the choreo dept., but lets not go there right now...)

I have my outline and talking points ready to go, but I would like to hear from people who are really afraid of it and why - as well as any instructors who may have a light bulb idea that I can share.

I've been dancing for 30 years, improv-only for the first 15 or so, and I still can't figure out how to *teach improvisation* beyond helping people reduce their fears of improv by encouraging them. So what I end up doing is really just going over with them 3-4 movements to do, playing the music to which they'll be dancing (showing how the movements can fit the music), pointing out the changes for which to listen, then setting them loose. Then, while they're dancing, I'll announce any upcoming music changes that really might necessitate a change in movement, or in the movement quality.

I suppose a way to do this for a workshop might be to use the same section of music a few times with different sets of 3-4 movements (or variations on previous movements) to show just how many ways one can interpret with their bodies the same bit of music. Maybe do this with two or three different feelings of music; say, one that's mostly "staccato," another that's mostly "smooth," and a third that combines the two.

Anala, do you know to what level dancers you will be teaching? Or will you not know until you get there? Teaching improv to absolute beginners, whose movement vocab and whose ability to create movement correctly is, by definition, limited will be a real challenge!

Good luck and congrats!

Deborah

....... stay in your body and in the moment, stay connected to the music, communicate to at least one person what you see, hear and feel in the music ..... it's impossible to freeze up, your body "knows" what to do ...... I still remember what my teacher told me before I went out the first time to improv with a live band w/o choreography and no idea what they were going to play: "It's impossible at this point to do anything 'stupid', your body knows what to do..." and the best advice she ever gave me .... "get out of your own way...." (applies to more than dance in my case, haha -- lots of issues here ....) Oh -- and concentrate on concepts rather than individual moves, combinations or tricks... remember that what you do facing in one direction is viewed differently just by trurning around, or doing a level change or changing to half time or double time. One basic move can go a looooong way without boring anyone. If you really blank out, start layering over whatever you are already doing and "stretch out from the center". The best concept my teacher ever passed on to me: "Go somewhere and do something......" (by the time you get there, your blank will be over and forgotten)

Tell your class that its OK to stop as an accent or a time to give attention to a move.. that is, its ok to stop and pose or stop and give a look as a move or take an 8 count breath.It also gives you a chance to think about what you want to do next. Improv to CD is different than Improv to live music. In live music, yu really cant choreo unless you are fortunate enough to work with a band on a regular basis, most bands will play the same song differently EVERY time they play it. Live music with an unfamilar band is always an excersise in improv.

When I improv, I am afraid of looking like I am thinking too much, instead of looking like I am 100% in the music!

Originally Posted by naiyahayal

"It's impossible at this point to do anything 'stupid', your body knows what to do..."
"get out of your own way...."
concentrate on concepts rather than individual moves, combinations or tricks...
"Go somewhere and do something......" (by the time you get there, your blank will be over and forgotten)

omg. your teacher is brilliant. I consider myself a pretty good improv dancer, but I've never put to words the "concentrate on concepts" idea. brilliant. what a great teaching tip...

some ah-ha tips I've received:
-have a "thinking step" (thanks, aziza!)
-when you hit the stage to do an improv performance, have two, maximum three moves you hope to bust out, should the music be right. it's much less stressful to think "ok, I hope to fit in that cool fifi hip circle at some point" rather than "I have to have cool and clever combos, all the time!"
-SLOW THE HELL DOWN
-don't worry about missing an accent, or not nailing the first beat of a rhythm or tempo change. don't rush to abort the mission if there is a change in the music. take a beat or two and ease into it.
-SLOW THE HELL DOWN
-don't show everything you've got in the first 20 seconds. you've got a whole song/set to tell your story, so don't forget the "once upon a time" and the "happily ever after."
-if you find yourself with music that feels super fast, you can move half time to it.
-did I mention, SLOW THE HELL DOWN?

Try to appreciate yourself and the uniqueness you are. There is no one like you in the world, never has been and never will be.

My current fall-back, if I'm trying to think is to tell myself "Lift your chest!" Everything looks better with a lifted chest.

What others have said - have a fall-back move and have a plan for three or four moves you would like to throw in at some time during the dance.

To elaborate on the concepts idea you can think of little mini stories or scenes or images that are meaningful to you, or a character you want to be for that music. There's some music and costumes that make me feel "Bohemian" and some that make me feel "Sophisticated," for example, and that makes me move differently.

Did I read here on Bhuz or elsewhere about the study of jazz musicians' brains done by scientists. They found that when the musicians were playing improvisationally the part of their brains that was active was the part related to dreaming. Pretty cool.

[QUOTE=elisagamal;322187]omg. your teacher is brilliant. I consider myself a pretty good improv dancer, but I've never put to words the "concentrate on concepts" idea. brilliant. what a great teaching tip...

Sherry Brier of Inner Rhythm in Marin County! My first Modern Egyptian style teacher...... I've tried to pass this on, and in those awful moments when the mind says "what are you doing, teaching? You're a fraud ... blah, blah. ..... you know, those panic/anxiety attacks .... not good enough, all that ..." then I see my girls (girls as in "students", not as in "boobies"..l;,) "do it" ...... "go somewhere and do something," or creating interest by level changes and all the other concepts..... they "got it" ..... then it all makes sense again and the panic goes away and I no longer feel I'm wasting their time and $$. It's worth all the moments of self-doubt -- as a teacher and as a performer. I stress teaching concepts -- for stronger techniques, I refer the girls to those teachers whose skills they are ready for. Most of my students don't want to perform in public--but we all need the concepts. Sometimes I'll see one of them doing something really nice and I'll say, "Wow, that's nice. What was that?" And they'll say, "Well, that's what you told us to do." Interesting how sometimes you're able to pass something along, teach it, but may not be able to "perform" it yourself! Hmmm, that would be another thread.....


-SLOW THE HELL DOWN (I LOVE THAT -- yes, soooo important!!)

SLOW THE HELL DOWN

I think I may just write that on my big piece of paper on a stand!!!!

I am using Ella Fitzgerald's One Note Samba to introduce the impovisational concept. It is a wonerful cool scat.

Wow that misspelling makes me sound like Lawrence Welk.

My "aha" moment.

I was working with Hadia when she asked me to show her the "meaty" part of a choreo I had done. I was honestly quite proud of this specific portion, when she stopped me and point blank asked me "what are you doing?"

Me: "Dancing?"

Hadia: "NO. You're showing me a series of moves...... DANCE"

I honestly had no idea what she was talking about at the time, but that night I went back to my hotel, put on my music and danced by myself... I mean, just danced around... from the heart. I'd never let myself do that before because I was too busy analyzing each movement to perfection.

It hit me like a ton of bricks.

Perfect the technique. Build your repertoire. Revisit both often and explore outside of your comfort zone in your training. But when you dance - DANCE.

From the heart.

That big moment was.... "You mean I don't have to do an actual movement? I can make up my own or blend them in the moment as I want?" Improv wasn't nearly as scary with the liberty of creating things in the moment.

Of course, there are a lot of other things to think of and perfect, but it's more along the lines of posture, dynamics, slowing down my arms, etc.

Good one!

Originally Posted by anala

SLOW THE HELL DOWN

It is a wonerful ....

Wow that misspelling makes me sound like Lawrence Welk.

"Wonerful, wonerful......" You REMEMBER Lawrence Welk? I feel SO much better..l;,..l;,

In response to the problem of feeling like you are doing the same move over and over, there is an interesting podcast by Taktaba on ITunes (it's free) about long term repetition in movements. She gives a pictoral breakdown of how an audience (GP versus Dancers) appreciate moves, both repetition and complexity.

It helped me to remember that it's ok to repeat a move multiple times so that the audience has time to "get it". I thought that was particularly interesting. Also, she talks about doing a complex move OCCASIONALLY so that it really stands out. It's ok to do "fall back" moves so that those tricky ones really make an impression.

Originally Posted by anala

people will appreciate it more if you're enjoying it rather than worrying if they will like it.

The same could be said for sex...easier said than done...was it good for you dear? Did I shave my legs? Onions for dinner??

LMFAO. What? Do I have something between my teeth?

Anala - I wish I could attend your workshop but unfortunately, I'll be too busy with last minute costume sewing for the show that night since I have to work all week. (But we'll see you at the show).

Whenever our instructor (Sarah - Spirit of the Nile) says "free-style" my brain hears "freeze". I draw a blank. I can't think of anything to do except hip steps and wrist curls (and I know a whole lot more moves than that).

My ah-ha moment was New Year's Eve. We were a last minute addition to a show at a major hotel in El Paso. When we arrived for the show, the coordinator told us "oh, yeah, and when we start the show, go out among the tables and dance for everyone". Understand that our troupe has only done a couple of choreographed stage shows and a Renaissance Faire up to this point (we've only been dancing together for about a year). Sarah said our faces went white! But when the music started and we entered the room from the back entrance and made our way among the tables, it turned out to be really fun to interact with everyone. And I found it easier to improv in close quarters than on the stage since your moves were limited anyway.

Good luck on Saturday. We are looking forward to the show.

I'll miss ya!

PS...you can sew and listen, I wont mind....this will be done with your brain as much (if not more ) than your body! I plan to give you all a study guide and methods rather than solve your issues on the spot...sorry...no fairy dust in the dance bag!

Improv is a big weakness for me. I feel like my technique suffers, my musicality suffers, my personal expression suffers - I'm thinking so hard about what to do and how to do it and 'do they like it?' and all that...it is sooooo stressful for me.

With a choreo, I can rehearse it until my toes fall off, I can get it just perfect. Even if I don't perform the choreo like I rehearsed, those moments of improv within it feels really good. My body KNOWS what to do. I feel very free within a choreo.

In improv, I feel...abandoned. Agorophobic. Like a kid who suddenly finds themselves home alone...no rules, no structure, no saftey net, no boundaries...its terrifying. I've seen videos of myself doing both - doing choreo, I think I look pretty good. Doing improv...I look like I've never even had a class.

I'm beginning to think you either have an aptitude for Improv or not. Just like some people will always struggle with choreo. Praise tho, to all teachers who teach Improv!! ..g.:

SLOW THE HELL DOWN

you could make stickers and hand them out, the theme of the workshop..l;,
I will stick one on my forehead, good advice.

Like a kid who suddenly finds themselves home alone...no rules, no structure, no saftey net, no boundaries...its terrifying.

Wooohooo...home alone!!!!

Seriously, I do think it is an aptitude, just as you said, but I also think it can be an aquired skill as well. I had no aptitude for driving a vehicle either...given my spacial lapses (where the hell is my car, anyway???) but I am pretty safe on the streets now.