Thread: SPIN-OFF: Pricing Big Corporate Events

Satin's post got me to thinking . . . not so much about money, but about the performance logistics of what sounds like a really cool gig.

In the original post, Satin and a dancer friend are dancing a 45-minute set, doing some dancing together and some mini-solos. What I wanna know is this:
how does one put together a coherent, crisp show with 1) a band with which one is not familiar and 2) without creating a choreo for the duets?

I share sets with other dancers all the time, to live music. But we take turns throughout the set, only very briefly (we're talking 4-6 measures) "dancing together," one following the other's lead.

Tell us, Satin, what will you be doing, exactly and how will you do it??? Inquiring minds want to know!

Deborah

Yes Satin - do tell!

Since Satin hasn't weighed in yet, I'll share what I do for non-choreographed partner and group shows.

1) Synchronize entrance, exit, and props. For example, two dancers can enter and do turns with matching wings and complementary costumes.

2) Take sides. For a big party, dancers can easily take one side each and come back to the center once in a while to interact and play off each other.

3) Do props that complement each other (like sword and candles) if you opt to dance with props at the same time. Or do matching props but focus on movements that play off each other rather than ones that are the same - that looks like somebody's forgetting the steps. For example, my friend and I danced with swords simultaneously, but I'd do a backbend and touch the sword to the floor while she'd do a split with it on her head. It worked out really well!

4) Focus on audience participation, since you wouldn't be doing choreography anyway in a highly interactive show.

5) Each choose a solo (one after the other) to fill set time and give each person a quick break.

Also eager to hear others' ideas!

Bellyfina, I pretty much do steps one and two

My friend and I know pretty much the same choreographies, since we go to workshops together and she used to be my teacher So we like to choreograph the high impact sections, usually the entrance and drum solo. The rest is basically one dancer taking the spotlight while the other dances out on the side of the room, that sort of thing. And it's a lot of feeding off each other and doing improv together. Really not complicated!

We've actually changed the format a little since my original thread - this time, we're going to open with a beledi/saiidi set to show the folkloric side of BD, then change into cabaret costumes for a set with more of an American feel. We're using recorded music, but there will be a drummer/oud player from NYC to set the mood between sets and before the show. He'll do a drum solo with us, probably something off one of his CD's so we can rehearse beforehand.

Am I making sense? I'm having a hard time transitioning to stupid gloomy Connecticut after I was swimming with manatees in sunny Florida yesterday morning. Reality's a b*tch ,r:;

A friend and I did a wedding this way. We did two sets.

First set:
- Entrance, working through the tables
- Full-song solo
- Full-song solo
- Audience participation

Second Set:
- semi-choreographed duet*
- full-song solo
- full-song solo
- dance with the bride


For the semi-choreographed duet, we planned how we'd enter the stage (more of a timing issue than a choreography issue), and had a rehearsed combination that we did together three times throughout the song (when that section of the music repeated), and did the rest as mini-solos.

I think it worked out really well.

Oy! I thought I'd already posted a "thank you" to Satin for replying! My bad, so

THANK YOU, SATIN!

Deborah

Originally Posted by jmdruadh

A friend and I did a wedding this way. We did two sets.

First set:
- Entrance, working through the tables
- Full-song solo
- Full-song solo
- Audience participation

Second Set:
- semi-choreographed duet*
- full-song solo
- full-song solo
- dance with the bride

*For the semi-choreographed duet, we planned how we'd enter the stage (more of a timing issue than a choreography issue), and had a rehearsed combination that we did together three times throughout the song (when that section of the music repeated), and did the rest as mini-solos.

I think it worked out really well.

I'm sure it did, jmdruadh!

I really like how you planned your program. I've done similar stuff (but only rarely over the past 30 years) and really like the "semi-choreographed duet" part!

Thanks for sharing youre experience!

Deborah