Thread: How do you learn to make your moves big?

Here is my last creation, inspired by a wonderful Marina Oganyan.

I made a lot of progress but still working on making "bigger" moves. It's so hard... Any suggestions?

Hello! Do you mean choreographing movements for a big piece of music or making your actual movements larger?

That's a fun performance!

I don't think there's anything wrong with your range of motion. But if a bigger look to your moves is what you want, here's my advice:

1) You have slender hips, and the modern minimalist costumes like you're wearing in this clip don't do much to enhance the hipwork. Your hipwork would look bigger if you were wearing a more classic Egyptian style costume -- or a Bella/Sim style -- with lots of layers of fringe at the hipline. Try tucking a silk veil in to make poufs with tails at each hip next time you're in class and see how much your movement leaps! If you feel like it makes a big difference, then make it a priority that your future costume buys have hip-maximizing properties. It's possible to find them, even in the most modern styles.

2) You could add more of a sense of movement to your dance by breaking out of the vertical line of your body more. I call this dancing 'out of the test tube.' Imagine that you're contained inside a giant test tube (or transporter beam, if you're a sci fi geek!) then imagine trying to get out of that shape. Kicks,*really* deep big hip circles, poses that have you bending at the hips and extending your arms horizontally -- experiment with finding more horizontal lines for your body.

3) Level changes!

4) Dynamics. You can make the tiniest movements seem insanely powerful if you frame them inside some negative space (pause before & after, just for a breath) and then execute the move with either a sharp muscular stop or a bounceback. So pause for a sec... then POW crisp move.. then pause & maybe slow smile... then dance on...

Thank you soooo much Lauren! This is some great piece of advice! Time to work on it........ :)

Originally Posted by Lauren_

That's a fun performance!

I don't think there's anything wrong with your range of motion. But if a bigger look to your moves is what you want, here's my advice:

1) You have slender hips, and the modern minimalist costumes like you're wearing in this clip don't do much to enhance the hipwork. Your hipwork would look bigger if you were wearing a more classic Egyptian style costume -- or a Bella/Sim style -- with lots of layers of fringe at the hipline. Try tucking a silk veil in to make poufs with tails at each hip next time you're in class and see how much your movement leaps! If you feel like it makes a big difference, then make it a priority that your future costume buys have hip-maximizing properties. It's possible to find them, even in the most modern styles.

2) You could add more of a sense of movement to your dance by breaking out of the vertical line of your body more. I call this dancing 'out of the test tube.' Imagine that you're contained inside a giant test tube (or transporter beam, if you're a sci fi geek!) then imagine trying to get out of that shape. Kicks,*really* deep big hip circles, poses that have you bending at the hips and extending your arms horizontally -- experiment with finding more horizontal lines for your body.

3) Level changes!

4) Dynamics. You can make the tiniest movements seem insanely powerful if you frame them inside some negative space (pause before & after, just for a breath) and then execute the move with either a sharp muscular stop or a bounceback. So pause for a sec... then POW crisp move.. then pause & maybe slow smile... then dance on...

I really enjoyed watching this! you are gorgeous Can I ask what is the song please?

I agree with Lauren, pausing because making a big POP or BOOM always creates bigger moves. ALso working on stretching out and strengthening the muscles of the obliques and quads, and bringing the shimmy from the glutes!

Originally Posted by Belle_Elen

Thank you soooo much Lauren! This is some great piece of advice! Time to work on it........ :)

Thank you, very kind! :)

The music is called Sayed Balaha Madrid, and you can easily download it on internet for free ;)
I loved this piece of music!

True, gotta work on pauses....

This might sound silly compared to all the great advice you've gotten, but I always get compliments on my dancing from certain people when I wear my coin costume with long fringe. The movement (and sound!) of the coins and fringe really does accentuate your movements and make them appear bigger, and I always think it's perfect to wear for a drum solo. So if you like that kind of costuming, it's a super easy way to oomph up the impact of your moves.

I have nothing helpful to add. I just wanted to say that you are exquisite : )

Originally Posted by Kaleena

I have nothing helpful to add. I just wanted to say that you are exquisite : )

thank you very much Kaleena