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Embodying your music.
Hi everyone, so I read on here somewhere that some of their favorite performances to watch is those who totally embodies their music. What does that mean exactly? I am preparing for my 1st ever routine performance in a couple of months in a showcase. I'm totally in love my song but how would I go about embodying the music? Also, any suggestions on how to put on a great performance? What should I do if I mess up? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
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8 Replies
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I would like to ask also how to deal with nerves. I am so nervous performing for my peers that I could throw up just thinking of it. I often freestyle at dance clubs with poles and feel totally comfortable as every tricks and spins gets a gasp from the general public. But this is my peers in performing for and they can see every detail of the move done properly or not.
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For me, someone who embodies their music is someone who not only just dances to a song, but pays attention to the tiniest details- like following along to the beat, dances through from the tips of their fingers to the points of their toes, someone who is dynamic and tells a story through their performance. I think that you can be awesome at doing tricks, but can also suck at putting on a show and really reaching out to your audience and putting together a beautiful routine. As far getting over nerves while performing in front of peers, it's something that you just get used to over time. My pole studio has an anniversary party every year, and there are both instructor and student performances. I performed last year, and will be doing it again this year, and for me I was very very nervous. But my instructor is a very positive person and said some things to me that helped me relax. Don't worry about who you're performing in front of, they are there to watch you kick ass, not to critique you. Just be confident, use that nervous energy and transform it into positive adrenaline that will add power to your performance. I know that the beginning of my routine suffered a bit because I was so nervous that my body kind of froze up, but the energy from the crowd and everybody cheering me on really helped me get in tune with the music and helped me loosen up a bit.
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Hi joni. Congrats on getting into a showcase. Just doing that shows that you have lady balls! I would like to recommend L-Theanine. It is an natural supplement for mood. I used to take a RX for anxiety and I no longer have to since I've been taking it. You can get it at most health food stores or the Vitamine Shoppe. Even GNC has it. Try it out beforehand and see if it works for you.
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I’ve understood embodying music as a combination of things, primarily musicality, emotion, and attention to detail. Pick a song that resonates with you. It can make you feel silly, happy, sad, ect, just make sure it makes you feel. When you choreogragh your piece pay attention to details. What are your fingers doing? Your toes? Head? When do you look at the audience and when do you look away? Some of this will come and happen naturally, other parts you’ll need to think about. Then practice until your body could do it in your sleep. If you practice enough to get the muscle memory down, nerves won’t matter. The music will start and you’ll just dance. Good luck!!!
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While I can't speak on things like "musicality," or properly embodying your music, I know a lot about nerves!
For anything from a dance performance to a presentation at school, I get nervous like a mother cat! It's pretty bad… I have anxiety already, but those sorts of things ramp it up really far. I've had anxiety attacks over it!
So, here are some of my tips and things to keep in mind:
1) Remember that you WANT to do this! Say it to yourself in your head. Write it down. You WANT to. It's very important!
2) Breathe. Whether you're right behind the curtain, just before your actual performance, or just going to practice, or even just thinking about it at random (my worst time is just before I go to bed), remember to breathe deeply, into your belly. If you sing, or have done, it's a lot like that! This has been proven to reduce anxiety… and I certainly see the improvement, within moments. It'll also help teach your mind that you don't have to be so scared of it.
3) You're not nervous… you're Excited! One trick that came from Rosie Bitts, who taught me burlesque dancing. I was surprised to find it actually did help! Keep saying it to yourself, telling other people, etc. You might actually discover that you ARE excited to do it!
4) Remember that you are your worst critic… and that they usually aren't paying as close attention to you as you are. You may THINK that they will all see the flaws, the lack of something or presence of something else… but that is likely not true. I've been pole dancing for some time now, and every time I see a video of a dancer, unless I'm being intentionally critical (like someone needs help with a move), I generally just sit back and enjoy. Even when people ask me to look and be critical, I have a difficult time picking up everything I potentially could.
5) Eat. Seriously, eat food. Without food, you are much more prone to nervousness and added stress. When you feel healthy and full of food, you will be much more content, and much less apt to stress. Eat something before your performance, eat throughout the day, just keep doing it. Doesn't matter what kind of diet or whatever you're on: Hunger will not make you calm. Period.
Hope that helps!
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For me embodying the music means really portraying what the music is about believably and authentically. If it's an angry song, I wan to feel that you are really genuinely pissed off about something. If it's a sad song, I want to fell that you are upset about something. This is the best example I can give. Kristy Sellers (love this girl's stuff) portrays what I will call bat shit crazy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT7ehIb2zpw
For nerves, everyone's different but I get really excited and hyper backstage. Singing helps me, and goofing off to blow off steam. Also just remember that if you screw up, chances are no one will ever know if you smile and just keep on going! I think I've had minor screw ups in…oh lets say most of my performances. But I try not to let on, so most of the time no one even notices! Someone on Studio Veena had a great tip. They said try to remember that the nerves you feel is probably adrenaline being released. And extra adrenaline means performing stronger and more effortlessly than you ever thought you could (for me anyway)
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Wow, girls, thank you. These are awesome insights and tips. I'm going to try and really feel my music and hit the beats with my song. I'm dancing to a very pretty classical music, so I'm going try to be flowy and pretty like a ballerina , pay attention to fine details and match my moves with the beat of the music. I'm gonna practice till " I can do it in my sleep", try to use my nerves to power up my performance. And I'm gonna try to relax and just have fun with my dance.
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Start by picking a piece you love love love love love. If it makes you need to dance, you will dance. Go for that connection instead of trying to mimic every musical or lyrical detail.
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