Dance might seem like such a simple art but there’s so much that goes into it. Not many people are educated enough when it comes to dance and the main reason is it’s not shown as much as other arts or sports.
From coming up with choreography to performing on stage, so much goes behind the scenes that many are not aware of or understand.
As someone who has done dance for my whole life, there’s so much mental and physical that goes into it. Training for five days a week can be exhausting but it’s such a blessing to have the opportunity to dance.
Merriam Webster refers to dance as “to move someone’s body rhythmically, usually to music.” When it comes to dance you’re not restricted to one certain type of dance style. There are several:
- Ballet
- Hip hop
- Jazz
- Contemporary
- Production
- Tap
- Latin
Every type of style requires a unique set of skills and practice that will have you in the studio for hours. Dance is very open ended; not everyone likes every style of dance and that’s why dance is so special because you can adjust to whatever you prefer.
So what goes on behind closed doors?
Well, first, regardless if you’re doing competitive or just dancing in general you always have to come up with a routine. For someone who is competitive, when we are creating a routine with the teacher, we first come up with a theme. We come to a decision on what we want to portray to the audience with our routine.
Dance is an art, therefore there’s always meaning behind every routine you see, and therefore depending on the style of dance you choose, there are different themes and ideas you can choose.
After the theme and song that fits into what you want the audience to grasp from your dance, you start with the choreography. Choreography can take up quite some time, especially for a competition. Choreography can switch from day to day and dancers must adjust.
After the choreography is set and done, that’s when the hours in the studio start. So much time and dedication is put into each movement and making sure it fits with the beat. A struggle not many people realize is everyone dances differently. Yes, it’s all the same routine but everyone has their own style.
After months and months of practice, the big day finally arrives–performance day. The stress and anticipation can be super overwhelming for many dancers; even if you have been a dancer for years the nerves never go away.
The moment you arrive at the show it starts–the fittings, the makeup, the hair, the dances, etc. Especially for someone who has multiple dances in one show, it can be exhausting. The relief after the performance is finished is unreal. Everything you’ve worked hard for and dedicated hours to is all worth it.
Next time you come across a dancer or dance, don’t forget the amount of time and practice put into that 2-3 minute dance because it’s much more than just a “dance.”
