3 Things I Learned At Tap City – #2
Learn other styles, but perform your own element.
In this post, associate blogger Hillary-Marie Michael shares another lesson she learned at this year’s New York City Tap Festival! You can view the first post in this series here.
My second lesson from Tap City is the importance of learning other styles.
I participated in Jason Janas’ Repertoire. We performed a number called “Summer Time”, in which Jason choreographed according to the saxaphonist’s improv section. Learning this choreography was difficult because we had to try and feel what that sax player felt at that moment in time, and be in that moment.
The footwork was fancy with weight changes and accents that were difficult to grasp. Learning this number forced me out of the comfort zone of my own personal style, but that’s what learning is.
Tap dancers can’t sit where they are, the moment you become comfortable is a sign that you need to take on another challenge.
When choreographing a solo, perform your element and be comfortable doing it. For example, the solo I performed in the Youth Showcase to “My Heart Belongs To Daddy”. But don’t just settle there, be open to other tap dancer’s styles and willing to embrace what they have to share.
This will diversify you as a dancer, make you stronger and give you another level to hit in your dancing.
July 30th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
[...] Update: View post #2 here. [...]
August 15th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
[...] she learned at this year’s New York City Tap Festival! The other 2 posts in this series are about style and tap [...]