I have been thinking a lot about tap education lately and, as a result, it seems like I see advice and tips everywhere I look. Today I would like to share something a CEO said that is true as true for improvisation in tap, as it is for anything else:

The following statement is attributed to Lord John Browne, former head of BP:

“Giving up the illusion that you can predict the future is a very liberating moment. All you can do is give yourself the capacity to respond…the creation of that capacity is the purpose of strategy.”

Let’s further examine that quote in the context of tap improvisation:

“Giving up the illusion that you can predict the future is a very liberating moment”

When I read this line, I think of what it’s like when we are first encouraged to improvise. This often occurs in a classroom with a tap instructor. Unfortunately, for many students this experience is anxiety provoking rather than liberating.

The more you are able to give up the illusion of control and flow with the experience, the better your improvisation will be. Dance is completely unpredictable whether choreographed or improvised.

“All you can do is give yourself the capacity to respond…”

Your goal in practicing improvisation is not to come up with a bunch of cool steps, instead it is to develop the “capacity to respond” creatively to what’s happening around you. (Note: I’m not just talking about the music)

For your improvisation to really come alive, you must be free to respond to the music, the musicians, the audience, your feelings, and the unexpected!

Here is an example:

2 months ago my shoe became unlaced during a performance. I noticed it immediately, as did many folks in the audience. Instead of ignoring it, I made the split second decision, to reach down and begin tying the shoe while continuing to tap dance. That’s improvisation.

“…the creation of that capacity is the purpose of strategy.”

What this says to me is, if you want to generate the “capacity to respond” mentioned above, you must have a strategy. It’s not enough to just put on music and start randomly moving your feet.

What’s your strategy?

In my “Tap In The Moment” article series, I share seven strategies that can help you to overcome the fear of improvisation. Check it out now!

Please share your reactions to this quote below. What did it make you think of? What other lessons do you feel that it offers? Thanks for stopping by!

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 11th, 2008 at 6:07 am and is filed under Performances, Tap Resources, Tap/Life Lessons. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.