Dance Movement, Essay Example

Dancers find that their craft is physically demanding. Dancers learn that their muscles must go through regular workouts and stretches in order to remain ready to meet the challenges that they must face. People who get grossly out of shape do not continue as dancers long-term. Diet, as well as exercise, is an ongoing concern of professional dancers (Bedinghaus).

In addition to being physically fit, dancers must be intellectually capable of remembering complicated dance routines understanding their work at an intellectual level. Dancers must understand dance terminology in order to rehearse and perform dance numbers. They, out of necessity, need to cultivate positive attitudes about what they are doing (Fishman) They must know their individual parts and know how their part relates to those of others in their ensemble.

Choreographers know how to create and teach original dances to be used in theatrical or concert performances. They know how to use dance as a means by which a story is told or to enhance emotion. They lead dance rehearsals. Sometimes they are involved in auditions for parts. Choreographers are like film directors. They, out of necessity, need to know what story they are telling and the best ways to achieve their goals through dance. This includes knowing what does and does not work in certain situations.

Dancers know how to take care of their bodies so that they are physically fit to perform the needed body movements in required dances. In general dancers know that they are entertainers. Dancers must understand their duty to their employers and to those who pay money to see them perform. Dancers must understand how their bodies are susceptible to injury and how to avoid needless injuries that stifle their continuation in their work.

Audience members know the value of dancing and music to the overall effect of theatrical and concert performances. Audiences understand how dances, regardless of their style, can enhance the flow of the dramatic action of musicals and plays. Further, they know that the technical demands of classical dance require more than most any person can muster, so when they see professional dancers in action, they are receiving a treat that celebrates the human body as an instrument that is capable of describing any emotion.

When a dance program is presented, the audience should treat the performers with utmost respect by watching and listening in ways that do not detract from the overall performance or distract the performers from their routines. This includes silencing cell phones and refraining from the use of flash photography. Likewise, dancers should do their best to keep their minds focused on their roles as performers. They should not act silly or compete for attention as they remember their individual parts combine to produce the whole.

Works Cited

Bedinghaus, Treva. “Dancers Need a Healthy Diet to Perform at Their Best.” About.com Retrieved May 10, 2010 from http://dance.about.com/od/danceandyourhealth/qt/Dancer_Diet.htm

Fishman, Katharine. Attitude! Eight Young Dancers Come of Age at the Ailey School. New York: The Penguin Group (2004).