Improvisation in dance can feel freeing and scary. Sometimes you know exactly what to do and are in the groove, and other times your mind goes blank and you have no clue what to do. If you have ever felt like that before, you aren’t alone. Every dancer faces improv blocks. The secret is to know how to break out of that barrier of hesitation and keep expressing yourself.
Keep it Simple then Add On
Improv can seem overwhelming sometimes. After all, you can do whatever you want! Start with just a simple small movement. A leg hold, a simple turn, or even moving across the floor. Once you get moving, let your passion take over. Before you know it, one movement leads to the next one.
Try This: Pick a simple movement (like a small extension or a single pirouette) and experiment with changes to that movement. What if you speed it up or slow it down? Can you change the direction or level it goes?
Change Up the Movement Quality
Feeling stuck in your improv can be the result of repeating the same movements over and over. To avoid this, try switching up the movement quality. Taking a movement from sharp to fluid, or from tricks to pirouettes.
Try This: Pick an emotion (happy, sad, angry) and an element (wind, fire, water) and use it to guide your movements. You might be surprised how much more natural it will come to you.
Take Up Space
Don’t be afraid to take up the space around you. Do more floorwork, travel to the other end of the dance floor, or incorporate the studio mirrors into your movements. The more you move around, the less you feel stuck in place.
Try This: If you feel frozen, pick a spot and move to it in a unique way. Try something that isn’t just walking. Instead, jump, turn, or crawl.
Breathe and Feel the Moment
It can be easy to get stuck during improv because you’re too busy focusing on what comes next instead of living in the moment. Take a deep breath, hear the music, and start moving. If you mess up, that is okay. Just keep going!
Try This: Before you even begin to improv, close your eyes and take three deep breaths. Give yourself a small pep talk to remind yourself that this is all about expressing yourself. You got this!
