publication date: Jul 22, 2009
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author/source: DanceSport Place - Melissa Cyr
 | At the end of the day, whether you are an amateur or professional it comes down to great dancing. Great dancing can be primarily divided into two categories that when balanced together create a dancer who both thrills with their athleticism and structure and also touches the hearts and sparks the imagination of the audience. These two categories are technique and artistry. Every dancer has a natural tendency to be stronger in one of these elements, so the goal becomes to bring up both sides to compliment each other. |
Too much technique becomes boring to watch (and do!) and one loses that initial draw of dancing, which is expressing and interpreting the feeling of the music. On the other hand, having the ability to fulfill the athletic portion of the dance can allow for the artistic part to shine through. For example, if you don’t have solid enough balance to make a beautiful shape, the emotional effect of the line can be diluted even if you are the most expressive dancer. It is the union of both that makes the ultimate look and feel of the dance.
However, having the finesse of artistry or expression needs to be backed up by technique in order to solidify the credibility of a dancer. Most great expressive dancers have a natural affinity for it, but if their physicality is not on par, just emoting turns into predictability. The use of timing and rhythm can help to understand this. By having the physical skill to move faster or slower, strongly or softer is a necessary platform for a dancer to then interpret that type of movement as a variety of feelings, such as exciting or intense, passionate or romantic.
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