Back To The Basics

More and more, the world of dance is becoming something unrecognizable from the foundation on which it started. Gymnastics and acrobatics have taken hold of the competition world of dance, and somehow, in its elaborate need to awe audiences, it has lost the infinite beauty of the simplicity of its origin. The dancers with perfect flexibility, striking tricks, and seemingly flawless turns have somehow lost the thing that makes them so special- themselves.

“What I would like to see changed in the dance world is going back to basics,” says Gillian Redman, owner of The Dance Barn in Ellensburg, Washington. Somehow, we have lost the impact that a simple tendu or a single pirouette can create. The work to become a superhuman dancer has, in some ways, overshadowed the beauty of basic movement. A simple, well-executed arabesque, not hidden behind over-exaggeration, is missed by the judges of competitive dance.

The question becomes: as dance teachers, how can we convince, train, or reshape the visual dialogue that shapes what a “perfect” dancer looks like? How can we make the basics exciting to our students when the stage is full of dazzling flips, hyper-extended kicks, and backbends that shouldn’t even be humanly possible? Our students need to understand that “The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak” (Hans Hofmann).

We have a responsibility as teachers not to create clones of overstated movement but to mentor our dancers so their personalities can shine within the simplicity and beauty of a well-executed basic. Otherwise, they are lost in a sea of flashy moves, drowned out by the same acrobatic routines over and over again. Their voice is their movement, and if it’s hidden behind the fads in competitive dance, whether that’s Jazz, Ballet, or Ballroom, how can they express their unique personality? How can they understand the passion within this art form?

A skill can be taught, but personality is unique. Our students need to understand that there is true value in the basic, foundational aspects of dance technique and movement. Not all routines have to be overly embellished with tricks and facades. Sometimes, it’s the simplest things that make the biggest impact. Let’s go back to the basics and bring the passion for dance back into the competitive world.

We need to start asking ourselves: “What personality strengths do my dance students have?” and “How can I let them take the spotlight instead of the movement taking control?” There is hard work and skill within the basics. Let’s not lose the important characteristics that allow each dancer to grow and shine within this passionate art form. Let’s get back to the basics.