·
My
last performance in the season gave me some insights into a few things
that my teachers have given me, but I have never really cared to
analyse, or give it a thought!!
I used to wonder why we were made to perform the same numbers over and over again. The sheer repetition used make it boring and annoying. But my teachers used to tell me that the same number should be performed over a hundred times before the essence of the piece comes out. Yes I did understand that practice makes perfect.. but never went deeper into that. Today as a performer and teacher I realise the value of those teachings.
Why do they say practice makes perfect? The sheer boredom of repeating the old numbers can be exasperating at times.. but what really happens is that the muscle memory kicks in and you start performing without actually having to think about it. Then what is muscle memory? It is not memory stored in the muscles, ofcourse, but that which is stored in the brain. It is a procedural memory which helps us go through the motions without deliberate thinking . It doesn’t mean the dancer performs without thinking… !!!!
And why is muscle memory important to dancers? When
the dancer goes on stage , there are many things that can cause
distraction… the lights, the musicians, the audience… etc etc.. the dancer has to transcend all these and give himeself/herself to the art form. Dance
is not to exhibit your technical talent. It has to go beyond all
technicalities and the dancer should be able take the audience along
with her/him in the journey of dance. How is this possible? That is
when the muscle memory comes in. when the technical
details are stored as procedural memory and it can be performed without
any deliberate thinking, then the dancer is able to dwell deeper into
the creative side giving it a different hue. That is what makes a wholesome performance. Merely spewing out technical details in correct order doesn’t do justice to the art form. So dance students, activate your muscle memory and give the dance form a little of yourself!!!!
Shobana Bhalchandra
www.tharanginee.com+91 9444037197
I used to wonder why we were made to perform the same numbers over and over again. The sheer repetition used make it boring and annoying. But my teachers used to tell me that the same number should be performed over a hundred times before the essence of the piece comes out. Yes I did understand that practice makes perfect.. but never went deeper into that. Today as a performer and teacher I realise the value of those teachings.
Why do they say practice makes perfect? The sheer boredom of repeating the old numbers can be exasperating at times.. but what really happens is that the muscle memory kicks in and you start performing without actually having to think about it. Then what is muscle memory? It is not memory stored in the muscles, ofcourse, but that which is stored in the brain. It is a procedural memory which helps us go through the motions without deliberate thinking . It doesn’t mean the dancer performs without thinking… !!!!
And why is muscle memory important to dancers? When
the dancer goes on stage , there are many things that can cause
distraction… the lights, the musicians, the audience… etc etc.. the dancer has to transcend all these and give himeself/herself to the art form. Dance
is not to exhibit your technical talent. It has to go beyond all
technicalities and the dancer should be able take the audience along
with her/him in the journey of dance. How is this possible? That is
when the muscle memory comes in. when the technical
details are stored as procedural memory and it can be performed without
any deliberate thinking, then the dancer is able to dwell deeper into
the creative side giving it a different hue. That is what makes a wholesome performance. Merely spewing out technical details in correct order doesn’t do justice to the art form. So dance students, activate your muscle memory and give the dance form a little of yourself!!!!Shobana Bhalchandra
www.tharanginee.com+91 9444037197
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