MUSCLE MEMORY FOR DANCERS

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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

Dancing to the Musicians

Come December season…. The dancers go mad…  trying to get the musicians for rehearsals… I am sure all my dancer friends agree with me on this issue

Getting shows in the season is one thing… but how do we organise practice with the musicians…

The evenings are always busy for the musicians with programmes.. so what is left is the morning sessions… but since the accompanying artists are few compared to the dancers, there is always a demand for good musicians..and the musicians take full advantage of the situation…

I decide to do something new and call the musicians to come a month or two in advance, the answer is’ it is too early to have a rehearsal now. We will come closer to the time of the show”

Closer to the show, they are busy….. Either it is the rehearsals or programmes….”oh new numbers.. why do u choose to do it in season.. we really don’t have the time’ and if the same old numbers” why do we need rehearsals for something which we have already done ’ ….. so it is a no win situation for the dancers…

The rehearsal timing is another issue… there are 3 musicians and we have 3 different time given by them… impossible to coordinate…. One musician says he will come at 5 in the morning and the other is busy with house work so can come only after 10 …. Yet another only early afternoon.. dear god .. how are we to coordinate… if we request one of them to adjust to the other one.. it becomes an  ego issue … why should I adjust .. why cant the other one do it… and the drama goes on….   we end up making 20 phone calls and still unable to solve the issue,  end up  having 3 rehearsals for each one of the musicians separately suiting their convenience….. how come musicians always have the upper hand were dancers are concerned?  Do they think they are doing us a favour ???  

Shobana Bhalchandra 
www.tharanginee.com
+91 94440 37197