Dance Exhibitions -- What's the Value?

[pygmalion]

Hmm. Must be feeling nostalgic. I've been having more and more memories of my first dance studio.

Anyway, back then, my studio sponsored tons of in-studio exhbitions, formation teams. medal balls, routines, etc. And they urged all their students to use these performance opportunities, which, btw, came at a premium. They said that learning to dance in front of other people is an important part of the learning experience.

I went right along with it, because I love performing. It never occurred to me to question the way things were, because they worked just fine for me. I loved performing, and I got to perform a lot.

Now I'm beginning to wonder if performing -- solo exhibitions or formation teams -- has value for your ordinary dancer, perhaps one who doesn't like performing or who has bad stage fright and never intends to compete. What do you think? Do you think everyone should be urged to perform in front of others? Or was that just another sneaky sales ploy at my old studio? Hmm.

[dragon3085]

Your First studio was an Arthur Murray one?

Hmm. Must be feeling nostalgic. I've been having more and more memories of my first dance studio.

Anyway, back then, my studio sponsored tons of in-studio exhbitions, formation teams. medal balls, routines, etc. And they urged all their students to use these performance opportunities, which, btw, came at a premium. They said that learning to dance in front of other people is an important part of the learning experience.

I went right along with it, because I love performing. It never occurred to me to question the way things were, because they worked just fine for me. I loved performing, and I got to perform a lot.

Now I'm beginning to wonder if performing -- solo exhibitions or formation teams -- has value for your ordinary dancer, perhaps one who doesn't like performing or who has bad stage fright and never intends to compete. What do you think? Do you think everyone should be urged to perform in front of others? Or was that just another sneaky sales ploy at my old studio? Hmm.

:twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

[pygmalion]

No, it wasn't Arthur Murray. But it was similar. I believe all the major franchised studios, Arthur Murray, Fred Astaire, and Tom Chapman, do the same thing. And I think some independent studios do the same as well, although I'm not sure about that. The independent studio I was most recently affiliated with didn't have the resources to support student exhibitions.

[dragon3085]

I go to an AM studio myself. I can see how the exhibitions can help. We get in not only people who want to learn to dance but also people with no social skills. For the very shy ones, doing an exhibition in front of friends from the studio help them be a little more outgoing at the club.

[KevinL]

Now I'm beginning to wonder if performing -- solo exhibitions or formation teams -- has value for your ordinary dancer, perhaps one who doesn't like performing or who has bad stage fright and never intends to compete. What do you think? Do you think everyone should be urged to perform in front of others? Or was that just another sneaky sales ploy at my old studio? Hmm.

Whenever you dance in public you are performing because someone will probably watch you, even if only momentarily. Is it a good idea to ask someone who is very shy or who has stage fright to dance alone in front of a large audience? Probably not, if only because they might freak out. It would probably be a good idea if you could encourage them to take a part in a group number though, because it might be a way for them to get over their fears of being in front of people.

I think that the real value of exhibitions and formation teams (or competitions for that matter), is that it gives the dancer a goal where they have to be able to dance at a certain level at a given time. The pressure of having a goal is sometimes what it takes to put in the effort to be successful. Sure, you might practice every day anyway, but if you know you have to perform in front of an audience next week aren't you going to put in a little extra effort?

Kevin

[Sagitta]

Speaking in general terms performing definitely has value for some. It is one way if you love the dance and want to share it with others, hopefully getting them to join in. At the monthly social dances there always are some performances/exhibitions!! This is one of the reasons I want to get improve my dancing skills! :)

Performing, as KevinL said, helps set goals for people to work towards. It also can help those with poor social skills/stagefright etc to get over these, if that's one of the reasons they started learning to dance. And from some of our previous threads it seems to be one of the common reasons why people turn to dance.

However, here in Ithaca, there is a good mixture of performance prep. being done on class time and off class time, that is the person helping lead/choreograph the performanceare not being paid. So it is a bit different from the studio scene.

[pygmalion]

Hmm. One of my studio friends broke out into hives the day of her first exhibition. I think that was a bit too much pressure.

[peachexploration]

Pygmalion, wow that poor soul. Is this usually a requirement of the school? Is it a condition to advance to another level? Just curious.

[pygmalion]

No, technically speaking, it isn't an advancement requirement at that studio. But performance is so stringly encouraged that most people don't seem to realize that they have any other option. While many people warm up to performing in front of others just fine, some people never get over sheer terror at the idea of performing.

For me, the performances were a source of mucho endorphines, but for some, the anxiety was unbearable.

Actually, I'm currently looking for a formation team to join and I'm working on closed and open routines with my new coach, because I love performing that much. I also find the focus of preparing for an exhibition to be very helpful, as Kevin mentioned.

But not everybody is wired the same way I am.

[KevinL]

Actually, I'm currently looking for a formation team to join and I'm working on closed and open routines with my new coach, because I love performing that much. I also find the focus of preparing for an exhibition to be very helpful,

You are a very busy woman. Keep it up!

[tango]

For most people who start dancing there is some other reason other than simple enjoyment. For me it was for a wedding dance. Now, if the studio hadn't made me get up and dance at the studio parties I'm absolutely sure my wedding performance would not have been as good. I would have been a little panic'd!

The first time we danced at a studio party I was nervous, I haven't performed in public since highschool! I could feel my partner shaking when we started. Since then we have performed consistently and each time it gets easier. At the wedding I had zero nerves even though I was dancing infront of everyone I knew and cared about. That for me was the benefit of doing dance exhibitions. Plus they're fun, you get to do moves you usually don't when you just 'freestyle'.

[pygmalion]

That's a good point, tango. Exhibitions are a great idea for engaged couples or father/daughter teams to learn wedding dances.

The irony is that I've only ever seen one wedding couple do an exhibition before their wedding. It had me in tears. I'm such a sucker for romance. :oops: :lol: But I'm sure it did help them get ready for the actual wedding dance, because they said so.

[dancin_feet]

Exhibitions, etc are great! But then that's the performer in me talking.

We have a mini competition within our studio where you aren't graded against anyone, but against the number of lessons you have had. I have been to a couple of these and find them a great loosener and preparation for doing a solo (with partner) performance. Sometimes at our weekly dance parties, the general manager of the studio will encourage someone to get up and do a spotlight in front of everyone else, spur of the moment. He has picked me a couple of times, and I find that you don't have the time to get nervous beforehand. By the time the reality hits you that you are the only two out there, you're well into it and having a great time!

[Swing Kitten]

my co-worker took lessons with his wife at a studio and he was telling me about the school exhibition... he was very proud to say the least.

[Blondie]

I think that the real value of exhibitions and formation teams (or competitions for that matter), is that it gives the dancer a goal where they have to be able to dance at a certain level at a given time. The pressure of having a goal is sometimes what it takes to put in the effort to be successful.
Kevin

I agree with you. Being a musician, I grew up performing in many music recitals and eventually major music programs in front of all sizes of audiences. It is good to set goals, and being in dance, to set performance goals in front of an audience.

[SDsalsaguy]

On the flip side of all of this, studio exhibitions can also be just one more excuse to squeeze money out of the students. You're basically teaching them specific choreography to a specific song rather than how to actually dance. For the same time and money a lot more useful teaching can be done.

I'm certainly not saying this is always the case, but I have seen it enough times to know that it is not a total anomaly either.

[Spitfire]

Some of the studios here have done demonstrations at the shopping malls as a means of promotion and I think the WCS club has done the same. Can't say how much interest it generated though.

[pygmalion]

On the flip side of all of this, studio exhibitions can also be just one more excuse to squeeze money out of the students. You're basically teaching them specific choreography to a specific song rather than how to actually dance. For the same time and money a lot more useful teaching can be done.

I'm certainly not saying this is always the case, but I have seen it enough times to know that it is not a total anomaly either.

My thoughts exactly. And often, students are encouraged to take additional lessons to prepare for those exhibitions. And for social dancers, specific choreography learned with a teacher may never serve any useful purpose.

For me, all the performing was a great experience, and is even more useful now that I'm starting to compete. I just question the value for some others.