Expressing yourself

[Praesul]

I have been dancing for a while, but I'm getting to the point where I should start expressing myself. Using my arms to do that is very awkward. I tend to hold back for fear of messing up, and getting embarrassed. Eventually, I will have to make facial expressions, I know that is going to be even more difficult than the arms. Do you have any tips, on how to make expressing myself any easier?

[etp777]

I'm definitely NOT the person to answer this question, so I'll leave the to other people, but I just wanted to welcome you to DF, Praesul.

[Praesul]

Thank you etp777

[waltzgirl]

It helped me to start by focusing on the technique of using arms--originating movement in the back, keeping tone all the way down to my fingertips, etc.--without thinking of it as "expressing myself" (which made me feel self-conscious). Once it became physically easier and more consistent, I got (somewhat) more expressive. Still not my best thing, but much better than before.

[elisedance]

Welcome to DF! There are two parts to expression IMO: physical ability - that is knowing how to move your arms (as a ballet dancer is trained) and then reflecting what the music is saying. Some people seem to do one or other or both innately but both can be learned. I think you are asking about latin - there are lots of experts on latin expression here that will help. However, again IMO expression works best if it is sincere and not just running through a lot of postures - I think it shows on the floor. TO really express you have to act out what the music is saying to you - which is best done alone - really exagerate the feelings and you will find it easier to express on the dance floor. Are you dancing latin primarily?

[Praesul]

Yes, I'm talking about Latin. I still have a while before I have to make facial expressions. But using my arms, is very awkward. I have seen pros before, but I think I am just afraid to imitate.

[DanceMentor]

I think expression often comes from having a confidence in the dancing you are doing, and should feel somewhat natural. "Trying" to have expression is not always the best way to achieve it. Sometimes you will be surprised to find that people think your dancing is very expressive, even when you don't. :) So my advice would be to keep learning how to move your body, and keep building confidence in what you do, and the expression will happen naturally and you'll love it. :)

[fascination]

welcome to DF...emoting, for me, just sort of came along one day when the rest of the game was progressing nicely...alot cam from watching high level dancers I think...it just sort of rubbed off....one more thing I had to do if I was going to look good out there...shrug

[Chiron]

I've been recently working on the same thing, I'm not sure I'm far enough along to give you great advice but I can definately commiserate. One class my instructor showed me some basic arm styling she wanted me to do and where to do it. Since then I've spent a lot of hours in my mirror at home practicing it. At first I felt really awkward with my arm away from me. Since then it feels a lot more natural. For me it's just another area I have to practice. The only other piece of advice I would give it when you do something, do it with confidence and all the way. If you take a step, take a step. If you stick your arm out to the side, stick your arm out to the side. If you mess up, mess up big, recover, forget about it (that's a tough one), and keep going. For me half way doing something so I can quickly/easily recover never looked good, kind of always looked like I was making little mistakes.

[lcdancesport]

Simple, have a glass of wine or two, loosen up and just keep working on it till it feels comfortable! :p

[Josh]

When it comes to arms, in any form of dancing, remember that you must dance all the way through the fingertips. So you want to maintain a shape or tone in your fingers at all times. The arms themselves, however, should almost always be relaxed themselves. Whether it's smooth or latin, movement in the arms should be originated by a movement in the body, without exception. Be sure to learn from a good coach what you body should be doing.

However, I think it's a good idea to go ahead and start dancing your arms even if it will not look 100% natural. In general, keep the fingers toned, and the arm either to the side and up, or in front of the body above the waist, for now. Once you can consistently keep your arms from being in a "dangling" position by your side, then you will feel more comfortable doing things with it later. It will begin to feel natural, and you won't have to think about it any more, and then you can just dance! :-) Welcome to DF!

[Angel HI]

There are several good posts here; WG and Josh offer nice how-to's. If I may iterate something of major importance...remember that arms are not separate from the movement/dance. Josh wrote, "Whether it's smooth or latin, movement in the arms should be originated by a movement in the body, without exception." Arms are a natural extension of the movement, and are thusly, most often, the last part of the movement to sustain direction. I hope you are understanding this. Take the impulse from the body; dance the wrists, with energy through the fingers and teh arms will follow.

Again, welcome to the DF.

[latingal]

Already a lot of good advice here. I will add another point, the path the arms take and the timing of them is very important in achieving the "correct look".

[Praesul]

Thank you! There are alot of great posts. But, did any of you have this problem at first? Does this tend happen to introverts? Did any of you extroverts have to deal with this?

[Josh]

Praesul, I think it happens to everyone--remember, you're only an introvert if you believe you are one ;-) Change your label, and you'll be amazed at how quickly YOU change. (I'm not using the word in a negative way, mind you)

[waltzgirl]

remember, you're only an introvert if you believe you are one ;-)

Sorry, I have to disagree. Being an introvert is hard-wired into the brain.

However, there are a lot of big misconceptions about what being an introvert is. All it means is that you cue into your internal experience more than to the external environment. It does NOT mean shy, unsocial, timid, etc. A lot of introverts are brainwashed by extroverts into believing that they are those things, when they are not--or don't need to be. Introverts can have great social skills, can be great performers (a lot of actors are introverts), etc. But the techniques/mind-set they need to develop those skills are different from those extroverts use.

Can you tell I'm an introvert? And proud of it!

[wooh]

I had trouble, still do have trouble. What's helped though is to start with times my arms move for a "purpose" rather than to just look pretty. Things like, having to bring my arm up and over so I don't get locked under the leader's arm. And then just every once in a while being absolutely ridiculously over the top when I'm out dancing for fun. Doesn't have to be good, just has to be something. I'll get there, slowly but surely.

[kathyt cupcake]

I see a lot of ppl in the collegiate scene who are significantly past the beginner stage and still have a problem with facial expression (looking blank, worried or just plain out concentrating). I think part of this is that we tend to emphasize technique and work/practice a lot on technique and neglect the performance aspect while trying to perfect technique. One place where I see this is smooth/standard silver/gold guys- doing fine steps and floorcraftwise, but almost all the girls are smiling their cheeks off and 3/4s of the guys are plain neutral/blank faced (I grant that the guys have more to worry about).

Ideally you should incorporate practicing things like facial expression, eye contact with your partner (l/r), and presentation into regular practice. I try to finish practices with a couple rounds full out, pretend you're on the floor. Wait, that's wishful thinking, but really we should start doing that.

Re: introversion/extroversion, fake it 'til you make it
I know someone who has succeeded (using a lot of self-help books) in making everyone around him believe that he's an extrovert, but he's really an introvert who pretends- he doesn't actually care about the ppl around him, they just think he does. This actually makes him sound a little bit psychopathic- don't go that far.

[SPratt74]

Thank you! There are alot of great posts. But, did any of you have this problem at first? Does this tend happen to introverts? Did any of you extroverts have to deal with this?

I don't feel that my arms are sexy at all, and I feel so awkward dancing the steps even though Latin dancing is really fun to do in general. The nice thing that my instructor does is that he tapes lessons if you want him to. I'm probably going to ask him to start taping mine, so I can see what I'm doing that is making it uncomfortable for me. I might not be as bad as what I'm thinking in my head. He loves my dancing actually, and he's a tough one to please, but I just can't see it. So, this might be an idea for you if your instructor has the ability to tape your lessons. Just a thought anyways.

[lcdancesport]

Sorry, I have to disagree. Being an introvert is hard-wired into the brain.

However, there are a lot of big misconceptions about what being an introvert is. All it means is that you cue into your internal experience more than to the external environment. It does NOT mean shy, unsocial, timid, etc. A lot of introverts are brainwashed by extroverts into believing that they are those things, when they are not--or don't need to be. Introverts can have great social skills, can be great performers (a lot of actors are introverts), etc. But the techniques/mind-set they need to develop those skills are different from those extroverts use.

Can you tell I'm an introvert? And proud of it!

Yeah I too am an introvert. I'm such a thinker, both analytically and emotionally, which is good for dance of course. Since starting dance though I've become more outgoing, not to the point of being a true extrovert, I'm still satisfied in my own independent little world I have going for myself. Being an introvert or extrovert comes on many levels, it can't be just two polar opposites.

[Josh]

Sorry, I have to disagree. Being an introvert is hard-wired into the brain.

Interesting, is there anything else you believe is hard-wired into the brain? (And I agree, it's not bad, I was going with the commonly stereotypical definition of introverts in the context of social comfort, and how that might negatively affect one's dancing)

[lcdancesport]

Interesting, is there anything else you believe is hard-wired into the brain? (And I agree, it's not bad, I was going with the commonly stereotypical definition of introverts in the context of social comfort, and how that might negatively affect one's dancing)

That question could come down to nature vs. nurture, so I suppose it could be anyone's opinion. In my personal experience though I've always been the independent type. Not that I'm always a quiet, reserved person. That all depends on who I may be hanging out with and how well they know me.

Since I've started dance though I've become more outgoing because dance is so social. This is the same case with another teacher at my studio, she used to be a shy girl, but since she has grown in her dancing career, she is much more open to introducing herself to others and encouraging them to dance with her. So we both were probably born with a more introverted personality, but through our dance environment we have been nurtured to be more open and expressive.

It has been quite the journey so far and I really enjoy watching people grow when they start dancing, it's really transforming in so many ways.

[Joe]

Interesting, is there anything else you believe is hard-wired into the brain?
Many people believe sexual orientation is...

[rjcbear]

Simple, have a glass of wine or two, loosen up and just keep working on it till it feels comfortable! :p

:uplaugh: