Should i just forget it...? [Archive]

Mason

04-17-2005, 09:34 AM

Hello people :D , i've just arrived here and i want to ask you a question. I need a good answer, a realistic one.... Well, for a short while i have wanted to be a pro back-up dancer (hope someone knows abit about this), but i have very little experience in dancing. I want to know if you think i have any chance of getting there, or should i just forget it? Right now i'm coming up to my 18th....

Sagitta

04-17-2005, 01:46 PM

Welcoem to df Mason. At 18 I think you have plenty of chance being a back-up dancer. In what dance style exactly were you thinking of?

Twilight_Elena

04-17-2005, 02:09 PM

Welcome to DF Mason! I agree with Sagitta, it's not at all late. If you are driven and work hard, you can succeed! Are you thinking of ballroom or some other style of dancing?

Twilight Elena

Mason

04-17-2005, 04:05 PM

:tongue: The kind of thing i want to do is, dance in music videos and on the stage next to the artist with some other dancers....
So you think its possible for me to do that?... even though i have little to no dancing experience....?
If i could, that would be great.... :wink:

Ashley

04-17-2005, 04:25 PM

Hey Mason,
There's actually a documentary on TLC (can't remember the title) about aspiring dancers who want to work in music videos.

It's possible, but very difficult. Although being a dancer seems very glamorous, a lot of the time, you may be chosen solely by looks rather than dancing, and you might get paid no money--or very little for your time. Even some of the most popular music video dancers, like Melyssa Ford, also nicknamed "Jessica Rabbit" have admitted that even after gaining worldwide notoriety, they barely earn any money.

It's a tough business. But it's definitely worth trying!

Mason

04-17-2005, 04:54 PM

Yea, i read here > http://www.ideasfactory.com/performance/features/perf_feature27.htm that dancers don't get paid alot for videos,... but its still something i think i really want to do... It'll make me happy, :D I really need that....
Oh & i think i've got the looks,... i still need to mature abit, like in the face, but i'm gettin there... :wink:

Sagitta

04-17-2005, 05:03 PM

Mason

04-18-2005, 08:53 AM

:friend: Thanks for your support guys,... i think i may have a go at it,... as soon as i pass my driving test. :tongue:

naz

04-19-2005, 05:47 AM

I don't see why you'd have any trouble getting in. All the backup dancers I see in clips are completely hopeless (including the main artist). They always "dance" out of time and hump the ground with these pushup type motions then they do all these absurd shoulder shrugging movements and urgh awful. The dance steps require no skill, simply memory.

Learn how to dance and you'll be better than them in like a month.

Mason

04-19-2005, 10:37 AM

:? I'm not too sure whether your putting me down, or saying i need to aim higher than most back-up dancers...? But in most of the videos i have watched (which is quite a few), I often think they dance well,... now, humping the ground..... thats like a move, real amateurs do..... i don't like that. :|

naz

04-19-2005, 06:59 PM

well if you want to be in music videos you'll have to do what they want. ANd they'll probably want you to hump the ground and do all them crappy nsync moves. But if you can already dance good, they'd probably get you to do your style mixed in with the choregraphy. so if you want more control over what you will be doing then learn to dance first.

chachachacat

04-19-2005, 07:14 PM

Mason, get into a jazz class and a hip hop class, pronto! You've got to have the training to go with your desire!

DancePoet

04-19-2005, 08:54 PM

I'm with CCCCat ... take some jazz and hip hop classes. 8)

chachachacat

04-19-2005, 09:07 PM

I'm with CCCCat ... take some jazz and hip hop classes. 8)
And if we were standing in front of you, we'd been doin' a lil' jazz/some sorta hip-hoppy thang!

Mason

04-20-2005, 01:29 PM

well if you want to be in music videos you'll have to do what they want. ANd they'll probably want you to hump the ground and do all them crappy nsync moves.
Yea, even though pop moves aren't exactly 'in' anymore,.... i'm sure i'll have to do them.... :applause: Well done, at least now you have 2 more posts naz...

Chachachacat, Yea i will, as soon as i'm totally sure. Ty :tongue:

cocodrilo

04-21-2005, 06:50 AM

Um, contrary to what you may think, that "ground-humping" as you call it is a hip-hop move, not something your average joe could do. (Get down and try it right now if you don't believe me 8) ). 18 is just right for getting into popular, modern dances. Start by taking some lessons and when you get good, have built up your confidence, go in for some auditions. (No, the MTV people don't drag anyone off the streets, they go for experienced dancers!) In the classes you take you may meet people with connections, so it is best to get out there and start dancing & meeting people ASAP! Best of luck!

Mason

04-21-2005, 01:46 PM

Oh.... OK, what ever you say,.... yea, i'm sure your right! I'm sure i've been informed wrong.... hummm but how would a person living in japan know about anything anyway? Oh go eat some sushi!... lol :D Ty.....
Oh, some times you people seem so vicious! i'll give it back with a spoon full of sugar....

cocodrilo

04-21-2005, 04:26 PM

[color=olive]Oh.... OK, what ever you say,.... yea, i'm sure your right! I'm sure i've been informed wrong.... hummm but how would a person living in japan know about anything anyway? Oh go eat some sushi!... lol :D Ty.....
:eyebrow: Surely you jest

naz

04-21-2005, 06:37 PM

"Um, contrary to what you may think, that "ground-humping" as you call it is a hip-hop move, not something your average joe could do. (Get down and try it right now if you don't believe me ). "

Okay. There, I tried it.....you're acting as if it's some "advanced move" that you can only do with hours of practice. I just did it better than the people I see on tv and I don't practice that horrible "move" :lol:

newbie

04-22-2005, 09:19 AM

Who said you did it better ?

Mason

04-22-2005, 01:43 PM

:eyebrow: Surely you jest

No, i'm deadly serious :twisted:

j/k of course i'm joking... lol :lol:

naz

04-22-2005, 06:14 PM

2 of my friends, and myself.

but of course it's kind of hard to say it's "better" when it just looks bad in the first place. I don't understand, what's so great about it? it's just doing pushups while thrusting your pelvis into the ground, out of time with the music. If you're talking about a different move (I think you are, I can think of a breakdancing move called the sweep or caterpiller) then yes I admit those moves are not bad looking, but if you are talking about the nsync pushups that I am then sorry but I think it looks horrible.

Hey if you like to do the move then whatever floats your boat mate, you can dance how you want, this is merely my opinion, because the only dance styles I really have much respect for are popping and locking, breakdancing and tapdancing, so you shouldn't take what I say so personally if I bag out a style you like, because it's just my opinion. What matters is if YOU like the style you do.

Ms_Sunlight

04-23-2005, 04:37 AM

Hey if you like to do the move then whatever floats your boat mate, you can dance how you want, this is merely my opinion, because the only dance styles I really have much respect for are popping and locking, breakdancing and tapdancing, so you shouldn't take what I say so personally if I bag out a style you like, because it's just my opinion. What matters is if YOU like the style you do.

Yay! I'm with you here naz. If you're dancing for fun (and not because it's your job and you get paid to do someone else's choreography or you're competing and need to do certain moves) then it should be a case of "If it feels good, it's all right."

I can't imagine my club dancing style is anything like yours. Mind you, I'm a lady and I like to wiggle my booty.

:wink:

Mason

04-23-2005, 09:08 AM

but of course it's kind of hard to say it's "better" when it just looks bad in the first place. I don't understand, what's so great about it? it's just doing pushups while thrusting your pelvis into the ground, out of time with the music. If you're talking about a different move (I think you are, I can think of a breakdancing move called the sweep or caterpiller) then yes I admit those moves are not bad looking, but if you are talking about the nsync pushups that I am then sorry but I think it looks horrible.

When i said i didn't like that 'ground humping', yea i meant that popish nsync stuff.... where, i do like the look of that 'caterpillar'.... it looks so smooth and flowing, it would be great to be able to do that,.... i think its done in a video i saw on this site >> http://www.askmen.com/video/2005_mar/mar02_break_dance.html

Lennalf

04-23-2005, 02:04 PM

To be brutally honest about the real world as I have come to understand it, being a back-up dancer requires three major traits, but they are not necessarily easy to achieve for every person. This is what I have noticed/observed about professional dancers:

1. You must be a skilled, energetic dancer with a bit of a theatrical inclination.

2. You must be naturally gifted with good looks and also have the willpower and dedication to maintain your body. You must meet the MTV standard of beauty.

3. You must be a very fast learner and know how to handle yourself professionally.

Once you've got those three things you just need to make the right connections (which can require a bit of luck and a lot of work, too). Anyhow, if you think the professional dancer lifestyle is for you, then I wish you the best of luck! Remember that anything worth doing with your life is going to require a lot of dedication and work, but if you are ultimately happy and healthy then it's worth the work.

Mason

04-23-2005, 04:59 PM

1. You must be a skilled, energetic dancer with a bit of a theatrical inclination.
Ok, i can be energetic,.... though the others i'm yet to find out.... :tongue:
2. You must be naturally gifted with good looks and also have the willpower and dedication to maintain your body. You must meet the MTV standard of beauty.
I'm real good with the willpower and i'm also very interested in having a nice toned body,.... i think i may need to mature abit though,...as i have said before.
3. You must be a very fast learner and know how to handle yourself professionally.
I consider myself to be quite smart, though i'm abit shy when talking about important things.... like bisness.

I need some improvements, i think i can do it... :wink: