GC Members’ Q&A – May 20 2019

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In this live session we answered questions including

00:06:58 - What tips do you have for teaching a class made up of dancers with mixed technical ability, and for developing choreography for such a group?

00:09:40 - How can you use breathwork to enhance group choreography?

00:24:19 - Is it okay for choreographers to exclude dancers with body types that don't fit their vision for a particular company or piece?

00:26:30 - "I think my partner has made some sections of our choreography too busy, and the group focus is lost. How do I diplomatically ask her to simplify?"

00:30:35 - How do you manage expectations from students who want to grow faster than what they're ready for and what they're willing to work for?

00:38:10 - How do I pause?

00:42:45 - I'm going to be teaching a pelvic floor workshop. What terminology should I use to refer to body parts?

00:47:48 - How do you organize a piece of music for a choreography or an improv performance?

00:54:22- How do you keep your inspiration when you no longer perform or live in bellydance culture?

00:56:30 - How do you achieve a uniform look in a choreography with dancers who come from different backgrounds?

01:01:25 - What moves work well (what part of the body to focus on) when dancing to a saxophone?

01:03:14 - More exercises to create a strong group dynamic

01:08:55 - Which clubs (in New York City) have authentic Arabic music?

01:10:09 - To what extent is it ok for different students to use different muscles to do the same move?

Ranya leads the Q&A from the road during her May 2019 trip to the Bay Area in California!

Some highlights: 

  • Teacher and company director questions answered
  • Managing different personalities and physicalities in a group or class
  • The value in mapping music to start to create a dance