Bringing Characters Together for the Dance Storytelling Mini-Series
I’m feeling all kinds of excited as my Dance Storytelling Mini-Series starts coming together. This week, I’ve been diving deep into my creative toolbox, pulling out old characters I’ve performed over the years and imagining how they can come together to tell a new story. It’s like reuniting with old friends (but these friends live in my imagination).
Even though I haven’t done much yet besides brainstorming, the process so far has sparked so much joy. Let me walk you through what I’ve been dreaming up and share some inspiration behind it all!
Meet the Happy Virus
First up, the star of the show: the Happy Virus! The one who bring the joy to everyone! This character is pure joy, beaming with positivity, and absolutely determined to spread happiness through dance. You have to see Memphis Belle’s performance of Happy (which I co-choreographed. Here’s the video of Happy, so you can meet him yourself:
Watch the Happy Dance Performance
In this new series, the Happy Virus is on a mission. He’s creating an experiment to see if dance can break people out of their boredom and get them moving, smiling, and maybe even laughing at themselves. He’s high-energy, a little goofy, and full of infectious enthusiasm. Honestly, playing this character makes me feel lighter, it’s hard not to smile when you’re allowing yourself to play and be joyful!
The Nerd Returns
As I was brainstorming the concept, I knew the Happy Virus would need someone to “infect” with his positivity. That’s when I thought of another character from my dance archives: the nerdy guy from our Together, Memphis Belle’s performance.
This guy is awkward, a little unsure of himself, and totally skeptical about dancing. Sound familiar? Maybe he reminds you of that one friend who sits at the edge of the dance floor at every wedding (or maybe he reminds you of yourself). In the Together dance however, he is nothing like that. He is energetic and silly, and his secret dream is that he wants to be like Michael Jackson. Here’s a clip of the nerd in action from Together:
Watch the Together Dance Performance
In the mini-series, this nerdy character will be one of two bored individuals scrolling aimlessly on their phones, until the Happy Virus pops up on their screen, of course. I’m excited to bring this character back because his transformation will be so relatable and fun to watch. Plus, who doesn’t love a good nerd-to-dance-floor-hero arc?
Adding One More Character
To round out the trio, I decided to pull in another character from my dance journey. This one is a cool kid, a perfect counterbalance to the nerdy awkwardness and the Happy Virus’s over-the-top energy. I couldn’t find a photo of him from an old performance, so I dressed up like him.
Together, these three characters will create such an interesting dynamic. I love thinking about how they’ll interact and what they’ll learn from each other throughout the series. Another interested point is that these characters are from dance pieces, so they have never spoken dialog before. Exciting!
So, what’s the story?
Here’s the plan: The Happy Virus comes across two bored, uninspired characters scrolling on Instagram. With his infectious energy, he invites them to follow along with a simple, joyful dance. At first, they’re skeptical, rolling their eyes, dragging their feet, but slowly, they start to loosen up. I have literally experienced this is some of my dance classes. Where students are very reluctant to dance, but as I talk with them, and they try little by little, they start really enjoying it.
Okay, back to the story. So, what happens next? They bored characters get into it. They start moving, smiling, and even freestyling. By the end of the episode, they’re not just following along, they’re fully immersed, dancing with confidence and beaming with happiness. It’s a short but powerful transformation that shows how dance can change everything.
The final scene will wrap with the Happy Virus asking the two them to reflect: “On a scale of 1 to 10, how happy were you before this video? And how happy are you now?” This project has also inspired me to spread joy not just to the characters in the story, but to everyone watching at home. That will be an extension to this experiment later down the line.
Why This Feels So Special
What excites me most about this project is how personal it feels. These characters are all a part of me in some way, and bringing them together feels like tying together different pieces of my creative journey.
It’s also a reminder of why I love storytelling through dance, it’s playful, transformative, and so full of life. As I plan these characters out, imagining their quirks and personalities, makes me laugh out loud (and I think we all need more of that kind of joy).
My Next Steps
Here’s what I’ll be focusing on in the coming weeks:
Script Development: I’ll finalize the dialogue for the Happy Virus and map out how the characters’ story unfolds.
Choreography Exploration: It’s time to start creating the moves! I want the routine to feel simple, fun, and uplifting.
Costume Planning: Each character needs a distinct look, and pretty much the costumes are decided, except for the cool kid.
Production Prep: I’m sketching out how to film the transitions between the characters and make the video flow seamlessly.
A Little Reflection
This week, I’ve been thinking about the balance between fun and structure in my creative process. How can I make the process enjoyable for myself while also creating something meaningful for my audience? I’m thinking about those details. This question I’ll carry with me as I move forward. Lastly, I’m so excited to see where this experiment takes me, and I hope it inspires anyone reading to find their own version of the Happy Virus. Let’s spread some joy, one experiment at a time.
Stay tuned for more updates as this project evolves. I can’t wait to share the final product with all of you! Let me know, what’s your favorite way to spread joy?
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