Finding My Groove: The Dance Storytelling Mini-Series Takes Shape
This week, I finally had the chance to dive back into my Artistic Experiment after a whirlwind of commitments and exciting opportunities. Balancing life, work, and creative projects has been a challenge, but instead of seeing it as overwhelming, I am embracing it. This is a unique season in my life, one where I am juggling multiple passions, responsibilities, and dreams all at once. Rather than letting that stress me out, I am choosing to lean into the joy that comes with it.
That same joy is exactly what I want to bring into my Dance Storytelling Mini-Series, a project designed to be playful, engaging, and full of energy. This week, I made some decisions about the music.
Switching Up the Music: A Personal Connection
Originally, I had chosen a modern pop track for this project, but something about it was not clicking for me. Because I will be incorporating hip-hop dance elements, I wanted the music to reflect the energy and movement style authentically.
That is when I thought back to my childhood and the music my dad used to play. Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” immediately came to mind. It is funky, timeless, and deeply connected to the roots of hip-hop dance. More importantly, it has nostalgia and joy baked into it, exactly the kind of energy I want to bring to this experiment.
So, with a fresh soundtrack, I started reimagining the structure of my piece.
Rewriting the Intro: Engaging the Audience from the Start
My original introduction felt too formal:
“Stop scrolling. On a scale from 1 to 10, how happy are you?”
It was direct, but something about it felt too stiff for what I wanted to create. Instead, I decided to switch it up and lean into the playful energy of the piece:
New Opening:
“Stop scrolling. You need a break, and I have the perfect solution. Let’s take a dance break. Follow me!” - this is still evolving.
Immediately after, I will clap and snap to the beat, and then transition into shuffling my feet as the music kicks in. This feels much more natural, exciting, and in line with the energy I want to bring to the performance.
Experimenting with Movement & Camera Angles
Now that I have the music and introduction set, my focus is on testing out different movements and camera angles.
Things I am working on:
How do I capture movement from different angles? Do I keep it simple, or do I experiment with dynamic shots? What moves best complement the groove of “Rapper’s Delight”? I want the dance to feel natural, fun, and accessible.
I am also examining Rapper's Delight video. There are some really simple movements in the video, which has inspired me to simplify my choreograph even more.
How do I structure the progression of the routine? I want to start small and build up energy so that by the end, the audience feels completely immersed in the dance.
I am recording test clips to see what works best on camera. Movement that feels great in the studio does not always translate the same way on video, so experimenting with angles, lighting, and pacing is key.
Reflections on Balancing Creativity & Life
This past week has been non-stop, from running a student camp, to rehearsals, to performances. There were so many moments when I felt exhausted, but at the same time, I felt grateful. Every single thing I am involved in right now is something I love, and I do not take any of it for granted.
I want to bring that same level of heart into this project. Yes, my schedule is crazy, but I do not want to rush through this process. Instead, I want to pour my full self into it, be intentional, and truly enjoy it.
This project is more than just a dance video, it is a reflection of my experiences, my joy, and my passion for movement. It is a reminder that we all need to take moments in our day to pause, dance, and have fun.
Finding the Happy Virus Voice
A big part of this project is the Happy Virus character, and I want to make sure his voice is just as engaging as his movement. I started looking into how to properly create character voices, and I found this fun video:
How to Do Character Voices Properly
This video encouraged me to play again. This video really helped me think about:
Personality: What kind of energy does the Happy Virus bring?
Breath: How does he breathe? Is it fast and excited? Smooth and controlled?
Tone & Zone: Where does his voice sit? Is it high and bouncy? Deep and warm?
Movement & Sound: How does his physicality affect his speech?
The biggest takeaway was that the voice has to match the movement and energy of the character. Right now, I am experimenting with a raspy, energetic, slightly exaggerated voice, one that feels like it would genuinely make someone want to get up and dance.
Comments