Finding My Rhythm
This week has been a whirlwind of discovery, challenges, and creative exploration. I have been refining my Artistic Experiment (AE), playing with different elements of choreography, storytelling, and character development, while also balancing my responsibilities as a dance educator and choreographer. This process has been exciting but also filled with unexpected challenges that have forced me to pivot and rethink my approach.
Experimenting with Character Interaction
In my last update, I created a simple video to visualize how the Happy Virus would interact with the other two characters, but I had not yet shared it on this blog. Because I am a very visual person, I wanted to take a moment to showcase the concept here.
This exercise helped me see how the Happy Virus initiates movement and encourages the other characters to engage. However, watching the video back, I started questioning how to make the interactions feel more natural and dynamic. There was something missing. The Happy Virus character has a lot of energy, but I want the transition from resistance to participation to feel organic and fun, not forced.
The Music Dilemma: A Shift in Sound
One major challenge I encountered this week was with my music selection. I had originally planned to use Rapper’s Delight by the Sugarhill Gang, as it has a fun, retro hip-hop vibe that connects with my personal dance history. However, I quickly realized that I could not use it due to copyright restrictions, YouTube and Google would block the video.
This put me in an interesting creative position:
Find a royalty-free alternative that still captures the same energy.
Reimagine the choreography to fit a new sound.
Balancing Multiple Choreographic Projects
These days, I am developing three different pieces of choreography:
Memphis Belle Dance Team: A piece to Revolution by Kirk Franklin, full of energy and powerful movement.
Five Towns College Hip-Hop Course: Teaching a hip-hop toolbox class, focusing on foundational movements, rhythms, and fun techniques.
Praxis Artistic Experiment Project: Creating a dance that blends play, character work, and interactive storytelling.
As I move between these different projects, I am realizing how much each experience influences my movement choices. Teaching choreography for Let Me Clear My Throat by DJ Kool, which is super high-energy and playful, has made me reconsider how I bring fun, audience engagement, and lightheartedness into my own project. However, as much as I am enjoying the process, I am also struggling to connect with my choreography in the way I want. Something still feels missing.
The Struggle to Find the Right Choreography
While I am experimenting with movement, I do not yet feel completely satisfied with my choreography. I wanted to start with simple, fun moves and then build up to something more exciting, but I am struggling to find the flow that feels right.
I know this is part of the creative process, and experimentation is key. As Thomas Edison once said: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
That is exactly how I feel! Every time I try something and it does not feel right, I am getting one step closer to figuring out what does work. Similarly, Vincent van Gogh once said:
“I put my heart and soul into my work and have lost my mind in the process.”
While I would not say I have lost my mind just yet, I do feel like I have not yet found the heart and soul of this project. That is what I need to unlock, something that feels personal, meaningful, and joyful.
Peer Chat
I wrote this blog post before meeting with some of my peers to discuss this project. During our meeting, I shared the sample video included at the top of this blog. After showing them the video, I received a lot of positive feedback. They commented on the energy and engagement of the piece, two aspects I had been somewhat concerned about. Their encouragement has reassured me that I’m heading in the right direction and has motivated me to explore new ways to develop the project further.
As I continue working, I realize I’ve been thinking a lot about what the audience might want. However, one of the most valuable pieces of feedback I received was to create the piece based on what feels right to me, trusting that people will naturally engage with it.
I’m incredibly grateful to have peers who I can share ideas with, it’s been so helpful to get their perspectives. Now, I’m excited to get back into the studio and continue refining this project!
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