From Scrolling to Dancing
Alright, we are officially in the creation stage, where all the ideas start taking shape! I have been deep in brainstorming mode, pulling characters from past performances, and shaping the concept, but now it is time to move, experiment, and bring it all to life.
This project is all about play, storytelling, and dance, mixing them together to create something fun, engaging, and (hopefully) contagious in the best way possible. Let me walk you through where I am at!
What This Project Is About
If you missed my last blog, let me catch you up to speed. I am creating a short dance storytelling video where movement transforms two bored characters into joyful, expressive dancers. The goal? To show how dance can bring people out of their shells and make them feel alive.
Two characters: one nerdy, one cool are scrolling aimlessly on their phones.
They stumble across the Happy Virus (played by me), who invites them to dance.
At first, they resist. Then, little by little, they start moving. By the end, they are fully immersed in the dance.
The Happy Virus asks: "How happy were you before? And how happy are you now?"—encouraging the audience to engage and reflect.
What I Am Working On Right Now
Since this is all about storytelling through dance, my focus is on making sure the movement reflects the emotional shift from boredom to excitement.
Music Search: Music is everything. Initially, I wanted to use a popular pop song, but after thinking it over, I decided to go for something fresh. For example, Happy by Pharrell Williams is a great song, but we have all heard it a million times. I wanted something different, something that feels fresh and exciting for both me and the audience.
Choreography Development: The movement has to start small and hesitant and gradually build up to full-on joy.
Character Movement:
The nerd will start off awkward, unsure of himself, like he is questioning whether he can even dance.
The cool kid will pretend to be uninterested, until he gets caught up in the energy and cannot resist.
Freestyle Moments: I want each character to find their own groove and have a breakout moment.
Audience Participation: I am experimenting with moments where viewers feel invited to join in. Maybe a simple clap-along section or a follow-the-leader moment?
A Moment to Celebrate!
After listening to a ton of songs, I finally found one that feels right. The song is NEW DANCE by AYYBO, and I am hyped to start choreographing to it!
Challenges & Things I Am Thinking About
Every project comes with challenges, and this one is pushing me in new ways.
Balancing Structure & Play: I want the choreography to be fun, not stiff, so I am testing different improv-based exercises to keep things loose and natural.
Telling a Story Without Words: How do I clearly show emotion without dialogue? I am experimenting with facial expressions, timing, and gestures to make the narrative come through.
Making It Interactive: How do I make people feel like they are part of this? Should I break the fourth wall and speak directly to the audience?
My Next Steps
So, what is next?
Making Choreography: Testing movement ideas, adjusting as I go.
Filming Test Clips: I need to see how things look on camera and make sure the energy translates well.
Costume & Character Refinement: The Happy Virus is set, but I need to finalize the cool kid’s look.
Experimenting with Transitions: How do I smoothly shift from bored and scrolling to full-on dance party mode?
My Final Thoughts
This project is reminding me why I love dance. It is not just about performing, it is about energy, emotion, and connection. I hope this experiment captures that joy and makes people want to get up and dance with me. Stay tuned, more to come soon!
Listen to NEW DANCE by AYYBO below:
Comments