Thread: Creating Your Performance.

Ok I did some form of a search for topics like this alread but it is rather late so I shall apologise in advance just in case I have missed something.

First off, I am a total beginner, my lovely bf bought me the Burlesque for Beginners DVD for crimbo so have watched that a thousand times haha.

I have chosen a couple of songs which I feel would be great to perform to and I have had a play about with outfits and certain movements but I am finding it difficult to actually do the same moves everytime I do the dance (if that makes sense?)

I was just wondering, other than practising like a loon, are there any other ways of being able to remember your moves etc when you are learning a dance ?

I hope this post makes sense, I am falling asleep as I type.

Thanks guys.
LSW xXx

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I always write down what I'm doing as I make it up! That way if I forget a bit I have something to refer to xx

Thanks very much. I had not really thought about writing it down, I shall give it a go. x

I have a scrapbook that I use for my ideas and I write them down as they come to me.

With regard to doing the same thing each time - I trained as a dancer so I'm used to choreographing and sticking to a routine, but I try to allow for something going wrong such as a stocking clip sticking or a ribbon getting tangled. So maybe, rather than thinking "I have to have this off on this word in the song" try being a little bit more flexible and thinking "I have to have this off BY this word" that gives you a little bit more time to actually fiddle with the damn thing, then if you get it off/undone quicker, tease the audience for a few beats in a will she/won't she take it off manner

Also - A Chester lass!! Whereabouts? I'm from Chester, I only moved a month or two ago!

Originally Posted by Miss Dani California

With regard to doing the same thing each time - I trained as a dancer so I'm used to choreographing and sticking to a routine, but I try to allow for something going wrong such as a stocking clip sticking or a ribbon getting tangled. So maybe, rather than thinking "I have to have this off on this word in the song" try being a little bit more flexible and thinking "I have to have this off BY this word" that gives you a little bit more time to actually fiddle with the damn thing, then if you get it off/undone quicker, tease the audience for a few beats in a will she/won't she take it off manner

Definitely great advice - always factor in time to screw up into your routine (better to have it and not need it than the reverse)! :grin:

Although the reverse is also true, sometimes you miss a bit of the routine out by accident or a bit of clothing comes off before it is meant to - it can be a good idea to have a section in reverse that you can "slot in" if you find yourself with an unplanned bit of music to fill but nothing to fill it with! :worried:

I have the worst memory so sometimes i rely on improvisation if i stuff up. In rehearsal I write my fan moves on a big board and balance it on a chair a few metres in front of me. It'll have words that represent a move like "turkey tail", "vegas girl", "eagle wings".

:-D

I rarely choreograph my acts religiously from start to finish. I prefer to have the freedom to take the act where the audience leads it. I like to respond to the audience...

So I have a few set moves and a few 'punctuation moments' in the soundtracks, but never a fully choreographed act.

Originally Posted by Miss Dani California

Also - A Chester lass!! Whereabouts? I'm from Chester, I only moved a month or two ago!

I live nearer to Ellesmere Port but my grandparents is like a second home and thats Vicars Cross.

Thanks for all the tips and suggestions. Theyre all very handy and insteresting.

I wasn't really expecting to get many replies haha.

I shall have to give these a go...I have got plenty of time.

My perfectionist side will have to take a back seat whilst I figure stuff out haha.

Thanks again.

Originally Posted by Beatrix Von Bourbon

I rarely choreograph my acts religiously from start to finish. I prefer to have the freedom to take the act where the audience leads it. I like to respond to the audience...

So I have a few set moves and a few 'punctuation moments' in the soundtracks, but never a fully choreographed act.

I'd love to try and do an act on that basis but I'm too much of a coward at the moment! ops:

Possibly because I'm quite new to performing I've got this vision of getting to an improvised bit and being too nervous to think of any actual moves so just standing there like a lemon as the music goes inexorably on! :help:

Maybe once I've got more confidence and a bit more experience under my belt!

Originally Posted by Beatrix Von Bourbon

I rarely choreograph my acts religiously from start to finish. I prefer to have the freedom to take the act where the audience leads it. I like to respond to the audience...

So I have a few set moves and a few 'punctuation moments' in the soundtracks, but never a fully choreographed act.

Wow, I feel so much better hearing that someone else does it this way. Here I was thinking I would never be a great burly girl if I can't choreograph a full routine and stick to it. I like having my creative freedom as well. And I only have enough memory to remember the "punctuation moments" as you so aplty put them. I find it's just easier to go with the flow too.