Dance has been an essential component of human expression. It’s been used by communities to celebrate various seasons as well as in other ways. Dance allows for more expression as it uses multiple body movements to communicate hidden and apparent messages. To this day, dance remains a vital part of how we play and interact with each other. It’s no surprise that this art form remains relevant to this day. This is especially true in theatre productions.
Here is why dance is an integral part of local theatre production.
Movement is an Essential Part of Acting
Before talkies, we had silent films that were as expressive and entertaining. The likes of Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks had no voices or sound, yet you get the point when you watch them. Why are their works so expressive? It’s all in their movement and range of motions.
Stage actors can build the same repertoire by taking part in dance groups or workshops. Such activities help actors get more comfortable on stage and understand how to move their bodies.
Here are some of the most popular types of dances.
Ballroom
Ballroom dancing has grown since it appeared in Italy during the renaissance. Such dance incorporates excellent timing and precise body movement. The discipline required to master such an art form can reflect on a theatre group’s performance on stage. This can be beneficial for productions that need a high level of choreography and group participation.
Traditional Jazz Interpretive
The swinging ’20s saw a rise in jazz music, theater, and a surge in African-American urban culture across the United States. This was also the prohibition era, so enthusiastic dances like the Charleston, Swing, Tap Dance, and Boogie-Woogie swept the nation. The dynamic, quick, and creative range of motion mastering such dances can help actors attain higher levels of expression with their body movements.
Professional
Professional dances like contemporary, ballet, and other modern forms of dance have a place in the theatre. Such dances have all the elements of theatrical productions in them, such as drama, poetry, choreography, and stage presence. Drilling actors on such dance moves can enrich a local theater production.
Latin
Latin dances like salsa and flamenco are a very sensual and energetic form of expression. Such dancing also incorporates live music and intricate levels of choreography. Learning these dances can help actors engage more intimately with each other as well as glue the audience to their every word. This is thanks to the confidence an actor gains in every body movement.
Funk
Motown and hip-hop music owe some of their success to the dances that evolved from the music. Such dancing is everywhere. It’s in movies, TV, and every form of audio-visual media. Therefore, aside from the range of movements actors gain, it can also make a production livelier.