<p>I thought I would start a new discussion here after having some interesting conversations with several of my colleagues.</p>
<p>We talk about vocal health, song/monologue choice, and a host of other things but we rarely, if at all, talk about a very important subject (for the performer) and that is MOVEMENT.</p>
<p>Being comfortable in one's own skin is very important when it comes to performing, no matter whether it is singing or acting. I am finding that many students have issues with this. </p>
<p>Many students don't begin taking movement classes or are exposed to movement (for actors) until college. </p>
<p>Are the students that are being accepted into top BFA programs showing more of this ability than others? Could this be something that all students should pay close attention to prior to their round of auditions? If your HS does not teach movement, (not dance movement) where can you get solid acting movement training? These may be very important questions for the next round of applicants to consider.</p>
<p>I know that my personal training has been physically oriented. I've done several years of viewpoints training and touched a little on Suzuki. Being in L.A., it isn't too difficult to find some great movement for actors classes, but I've found that if those are unaccessible, some good dance training can really do the trick. Anything from jazz to ballet is great, but I think modern would be very beneficial. A lot of the movement classes I took seemed a lot like dance classes, just in a more abstract and unique manner. I do agree that movement is vital to any good actor and can really make the difference in acceptances. It gives a student a dominant presence and makes them more aware of their own body when approaching material. I'd say it's like the icing on the cake.</p>
<p>AHHH! I love movement! I just had a great talk with my voice and speech about it, and how it all effects your voice. For example, a pelvis that is pointed towards 6 on the pelvis clock directly pulls a muscle on your collar bone that is connect to your vocal cords!</p>
<p>Also on thing I didn't really know was that being a really trained dancer (im straight acting) is really harmfull to your body (and not just in the obvious ways like overuse in joints and so on). One of my teachers used to be a ballet dancer, and only discovered years and years later through feldincrist (sp) how much her body was improperly alligned because of it. Feldincrits and the alexander technique are great things to research when it comes to feeling your body and getting in touch with your spine.</p>
<p>Movement to music (no, it is NOT like dance!) is an amazing class I am in. It's all about impulses. NOT being in your head, just doing things instinctively, things that are not pretty or well done, just getting into a zone where your body is in touch with it's surroundings and takes directions from that, instead of the brain. It translates to text and improve work amazingly. </p>
<p>While I do agree with what ckp said, I still believe that dance training can make a positive difference for an actor, just as long as one is receiving the right training and can differentiate between what is correct for dancing vs. what is correct for acting. Also, a true movement class will be much more geared toward the actors' impulses, which is very beneficial and fun. I did forget to mention Alexander Technique, which I think is really great for actors and singers.</p>
<p>My D has talked about this topic with me in regard to her MT performance classes, where they have been focusing quite a bit on physicality of late. My D has had a lot of dance training and her professor told her that initially, dance training can be limiting for singer/actors because dancers tend to be hyper aware of their bodies and their placement. They tend to think too much about their physicality. Once they are aware of this tendency and learn to let it go, the professor told her that in his experience the dancers tend to be among the best with movement issues because of the natural grace and control they are used to, how well they know their own bodies and how comfortable they are within their own skin.</p>
<p>As an enthusiastic audience member of musicals, I love watching actors on stage who move gracefully and well. I can't stand watching actors who don't move well. If they don't move well, what am I watching? A radio show? Film can showcase an actor who does not move well, but stage is for the full body. We got the understudy for Elphaba in LA (she might be fine in her "other role" on Broadway, but I'm talking about her in that role), and her body moved like a block of concrete. I'm all for actors who are also dancers. And I'm also biased ;).</p>
<p>It's not all about being graceful. The intent is to free oneself so as to move in such a way as to truthfully embody the character in a given set of circumstances. Obviously, you need to be able to move gracefully when it's called for, but that aint all characters all the time. ;) I have also heard what ckp was saying about dancers and their alignment and have seen the little "tick, tock" in the heads of some with dance backgrounds like Theatermom mentioned. I have also seen that dancers along with those with gymnastics and martial arts backgrounds tend to have an easier time with movement once they get past that than those who've never done anything requiring a lot of body awareness. </p>
<p>I think that, yes, having some movement training - like any training - will stand one in good stead at audition time. If you can't get it where you live, however, there are things you can do to prepare yourself for it besides dance. Yoga and Tai Chi should be high on your "to do list" if you can afford the time. As for those who've already been admitted and are going to a conservatory in the fall, here's a word of advice ... Spend the summer working yourself into absolutely the best shape you've ever been in. You'll thank yourself later. Depending on the approach used, this stuff can seriously kick your butt. There's no sweat like Suzuki sweat ...</p>
<p>Nicely put fishbowl! I do understand what people are saying now about dancers sometimes not being the best physical actors. If I can tell that someone doing a monologue is a dancer...then they probably haven't had the best training. But if they move naturally in an uninhibited manner, I'm satisfied. I will echo the getting into shape comment for the summer. I want to go into Syracuse fully freshened up with all the stamina and endurance I can build. That's the only way to get the most out of the training.</p>
<p>I wasn't trying to discurage people from dancing- it is a huge plus after the initial difficulties, but many people believe that just being a dancer makes all the differents, when it is not always the case. Of course being able to dance is a great benifit even for straight actors, but movement and dances are very very different, I think that was what I was trying to say! haha</p>
<p>YES...Yoga and tai chi are HUGE parts of my life now, and it has brought another level to it. I would really suggest looking up the stands drill and practicing it on a daily bases to get in touch with your chi, which really aids with space object work and getting into character and letting out emotioins. It's tight stuff.</p>