Friday, March 18, 2016

Staging Space for Troupes

Welcome to my Belly Dance blog!  I have been dancing for quite awhile and wanted to share some of my experiences.

Staging Space

I have performed my entire life, starting when I was a little girl, in large dance/theatre productions in school.  Theatre has always been a part of my life, so I have a good understanding of blocking, staging and space.  I have experience performing for stage, screen and stills.  I think staging is an important subject, worthy of a workshop for anyone who is not familiar with the subject.  These are my thoughts on staging, after having a few interesting experiences the last year on different stages.  
For the newbie, being on a stage is very intimidating.  Bright, blinding lights, many people in the audience, and (usually) an entirely different space than you are used to dancing in (as opposed to class).  Hearts racing, and nerves set in.  How do you look your best, while looking out for your fellow troupe-mates (or classmates?).  How do you deal with the weird things that can happen on stage?  How far forward or backwards do you stand?  How close to your fellow dancer/s?

I have noticed in my years of dancing that some people are more aware of their "personal space" than others.  Some dancers instinctively know to stand where the audience can see them.  Others are either too busy worrying about choreography to notice or they just lack the experience to realize these things.

Spacing is a very important part of dancing with a group.  Take video of some shows you are in, and take a look at how far apart people stand.  Are they too far away?  Too close together?  Or a combination of the two?  Video is a great tool to help you look at stage spacing and blocking.

Some troupes choreography involves staggered entries and exits of dancers.  It is important to think about where you will end up, and who needs to be in front, going first, especially if that first person needs to travel the farthest on stage.  Don't push your way to the front because you want to be there.  Let the person who moves the farthest go first.  
These are all important issues to consider when thinking about a stage show.  Some of these questions will depend on several factors - how many people are in your troupe or on stage at the same time?  How many rows of dancers are there?  Who is supposed to be center or front?  There should always be a point person, who is center stage to help you with your spacing.  You focus on that person, where they are standing, and if you are in front, situate yourself to their side, about an extended arm's length away.  If you are in the second or third row, make sure the audience can see you in a "window" (in between other dancers), so that you are visible at all times.  Sometimes, the choreography will change the positions of people (thus, the windows), and you will have to adjust.  Try to remember key points in the dance, and where you are standing at those times.  Practice going to the correct spots to the cues in the music.  
When I'm on stage, I always try to look out for the dancers standing near me.  It can be very frustrating for other dancers if you are not considerate of where people are supposed to be standing.  If you are in front, make sure you have enough space so you are not too close to the edge of the stage and in danger of possibly falling off.  If you are in back, hopefully you have enough space behind you, so that you are not hitting the wall.  I've noticed sometimes in photos that certain people are very far away from their fellow dancers.  Standing closer (arm's length is a good estimate) might feel weird, but it often looks better than being 4 or 5 feet away from your fellow dancers.
If it's a huge stage, it's a good idea to make your moves big and try to fill that stage up with your energy.  Play to the audience, and smile at your fellow dancers if you are turning or have moments of interaction.  It really helps with nerves.
On some occasions, the stage might actually be smaller than you expect, also changing the dynamic of your show.  Moves will have to be made much smaller, especially turns and traveling moves.  Consideration again for your fellow dancers is a must.  If you are using a prop, you may have to reign it in a little.  Be careful when spinning canes, or flipping up wings.  Always check your zills and make sure they are tight on your fingers.
I like to always wear dance shoes, because sometimes there can be bad things on the stage from a prior performer.  Nails, beads, pins, glass.  None of these things feel good on bare feet!
If you don't have a good feeling about the spatial relationship between dancers, tell the troupe leader or your teacher.  Maybe you should switch positions to somewhere that is easier to determine the stage space, or between more experienced dancers.  Sometimes, a person might go to the wrong place by accident.  Try to adjust as easily as possible, without drawing attention to the mistake.  "I meant to do that" is often the best solution - smile and keep going!
For more information about my dance classes, visit my website

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