ProTip #29: The Benefits of Improvisation as a Dance Study

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Improvisation. For most dancers, this word usually falls on one of two extremes…dread or praise. I used to absolutely despise improvisation. Why? I wasn’t confident, I overthought every little move, I had no ideas, fear of judgement…the list goes on. Over time however, I have grown to love and appreciate improvisation within my dance training and career. Like anything, improvisation is a skill that takes time, patience, and practice. If you are someone who falls on the “dread” side of the scale, I encourage you to incorporate more improvisation into your dance studies—and here’s why…

Improvisation practice can help you get comfortable in your own skin as an artist. As a performer and creator, this can be challenging, but the more you improvise, the more “yourself” you will feel.

It helps to develop your personal aesthetic/voice. When I am improvising, I am researching. Moving mindlessly allows me to notice patterns and habits that my body has taken on over my dancing years. The ways our bodies move naturally can be informative and insightful towards our strengths/weaknesses/likes/dislikes within training and choreography.

2021 NewDANCEfest Guest Artist, Jessica Miller Tomlinson, leads an improvisation class for NDF participants

Improvisation promotes versatility in your movement patterns and sparks creativity. I love a guided improvisation that challenges my natural habits and patterns. New movement ideas remind us that our bodies and minds are capable of so much! Prompts that stimulate visualization can create movement so innovative and unfamiliar to our bodies…an easy way to diversify your dance skill.

Do you ever hit a mental block while choreographing? Improvisation is a fantastic and easily accessible tool for choreographing. Give yourself a “task” or prompt and you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the movement that you create!

The ability to improvise, and improvise with CONFIDENCE is a crucial audition skill. Especially in today’s industry, most artistic directors who hold auditions are looking for dancers who are unique and shamelessly themselves. They love to see dancers who can offer something special to their company/gig, etc. What better way to see this than to ask a dancer to improvise?

Just like any other dance technique that you practice regularly, improvisation is a difficult skill to master! Give yourself the opportunity to grow as an artist by indulging in improvisation study. You will quickly start to see the benefits it has on your dance training as a whole!

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PROTIP ADVISOR

TARA CHARVAT

EDD COMPANY MEMBER AND EDD YOUTH ENSEMBLE ASSISTANT ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Tara Charvat, Company Member, graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2018 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Western Michigan University. While attending WMU, Tara performed works by renowned choreographers such as Paul Taylor, Anthony Tudor, Lew Christensen, Frank Chavez and Brian Enos. She attended summer programs with New Dialect, chuthis., BODYTRAFFIC LA, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, The Big Muddy Dance Company and DanceWorks Chicago. In 2018, she received a scholarship to the Lou Conte Dance Studio where she attended weekly class with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago artists and presented her own choreography. In 2019, Tara joined NewDances, a collaboration between Thodos Dance Chicago and DanceWorks Chicago. For the 2019-2020 season, she apprenticed with Eisenhower Dance Detroit performing works by Stephanie Pizzo, Laurie Eisenhower and BAIRA. In Fall 2020, Tara was promoted to company member. Throughout her time with Eisenhower, Tara has worked directly with choreographers such as Micaela Taylor, Norbert de la Cruz III, Maleek Washington, James Gregg and Rauf “Rubberlegz” Yasit. Tara is also a teaching artist for the School of Eisenhower Dance Detroit as well as other studios in the Metro-Detroit area. Along with presenting choreography at YAGP, she serves as the Assistant Artistic Director of the Eisenhower Dance Detroit Youth Ensemble.

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