Movement Habits

Breaking movement habits is something that all dancers should consider. But, what is it that causes us to build up this habitual way of moving? When we dance, our brain can sometimes switch onto autopilot and the movement that is soft or the movement that is explosive and powerful will look similar to something you have already done, or alike a person or a dance work you have watched a lot. Like most dancers, I’m totally guilty of habitual movement and it can sometimes leave me frustrated when I see that I am not giving myself anything else. As a remedy to combat this frustration I look what I do, why I do it and when I do it. There was a time where I watched a lot of Bob Fosse and without even realising it I ended up doing similar movement to this Jazz style, but in a contemporary dance setting. The sharp, precise movement was so glued into my brain that I found ways to put it through my body during improvisation. I like to think that it looked great, but I wasn’t giving myself anything else to play with. (more…)