It’s summer: that means hot days, cold drinks, and lots of time with friends and family. For CenterStage performers it also means the start of choreography for our 2016 show: A Night On Broadway. We’ve been working hard learning music and planning small group numbers, but now it’s time to get moving. Really moving.
I personally didn’t really start dancing until I was in college, and even then it was only in the context of musical theatre. Now, as a performing member of CS, I have spent the last 4 years tapping into skills I never knew existed in me.
Choreography is more than just steps and spins, it becomes a collection of lessons in teamwork, focus, persistence, and learning that it is ok to laugh at yourself.
Let me give you a peek behind the scenes to show you some things I’ve learned while dancing with CenterStage.
Dancing is a great workout
I was never into team sports, so it’s nice to know I have an athletic outlet every week at rehearsal.
Quality over Complexity
With attention to detail you can make even the easiest moves look impressive.
You come to rehearsal not to just learn your part—but also everyone else’s
We are a team and we are all here to make each other look good.
The moment you finally nail a move can change your whole mood
Take time to celebrate and hope you can repeat it.
Don’t be afraid to take the lead
If you learn a move faster than others you can help teach it to someone else.
A little encouragement goes a long way
After a full rehearsal it’s nice to hear that all your hard work is paying off.
“Put your own style on it” has limits
Just because you CAN break it down with the best of them, doesn’t always mean that you should. Sometimes it takes more focus to blend in than it does to stand out.
“One more time” is usually a lie
Falling out of love with your favorite song after the 100th run-through is possible. But you’ll reignite the flame during the first performance.
We’re all in this together
As a group we learn at different levels, in different ways and by the end of the process we all come together to put on a great show. There is no better feeling than knowing your fellow performers each put in 100%, not just for themselves, but for everyone around them.
From messing up the words to a song we were once able to recite in our sleep, and suddenly forgetting how to walk in a straight line, to being able to sing and dance at the same time, we go through quite the journey. One thing is for sure—we have a lot fun along the way!
We’ve been busy this summer and we won’t be slowing down anytime soon. Come see the final product of all our hard work as we dance through A Night On Broadway.