Experimentation

Preparation process

Planning & Goals

Before starting my experimentation, I wanted to make sure that I have a clear view of what I'm trying to achieve. By writing down my weaknesses and how I want to improve those weaknesses, I have set specific goals for myself, making it easier for me to keep track of what I want to do instead of being clueless about what I'm trying to achieve.

For each section of experimentation, I will thoroughly explain my main goals and what I want to achieve at the end of that experimentation.

Equipment

For the equipment that I use during the process, I will use a Sony camera for filming. However, this camera does not capture audio really well, so during the process of editing, I will add overlay sound to the video if needed.

Musicality Improvement Experimentation

Planning & Goals

Musicality is the most basic and important element when it comes to dancing. I haven't had the chance to properly practice and train my ability to listen and count to music before. Hence, I will practice counting with different songs and experimenting with different beats [Depends on its complexity]. Only the movements are recorded, my full practice sessions does includes warm-up and stretches exercises, however, since the whole practice session will take 30 minutes to 1 hour so it will not be included.

Inspiration and tutorial [Why I decided to follow these tutorials?]

Finding counts in songs

This is a video provided by Steezy - a dance studio in America. This video is short, easy to understand and includes fun follow along exercises to practice. Furthermore, the exercises also includes various songs and type of beats. Hence, this video has help me to understand the use of counts in different songs and beats.

Practicing counting the beat

Musicality 2.0.mp4

Notes: In order to count or recognize more complex beats in the future, I will start with a simple counting exercise and gradually level up. In this video, I started by counting one beat on each count. The process went great, the counting as well as recognizing the beats were simple and understandable. However, on the second part, when replacing each even counts with "Ka" to emphasize the strong beats, I've had a hard time getting used to the counting. Therefore, I had to practice continuously for a few minutes before recording the voice-over. Overall, the process went well and I've been able to improve my ability to count basic beats.

[Disclaimer]: The voice-over of my counting might sound slower than the original audio due to the software of the video-edit application that I used.

Levitating.mp4

Notes: In this video, I practice counting with more complex beats. I have a hard time counting and recognizing such complicated beats, however, after practicing for 30-60 minutes straight, I could follow the beats perfectly. Despite having such a difficult time practicing, I found it much easier to follow and recognize different beats from songs. Overall, these exercise help me to improve my musicality a lot and I will definitely practice more in the future.

[Disclaimer]: The voice-over of my counting might sound slower than the original audio due to the software of the video-edit application that I used.

Evaluation

Overall, these exercises with rhythm and musicality has given a huge opportunity to improve myself as a dancer. I've been learning many useful tips as well as lessons on how to improve my musicality. Apart from some difficulties while learning to get use to the beats, I don't have any hard time dealing with these problems at all.

Contemporary dance Experimentation

Planning & Goals

When it comes to contemporary dance, a dancer needs to be aware of their body and learn about the most basics movements/skills. For this section, I'm going to practice upper-body contraction and lower body position/movements. Both of these techniques are represented with very easy movements, however, it's beginner-friendly and could be use or improvise into any choreography. Furthermore, I'm going to learn and perform some basic floor-works tricks since it will help me to improvise or even enhance my choreographic ability. Only the movements are recorded, my full practice sessions does includes warm-up and stretches exercises, however, since the whole practice session will take 30 minutes to 1 hour so it will not be included.

Inspirations and tutorial [Why I decided to follow these tutorials?]

Floor-work #1

This video is posted on youtube by a professional dance teacher called Miss Auti. She provided me with many useful tricks and tips that are beginner-friendly. Her style of instructing is also really fun and easy to follow.

Floor-work #2

This video is posted on youtube by a professional dance teacher called Miss Auti. In this video, she provided me with some more advance tips and tricks. However, I still manage to perform some of the tricks that I think would be impressive and easy to follow.

Upper/lower-body position

This is a program provided by Steezy studio - a dance company based in America. They provided really detailed and well-produced videos, programs [Instructors are professional dancers from around the world]. The program that I followed is for contemporary, the instructor have a really fun way of instructing, her lessons are helpful and easy to follow along.

Upper-body and Lower-body contraction/position

Upper-body contraction.mp4

#1: Upper-body contraction

Leaning about the upper-body contraction has been such a helpful lesson for me. I noticed some changes after learning about this while dancing, my movements appeared to be cleaner, smoother and my poses look less akward.

Lower-body position:movement.mp4

#2: Lower-body position/movements

The same thing goes for taking lessons about lower-body positioning/movement. I realized that many of the choreography that I've learned involved lower-body movement are improve or techniques taken from these simple poses [Although it may not be necessary related to contemporary]. My lower-body movements after learning about this also appeared to be more sculpted, more controlled and precise while dancing.

Application of 3 techniques

Application contemporary.mp4

How I apply these techniques into dancing?

Upper-body contraction: Upper-body contraction doesn't necessary have to be used only when there are movements that involve directly with this technique. It could be use as an additional movement, making the dance much more appealing and emotional. I also acknowledge that back movements and flexibility are extremely important in contemporary dance. Back movement will help to create more fluidity to the dances and will be a necessity for any emotional contemporary dance.
Lower-body positioning and movements: Lower-body positioning and movement are also really important. With the precise placements and movements of the legs. The whole performances could look much more sharp, smooth and clean. As for the hips, it helps to adds more flow, fluid feel to the dance.

Floor-works tricks

#1: Z-spike throw

CA, Floor trick 1.0.mp4

During the process of learning, the Z-spike throw has became one of my favorite tricks. This movement add more power and sharpness to any choreography. However, to perform this movement at its best, I will have to work more on my strength and practice my throw even more.

#2: Back arch

Phim của tôi 1.mp4

Back-arch is one of the most difficult floor-work in my experience. This trick requires the dancer to be flexible enough in order to feel comfortable while performing, it also requires the dancer to have a lot of strength since only their hands and legs will have to handle the weight of their body. Furthermore, by having a lot of strength, the dancer could be more balance while holding their body up. Strength and balance are the two elements that I will definitely have to work on in the future.

#3: Fall [-ing gracefully]

Floor work, CA.3.mp4

Falling is also one of the hardest tricks. However, the one that I perform is the easier version of falling. There are certain techniques used when it comes to this trick. To fall down quitely and effortlessly, the dancer have to lean their upper-body back while falling, this will help to create a resistance and help the dancer fall down without being injured.

Evaluation

Throughout the process of learning, the problem that I have to deal with most of the time is using my strength and balancing. However, after learning about contemporary techniques and skills, I've been able to be more aware of my body while dancing. Being a dancer, balance and well-aware of your body is a huge advantage, hence, I will definitely practice more of these skills to become a better dancer in the future.

Popping dance Experimentation

Planning & Goals

Popping is a form of dance that requires the dancer to be on full-alert of their body movements, including awareness about their muscles tensions or relaxation. Having a good body-awareness will help the dancer to perform in full control of their body, allowing them to move however they wanted to. In this section, my goals is to raise awareness of my own body and muscles. All 3 techniques including dime-stop, isolation and tutting [Since tutting is part of popping itself, I will include tutting in popping section] are all exercises that would help me to be more aware of my body. Hence, these exercises would help me to control and sculpted my movements even more [Angles, controlling muscles tension, etc]. Only the movements are recorded, my full practice sessions does includes warm-up and stretches exercises, however, since the whole practice session will take 30 minutes to 1 hour so it will not be included.

Inspiration and tutorial [Why I decided to follow these tutorials?]

Dime-stop

This is a short and simple follow along tutorial. Despite having such short footage, the instructor's teaching method is fun and effective. Moreover, he also apply real-life situations into the movements, making it much easier to understand.

Isolation

This isolation tutorial has been such a big help to help me better understand isolation. The instructor provide clear and detail explanation for each technique. He also instructed to count and repeat if needed.

Tutting

Even though this video is just a mirrored dance cover, the dancer in the video performed the movements precisely and is the closest to the original in my perspective. The choreography might look complicated at first, but since the movements are well-structured and distinguish, slowing down the video helps me with learning the choreography fast without any trouble.

Dime-stop

Dime-stop.mp4

Dime-stop movement requires thee dancer to stop moving suddenly and create a sharp, clean "cut" to the movement. This movement is seen often in robotic dances/choreography. It may look simple, but practicing this movement frequently could help me to better control my body and have more body-awareness while dancing. Additionally, practicing this move will help me to practice whole body pop or using different body parts to create the pop effect.

Isolations

Isolation.mp4

Isolation is one of the most basic and most important skills that any good dancer would've mastered [Some may perform differently depends on their style]. In popping, isolation were performed with sharp and well-distinguish moves. Due to the flexibility of my back and well-controlled hips [I've been dancing for more than a year], I don't have much trouble following the instructor's movements. However, I do feel like I could practice to improve the separation effects on different body parts furthermore.

Tutting

Tutting combo #1.mp4

Tutting combo #1

Evaluation: The first tutting combo is the most simple and basic combo. This is a basic tutting combo that is beginner-friendly. It could help with angles, moving your hands and arms in sync with the beats. Since this combo is simple, I don't have much trouble following the movements.
Strength:
- Strong and clean arms/fingers movements.
- Movements are in sync with the music.
- Well-distinguished and well-controlled movements.
Weaknesses:
- Arm angles could be improve more.

Evaluation: The second tutting is more complicated and the beats apply in the choreography are used differently. Since the movement are quite complicated, I have trouble identifying the movements and following the fast tempo of the song. However, after practicing and gradually improving, I could perform easily.
Strength:
- Precise arms angles.
- Movements are in sync with the music.
- Well-distinguished movements.
- Strong and clean movements overall.
Weakness:
- Near the end of the song, arms are uncontrolled and looks weak.

Tutting combo #2.mp4

Tutting combo #2

Tutting combo #3.mp4

Tutting combo #3

Evaluation: Tutting combo #3 is consisted of fast and complicated movements. It is no doubt that I have trouble synchronizing my movements with the music. Besides, the choreography have lots of angles that requires a lot of precise movements and wrist flexibility.
Strength:
- Movements are in sync with the music.
- Strong and clean movements overall.
- Well-distinguished and well-controlled movements.
- Precise angles movements.

Evaluation: Tutting combo #4 is similar to combo #3. The choreography is consisted of fast and complicated movements.
Strength:
- Movements are in sync with the music.
- Strong and clean movements overall.
- Well-distinguished movements.
Weaknesses:
- Arms are uncontrolled, leading to the angles of the arms looks uncontrolled and not precise.

Tutting combo #4.mp4

Tutting combo #3

Application of 3 techniques

Move-taemin.mp4

"Move" - Taemin, chorus dance cover

How I apply these techniques in dancing?

Tutting: Not only does tutting choreographies helps with arms flexibility and muscle memory while dancing, but it contributed in making any arms movements looks sharp and making upper body movement blend in better with Open-style dances [Open-style dance is the combination of different styles and techniques, it doesn't have any fixed techniques of its own]. In this video, I use tutting as a "tool" to better shape my arms and creating precise angles even while moving the arms.
Isolation: While performing this choreography, chest isolation and shoulder isolation were included. Since I already practice and know about isolation, I've been able to add more dynamics and texture into the dance. Isolation is also a great technique in dancing. If you could get used to the idea of "isolation", not only does this technique could help you to better shape your movements, but it will also help you to better identify movements in any type choreography that you wanted to learn.
Dime-stop: This is an unique technique to use in dancing. Even though this technique is most famous among poppers [Popping dancers], practicing this technique has help me to have more control over my body while dancing. Working with this technique frequently will also help me to make cleaner and shaper moves in the future.

Evaluation

Practicing popping techniques is such an unique and special experience for me. I've never had the chance to learn about this type of dance before, after learning about its long history and culture, I will definitely practice and learn more about popping in the future. Popping techniques is unique since it is not only used by poppers, but it is also been used between various type of dance. These techniques will sure come in handy if any dancer wanted to improve their body-awareness, body-control and clean dancing.

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