Where do feelings come from?

Every dancer knows that knowing the steps to a choreography isn't enough. To make a performance something that the audience will remember, you have to put your feelings and emotions into it. But where does that come from? How do we make it look like we're angry, sad, scared, or even just happy? How d we convince the audience that we are a different being? How you do convince them that you're no longer you, but your character?

Pouring your emotions into a routine is something that takes a lot of time and experience. For example, Gallim's "whale" choreography. It's got absolutely nothing to do with a whale, but the emotion and passion behind it, should be just as present as the size and mass of a whale. As dancers, it is out job to make sure that every single person in that room, even the people in the back row, leave the room thinking about the performance and being intrigued by the story and the sentiments - not just the grand jetés or the développés.

You can't fake emotions. Trust me, we've all tried it, and it never goes as planned. If you're struggling to connect with your character, or finding it difficult to portray the feelings that the choreographer is asking for, try analysing the situation. Take Sleeping Beauty as an example: she's a 16 year old dancer who never left her castle, and is being proposed to by a bunch of princes. Focus on the fact that she has never seen much of the outside world. She most likely doesn't know what the normal people in her kingdom are going through. Aurora is a very naive and innocent girl, and that's what you'll have to be when you're dancing her part. Try finding a time in your life where you were just as clueless about the real world and just as innocent - maybe when you were a little child? Think of times when you asked questions like "is Santa real?" or "can I have a unicorn for my birthday?". That's the times you should be thinking back to. Remember all of the happy memories that you had, and try to embrace your inner toddler (I'm not kidding! - but don't prance around on stage like one!!).

When it comes to the part where she pricks her finger, think of the most painful (emotionally) situation that you've had to experience. A breakup, the loss of a family member, anything that will make you have a sudden turn of sentiments.

There's no denying that it is gonna take many years of practice and had work. My main tip would be to experience more of the outside world. As much as we'd all like to lock ourselves in a studio and work on our technique, it won't get us very far if we're cold as ice. It's ok to get your heart broken a little bit. It makes you a stronger person and a better dancer.

Try not to be overly melodramatic. There's a pretty fine line between "this is how I feel" and "am I doing ok? Does it look like I'm human?"

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