eejune18

So you think
can dance,
BUT “D” ACT?
3 simple tips to help turn
your dancing into acting.
"D" Acting or dance acting is the ability to communicate and tell a story to
the audience while dancing. The bridge between the dance and the audience
is acting. If it truly comes from your soul, then like our favorite actors, the
audience will feel your message. Perfecting the ability to "D" Act is what
makes a true performer that can entertain any audience.
1 Be enthusiastic and look like
you're having fun.
Live it up on stage and delight the audience
with enthusiasm. If you need to, take a
moment before you go on to think about
your favorite song and how good it makes
you feel. As soon as you feel like you can
genuinely smile, you're ready to go!
Chucky Klapow, (High School Musical, High
School Musical 3, and The Cheetah Girls:
stars on ice) says, "I worked for the LA
Sparks for over a decade as a performer and
choreographer. The entire time, it was about
having fun, so that the audience could feel
our joy as well. I would never settle for any
member of the Sparkids not exuding fun.
Even if the team was facing a total blowout,
down by 20 with only a minute left and no
chance of coming back, the Sparkids had to
make the audience forget about the drama
with a slamming dance number during
timeout. It was all acting at that point. I
needed to turn on the acting skills, put on a
smile, and inspire the audience through our
dancing."
2 Understand what you are
trying to portray.
How do you relate to the character or mood
you are demonstrating in your dance. What
is the role you are playing and how do you fit
in? Start by asking your choreographer what
they are envisioning in the dance. Do some
research about your character if necessary.
Open up to the idea that you can depict
something other than yourself. This will help
you take your part to a deeper depth. Lorin
Latarro (DanceBreak, Kickin It, and Lysistrata)
comments that, "knowing how to evoke
those broad strokes of character will win that
dancer the job over the technically dazzling
dancer who doesn't think like an actor."
www.EverythingElko.com \ June 2018 29