Special Skills/dance - 2007/04/19 23:40What do all of you have under your special skills? I have nothing(although in my defense I am a freshman in HS with little experience and little money) I know Sutton Foster must have a list that takes up half the resume after seeing show off.
Kinda related topic: What would be the best dance class to enroll in for Musical Theatre? I have almost convinced my mom to enroll me in a class but I don't know what style would be best.The opposite of Rent is Oklahoma!!! Why didn't I think of that?
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HasBeen
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Re:Special Skills/dance - 2007/04/19 23:52You don't NEED to have any special skills listed, and definitely don't put something unless you really are proficient in it--you don't ever want to be caught stretching the truth on your resume.
Just think of abilities you have that may at some point come in handy in a show: fencing, juggling, mime, martial arts, roller skating....use your imagination. However, don't worry if you don't list anything--it's not a big deal.
As for dance: Do you have any dance background? I always recommend that anyone considering the musical theater start with ballet for good basic technique and continue ballet class as long as they are performing to keep the body tuned up. After that you should go for jazz. There are some dance classes that say they are musical theater dance, but it's usually some form of jazz dance.
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AmandaC
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Re:Special Skills/dance - 2007/04/20 00:090 dance background. Ballet seems so (shields face from rocks) boring to me. Although it would keep me toned and flexible. I was thinking of doing tap or jazz but I decided I should get some guidance. On the dance academy's site it has something called lyrical. What is that?The opposite of Rent is Oklahoma!!! Why didn't I think of that?
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HasBeen
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Re:Special Skills/dance - 2007/04/20 00:38Ballet can be tedious at times, but it is the basis of good dancing technique. Nobody said it's always going to be great fun preparing yourself for a musical theater career--it's hard work!
Between tap and jazz, definitely go for jazz.
Lyrical dance is sort of a hybrid that includes elements of ballet and modern dance, and occasionally jazz. It theoretically is more emotional in nature and tries to tell a story through dance, with acting skill involved as well. Lyrical dance is often not really recognized as a legitimate style by traditionalists in the dance world, because it mixes various styles (as does musical theater dance) and is often attempted by people who don't have strong technique in any particular style. However, when done well it can be extremely difficult and demanding, and it is definitely gaining more acceptance as a style of its own.
Henrik
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Starlet_Actress21
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Re:Special Skills/dance - 2007/04/20 10:44Between tap and jazz, I'd definoitely say jazz. I take both, and I don't enjoy tap all that much.
Under my special skills, I have tap, jazz, musical theatre dancing (if anyone has a better name for this, please share it), synchronized swimming, ice skating, Girl Scouts, writing and a whole bunch of other stuff. Weird skills you should especially put down.Auditioning for: Brigadoon, theatre season, American Music Theatre, Into the Woods, Sound of Music, and AMDA.
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AmandaC
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Re:Special Skills/dance - 2007/04/21 01:40Wow I feel like I just did a fifty-fifty on Who wants to be a Millionaire. The ones they give you are the two you accidentally said aloud that you thought.
So now between Jazz and Ballet? I just rented the st to A chorus line at "At the Ballet" made ballet seem so appealing. and yet Jazz seems like so much fun!The opposite of Rent is Oklahoma!!! Why didn't I think of that?
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mrmistofolees19
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Re:Special Skills/dance - 2007/04/21 23:51I thinks it's a good idea to start ballet first then go into jazz. Ballet will make you stronger and flexible, so you are ready for the fast-paced jazz dancing. Even though they are different styles of dance, taking ballet will make you look better in jazz.*´¨) ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•´ (¸.•´ Annie
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21stCenturyEvita
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Re:Special Skills/dance - 2007/04/23 18:02All right- now I have a question. When I was little, from about age 6 to age 9, I did your basic ballet, tap, and jazz at the local YMCA (professional, I know). Then, for some reason that I can't remember, I dropped out. At age 10 I started doing musical theatre. About 2 years ago, I realized how stupid it was to drop out of dance. However, from that little backgroud of dance, I'm still a relatively decent dancer (I usually get the harder-than-easy but easier-than-hard dance solos/small group things). What can I do at home to improve my dance skills? I have a tap DVD that I hate but I use when I feel like a have to move. My mother now refuses to enroll me at a dance studio because she thinks my schedule's too busy- pshhh.Psalm 42:8
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kythca
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Re:Special Skills/dance - 2007/05/06 09:1221stCenturyEvita wrote: All right- now I have a question. When I was little, from about age 6 to age 9, I did your basic ballet, tap, and jazz at the local YMCA (professional, I know). Then, for some reason that I can't remember, I dropped out. At age 10 I started doing musical theatre. About 2 years ago, I realized how stupid it was to drop out of dance. However, from that little backgroud of dance, I'm still a relatively decent dancer (I usually get the harder-than-easy but easier-than-hard dance solos/small group things). What can I do at home to improve my dance skills? I have a tap DVD that I hate but I use when I feel like a have to move. My mother now refuses to enroll me at a dance studio because she thinks my schedule's too busy- pshhh.
I have similar issues.
I did dance when i was younger (from 4th grade to 7th grade) but when i moved in with my father we couldn't afford to continue with classes (if there were even any around, i don't know). Still i've been able to keep my dance skills fairly good (just by being in roles that required some dancing) . . .
I am currently taking one fitness class at the YMCA here (required by one of the classes i'm in at my college) but i really want exercises/stretches that will focus on improving flexibility and dance skills.
Now i would love to get back into dance, but my schedule is busy and money is thin. So i'm pretty much in the same boat you are. Sorry i can't help. But i'm glad you brought it up, i'll be happy to read some responses . . . - Kythca ( kĭth'kə )
I am not insane! I'm just too poor to be considered eccentric! ---------- Upcoming Auditions: - Beauty and the Beast! Recent Roles: - Laurey in Oklahoma! - Mrs.Martini/M.C./AngelicChoir/Dancer in A Wonderful Life. ---------- Check out my Art at www.msandie.com !
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AmandaC
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Re:Special Skills/dance - 2007/05/07 19:33kythca wrote: I am currently taking one fitness class at the YMCA here (required by one of the classes i'm in at my college) but i really want exercises/stretches that will focus on improving flexibility and dance skills.
I was searching around and this site has some flexibility stretches! Click tips then dance and you'll find themThe opposite of Rent is Oklahoma!!! Why didn't I think of that?
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Tapista
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Re:Special Skills/dance - 2007/05/17 06:44If you want to have some dance experience def. take a beginner theater jazz class. If you just take a regular jazz class you will most likely not be exposed to any broadway style dances. Fosse is a big one. Theater jazz will help you with the fosse technique. A lot of shows involving dance use at least some of that. It's a very different placement of the body that you have to get used to."What do you call a tap dancer person? A tapista...?" "...a tap dancer
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CwEinDallas
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Re:Special Skills/dance - 2007/10/31 17:21if you really have zero dance, i would still say ballet is the best place to start, although Jazz looks more like the choreography you will be doing in most musicals. Here is why: Ballet is more or less the vocabulary for nearly every other form of theatrical dance you'll be likely to encounter. If you start with Ballet you will at least know the names of things so you can learn chorography faster and you should find it will build up a good platform of strength and flexibility to improve in other kinds of dance. (p.s. a good ballet class will be more likely to kick your butt than bore you)Chris
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broadway bound
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Re:Special Skills/dance - 2007/11/08 16:20Ballet is definitely the basis of all dance. Lyrical is so much fun! If you have no dance experience, definitely find a class or, if you have to, buy a dvd with basic step that also teaches a combo. The problem with dvds is that you don't have a teacher to help you with technique. It may look like you are doing the moves correctly, but you can really injure yourself if you don't get the technique right.
Important: If you take a ballet class (or watch a dvd) please don't force our feet into a full turn-out (so your feet make a straight line). You can seriously injure you knees and that is extremely painful!
As far as good classes ballet is important, jazz is more musical theatre than ballet, lyrical is tons of fun, and tap is a good skill to have.
Find out what kind of a background the teachers have. My lyrical teacher has a musical theatre background so a lot of our combos have musical theatre flavor.Is that the smell of sulfur? Oh its a stage effect!
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JAzz out of tap and JAzz I'd say but I would do ballet I am starting up ballet again and I find it the basis of most dance moves and such, lyrical is blast especially if your acting ids the most dominant talent. It is easier to dance as you are almost partially acting your way through itCurrently Combeferre
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