Today’s blog is written by John Malashock of Malashock Dance, the fourth teacher in our 4 Sundays in February Master Class Series. Join him for class this Sunday, February 28, 11 am - 1 pm at the Malashock Dance School.

Look at the top of this web page. It says, “Malashock Dance puts emotion in motion.” This was a slogan we came up with a long time ago and, while it is not untrue, I have found myself thinking about it a lot lately. I love the physical sensation of dance, but I have always preferred using it for a purpose. For telling a story. For portraying characters. For saying things that can’t be said in words. For freeing a part of myself.

What I have been thinking about is the approach of actively putting emotion into movement, versus trusting that it will show up on its own if I (and the dancers I am working with) am personal and honest about my approach. There is a wide range of ways dancers and choreographers go about this. We have all seen ‘overwrought’ young dancers indulging in a sappy pop song that happens to match their current state of being. And we have all seen ‘super cool’ dancers who seem to have Vulcan blood flowing through their veins. Neither is particularly satisfying to watch.

Interpretation of choreography is a dancer’s job. That means developing the ability to put something of themselves into movement that has been created by someone else. As a choreographer, I have to leave enough room for my dancers to ‘insert’ themselves and influence the work. As dancers, they have to bring something to my movement that I don’t see already. That is when things get interesting.

This doesn’t just apply to rehearsals and performance. It belongs in class as well. That is when dancers can take the biggest risks with movement. If dancers treat class like an opportunity to interpret; like an interactive process rather than a one-way street; like a creative chance for self-expression, then it is a much richer experience than just trying to pick up some new movement – working hard enough to be good and sore the next day.

For Sunday’s master class, I give you full permission to throw yourselves at the movement. You don’t find out what you are capable of by being careful and always trying to be ‘right.’ Just like the skiers and skaters we are seeing this week don’t win when they are careful or tight. Technique in dance is the easy part. What you do with it is where the art is.

See you Sunday.

- John Malashock, Malashock Dance
www.Malashock Dance.org

Join John in class on Sunday, February 28, 11 am - 1 pm
Malashock Dance School
2650 Truxtun Road, Studio 200, SD 92106
Class Fee: $20
Sign up now!