Dance Research Paper

The word technique is familiar in the majority of the population’s vocabulary, but the use frequently changes. Although the word is thrown around quite often, many people do not fully comprehend what it actually means. According to The English Oxford Dictionary, the term technique is defined as, “a way of carrying out a particular task.” This definition, though correct, is a very broad description of a term that is often used on a more personal level. Therefore, I think the definition of technique changes based on who is using it, and how it is being used. As a dancer, I define technique as the ability to mentally and physically process information, often in a kinesthetic form, and, in turn, personalize and replicate that information in a precise manner. …show more content…
For the art of dance, a phrase of movement is often orally and physically displayed for the dancer to learn and replicate. This happens multiple times throughout a dance class. It is the dancer’s job to translate that information into his or her mind and body. Much like a student in a literature class must be able to read, comprehend, and discuss reading assignments, a dancer must be able to watch, comprehend, and perform movement sequences. How a dancer does this is very personal, and this is where technique first comes to life. For example, I am a kinesthetic learner meaning I have to do in order to comprehend. When I experience difficulty in learning movement phrases, I must do the phrase over and over again in order to establish mental and physical connections. I find that the repetition allows me to unconsciously discover what works on my body to perform the movement correctly. This is the foundation of a dancer’s technique: to first establish an ability to perform a given movement