Create Your Signature Dance Move

Bite it

Students will search the web for dance moves or a section of choreography that they love that has be
Students will search the web for dance moves or a section of choreography that they love that has been published by someone else. It could be a superstar like MJ or Gaga, or a random movement from an old Bollywood film. Begin to collect and identify movements that you love and are attracted to. Keep in mind that you are looking to isolate a move, not learn an entire routine.

If you need some help, try finding one move from each of the following:

1. Soul Train youtube videos

2. Any Music Video that from an artist you like that features choreography

3. An established party dance / social dance (such as "the running man" or "the kid n' play") or a novelty dance (such as the "macarena" or "gangnam style")

4. Google James Brown and zone in one one of his moves.

5. Open

For your “open” choice, really try to find something you like. It could be from a Bollywood film, “Girl Walk // All Day,” videos from MTV’s The Grind, etc.

To complete the assignment, share links, the name of that move (if it has one - otherwise make one up that creatively describes it), performer and choreographer (if known), date of production, and take a stab at I.D.-ing the style of dance.

We will refer to this list as your foundation movements.
Share your 5 "Foundation Moves"
Share your progress in your project section to get feedback from other students

Copy It

Choose one of the 5 "foundation" movements you like from the first lesson, and learn it at home.
Choose one of the 5 "foundation" movements you like from the first lesson, and learn it at home.

1. Practice your favorite "foundation" move in a mirror. Try it to various songs. Drill it. Become comfortable with it. It doesn't have to be perfect, but try to be true to what you see in your inspiration video. If it's a famous move, search the web for how-to videos. (If it's not famous/established, the only way to learn is by rewinding the video and watching it many times.)

2. Dance like nobody is watching. Freestyle to your favorite song with the lights off. Discover what type of movements feel comfortable to you when you are at ease.

3. Once you are loose, film yourself freestyling for a moment and try incorperating the foundation movement you've been researching.

4. Watch your video. Remember, no one else has to see this, and you are your toughest critic. Make note of the elements that look best on you. We will refer to these elements as your "freestyle moves."

RESOURCES:

Tweet Boogie Howcast (If you are in NYC, you can take her beginner hip-hop class at Ailey extension)

WonderHowTo (hella dance moves broken down here)
Share Your Signature Dance Move
You will share your signature dance move by uploading a video.

Flip It

1. Brainstorm a list of things you like / things that describe you / things that happened to you thi
1. Brainstorm a list of things you like / things that describe you / things that happened to you this week. Jot down a list of words or phrases. Dont think too hard, you can narrow your list down later.

2. Quickly go through some of the items on your list and improvise movements that describe each idea. You can be very literal at this stage. Your improvised movement can also be totally abstract. There is no right or wrong here. Just brainstorming and free association of movement with idea. Take note of your favorite move from this exercise. We will call these your "inspiration moves."

3. REEEEEMIX!!!!! Now that you've reasearched foundation moves, freestyled to find out how you like to dance and done an improvisation exersise in associating movements with inspirations, you have more than enough content to build your own dance move. Go back to the foundation move that you've been working with. Tweak the movement so that it looks more complimentary to your body, rather than trying to perfectly imitate the video you are biting off. Use some of the ideas you took from your foundation moves as you begin to develop your signature move. Mix in your freestyle and inspiration moves. You are on your way to building your very own signature dance move.

Own It

Name your move, pick a signature song for the move, and present a video displaying the signature mov
Name your move, pick a signature song for the move, and present a video displaying the signature move.

Optional: you can include a lesson within your video on how to do your dance correctly so your friends can learn it and it can catch on more easily.

Additional Resources

BITE IT - Beyonce Case Study:
In this video, Yung Humma and Flynt Flossy from Turquoise Jeep Records salute Beyonce for using their signature dance move, "Smang It Girl," in one of her music videos. Beyonce has earned a reputation for biting off dance moves and using them in her work. When you are Beyonce, you can get away with this, but this class aims to teach you how to bite a move you like, flip it (or re-invent it), and then make it your own so that you aren't stealing someone else's work.

"Bite It: Office Hours"
I will be posting video that walks you through this lesson.
We will touch on the following:
-Michael & his "Moonwalk"; Madonna and her "Vogue"
-Into to Party Dancing / Social Dances
-Why was Soul Train important?
-How to complete the first assignment
Learn to be forgiving. If your immitation of the move doesn't look identiacal to the move you are copying, THAT'S OKAY! Because that's how moves evolve and become new moves. Your variation of a dance move you love may be something entirely different - something entirely yours.

"Copy It: Office Hours"
I will be posting video that walks you through this lesson.
We will touch on where inspiration comes from and the idea of everyday life inspiring dance.

Don Cambelllock invented "Locking" while attempting to do "The Funky Chicken."

Boogaloo Sam invented "Old Man" or "The Old Man Walk" after seeing an old man walk down the street (likely intoxicated.)

Saturday morning cartoons serves as inspiration for tons of hip-hop and party dance moves such as The Fraggle Rock, The Lurch / Lurching (based on Scooby-Doo villains) and The Cabbage Patch.

Popping incorperates many moves inspired by the objects they are named after, such as the Scarecrow, Puppet, and Toyman.
You've researched and copied multiple moves by other performers, watched yourself freestyle and noted what makes you look best, brainstormed a truly open list of words and inspirations to help you flip your foundation move.

"Own It: Office Hours"
I will be posting video that walks you through this lesson.

Liz Barney

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