Using improvisation, whether as a class unto itself or as a tool in technique class, can provide a multitude of benefits for your students.
Improvisation can help them develop their physical dynamic range by allowing them to explore ways of moving that they havent played with before. It encourages musicality in that it can help foster better listening and processing skills by introducing new music and discovering how it relates to movement.
Improvisation also helps facilitate a better spatial awareness for students as they navigate through the studio while maintaining and respecting not only their personal boundaries, but also those of others.
Improvisation can help introduce and compare various dance forms in an experiential way for the child. When the instructor offers suggestions during an improv that is structured around a specific dance style, it can help expand the students knowledge of the specific dance genre at hand.
Improvisation promotes the ability to follow directions and can even help teach stage directions. By allowing the student personal freedom of movement, improvisations help a young dancer to discover their own unique voice in and out of any dance form. This will create a dancer with a confident sense of expression and personal style.
Last but not least, improv can prevent those moments of fatigue, boredom or burnout that can happen during the school year. It can shake things up and bring a light-hearted freshness of approach to times when students (or teachers!) appear to be losing their inspiration. There are many ways improvisation can be used.
Below are some ideas on how to incorporate it in your classroom.
~ As a structural frame I always use freeze dancing. This is when, after playing a piece of music for whatever length of time I feel is necessary, I stop it abruptly and the students have to freeze in a pose. The pose can be of a specific dance style or can be free. Once I begin a new piece of music, they can begin dancing again. Make sure to always have your students begin and end in a pose as well. This will bring in a stronger sense of performance to their efforts. Here are some guidelines:
Have the students pick out the CDs based on the cover art or if using burned CDs or an iPod have them pick numbers that you have assigned to different pieces of music. This gives students the feeling that they are part of the process and also helps bring into the experience many different types of music. I usually let them dance to 3 or 4 different pieces of music from each CD chosen.
While they are dancing, give them impromptu instructions on where in space to travel. This is where you can test their knowledge of stage directions. Have them see what its like to dance with only one part of their body such as their arms, legs or back. Ask them to dance with (or opposite!) the feeling of the music. Play follow the leader with movement. Dance only on the floor. In other words, no standing allowed. Dance in and out of the middle of the room, or only on diagonals or only in circles or on one spot, etc.
~ Another way of bringing improvisation into the classroom is by having your students play with a movement combination they already know well. Heres how:
Have the students take a combination and play with the steps, mixing them up or using repetition in any way they like. They should do this on the spot; dont give them time to choreograph their choices. Change the music to a very different genre or drastically change the tempo. First have them do the combination as it was choreographed even though the music is different and then have them perform it as the new music inspires them to. Have the students change the directions of the combination as often as they can so that it doesnt always relate to downstage. Try any combinations of the above!
Before the improvisation begins I like to remind the students that there is no way they can make a mistake. All viewpoints are welcome! If there is a way to cover your mirrors I highly suggest doing so. This will help prevent self-consciousness, especially in older students. Make sure to give them individual and group praises during the improv!
I always like to sit down with my students afterward and ask them how the experience felt for them. This helps to have them process the experience in a deeper way. Here are some questions to ask: What type of music did they like best? How does improvising feel different from the dancing done in their technique classes? What did they learn about how the music affected them? Did they invent any new steps? If so, ask them to share with the class. You can then take it a step further and have them turn their inventions into choreography to share with parents or fellow students.
The amount of ideas you can bring to the art of improvisation is endless. The above examples are from my own experience. Im sure there are many other ideas out there. As a teacher, allow your instincts to guide you. No one knows your students as well as you do. Follow their lead and let them inspire you. Often they will come with fun ideas. Go with it! The spontaneity that improvisation allows for everyone involved is a joyful and fulfilling experience. Enjoy!