Dancing and Musicality

Have you ever gone out to hear a live band, attended a wedding reception, or any other occasion where there is music and dancing? Most of us have and you’ll notice how some people just naturally move to the music. They can listen to anything and be able to move with it. Unlike some others who just don’t have a clue and feel totally lost in these situations. You may wonder- can learning to really listen to the music and be able to dance to it be taught or is it just something that comes naturally?

Actually, it’s both. To understand this a little better, let’s take a closer look at musicality in regards to dancing. What exactly is it? Musicality in dance has two main components- receptivity and creativity. Musical receptivity is the ability to comprehend, be sensitive to, and have a working knowledge of musical concepts like rhythm, tempo, phrasing, and even mood. Musical creativity is the ability to connect with accompanying music, interpret it, and add movements that relate to music in a unique way, even in the absence of accompaniment.

At Dance FX Studios, we believe that musicality is how a dancer expresses music in his or her body. It’s dancing inside the music, as opposed to floating on top of it. There is an essential connection between music and dance. When learning to dance, this is a crucial component in advancing in your lessons. Music inspires, it motivates, and it actually helps you to dance better.  

Musicality, however, is more than just being in tune with the music. It's the ability to hear subtle qualities and structures within the music and then be able to communicate them through your dancing. Can this be learned? You bet it can. Dance instructors can play a great role in helping students develop their own style of musicality by giving a combination at a certain tempo with a certain kind of music. When melody and harmony join rhythm and tempo, music offers abundant information and guidance to a dancer.

Musicality can exist on a more primitive level almost without any kind of technical ability. It exists in all kinds of social dancing. It is not a special ability of the talented few, it is easy to learn for a majority of people and possible to learn for almost everybody. So, for those of you who think they can’t learn, be assured that there is hope!

Put a musical dancer and a non-musical dancer side by side and you’ll see why it’s so important to be attuned to the rhythm, melody and mood of a song. Dancers without a strong connection to the music might seem stiff or disconnected—often, they’re hard to watch. Musical dancers don’t just turn until they stop. They turn until they have to move on to the next point in the music. They never get so caught up in steps that they ignore the music. They are fluid in their movements and a joy to observe!

Musicality can also help to solve problems. When a turn isn't working, or you're behind in a fast combination, listen to the rhythm and accent of the music. You may turn better by changing your rhythm, or jump quicker by changing the accent. Music can give you the push you need to get through a long, tough combination. This can really be a help when on the dance floor with your partner and a little unsure of what to do next. It will help to make you a more confident and competent dancer.

Now that you know a little more about musicality and how important it is in dancing, are you ready to take that first step on your journey of dance? Dance FX Studios is here for you! We offer our new Musicality Group Classes throughout each month on Wednesday evenings, from 7-8. Each week we will offer a different style of dance. Please check out our website to see the schedule, a special offer, and for additional information on the classes.

We are also available for private lessons Monday-Friday, from 12-8 pm and Saturdays, from 11 am-4 pm. In addition to private lessons, we offer additional group dance classes, which are available throughout the week.

Dance FX Studios is the foremost social dance studio in the East Valley. We are conveniently located at 1859 W. Guadalupe Rd. in Mesa, AZ, minutes from the 101 and Phoenix, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Chandler, and Tempe. Have any questions? Please give us a call at 480.968.6177.

We look forward to hearing from you and getting you started on your path to be a skilled and self-assured dancer!