This topic is something I could spend hours talking about and is honestly the biggest topic and influence I bring to private coaching sessions.
What does it mean to develop your own sense of style? Is it necessary? Can we all do it? What are the steps needed to allow this unique style to develop?
Before we begin, I need to let you know that NO ONE, and I mean NO ONE on this planet can bring what you bring to a piece of choreography, performance, show, or routine. Let that sink in and feel the weight of what that truly means. Allow that to permeate as you begin to truly understand the uniqueness of who you are and what you bring to this world and the world of dance.
We all start in the world of dance at different ages, in dance studios across the globe, all being taught by teachers who have all gained totally varying aspects and knowledge of dance. How do we ever expect to compare ourselves to someone else when it’s literally impossible?
We forget how influenced we are as dancers and performers. When we are younger, we are severely shaped by our dance teachers. We are conditioned in a very specific way and as our motor skills start to develop, we learn technique. To this day, the way I perform and dance is influenced by my aunt and dance trainer Vanessa-Jayne Bennett.
Pictured here with my mentors: Debbie Wilson, Vanessa-Jayne Bennett and Dale Molloy
As dancers, we think that we have done this dance career journey alone; however, if it wasn’t for all the years of training, technique, and continued repetition of dance steps, we wouldn’t be the dancers we are today. If we think about it, each and every single move we execute as a dancer has years of training and knowledge, influences of others, and inspirations we found along the way behind it. Is that not the most beautiful thing to think about?
Each time you extend your leg or breathe through an arm line, the very way you execute the move is not just yours, but all those that have touched your life and craft. And that specific path of teachers you’ve chosen to study from, classes you’ve elected to participate in, mentors you’ve looked up to, competitors you’ve danced against that have inspired you are all part of your style. That is how unique you are.
What does it mean to develop your own sense of style? If we break it down, it’s the energy flow that comes from inspiration deep within your soul that affects the execution of the specific move. And I remind you again, this can only come from you.
Developing your sense of style will be a lifetime journey. As we are influenced and inspired by someone or something, we take that on board and slowly introduce it into the way we perform. We can all learn the same steps to the exact same music and we will all look completely different. It’s not the step that matters, but what we add to it. Now, of course, when we are talking technique or learning material for a show, yes, we all have to learn the same piece of choreography to perform in unison with the other performers. But cultivating the way you execute these moves will allow you to stand out from the crowd.
I will say cultivating your own style can take years or it can come naturally. The determining factor is confidence. If you are confident in your ability and what you have to offer, developing your own sense of style will come very naturally to you. However, if you are shy and feel like you are not good enough, trying new things and starting the journey to your own style will be a longer road ahead of you.
Stepping into a dance class and fully owning what you bring and shining a light on it is something most dancers I’ve worked with have an issue with. We tend to stand on the side judging if my leg is higher than hers, if my pirouettes are as clean as his, or if I’m just not as good as she is. Going down this road will only ever lead to you feeling negatively about yourself and your talent. Like I said in the beginning, reminding yourself about how unique and different we all are, we can all acknowledge that yes, my leg isn’t as high as hers, but I have a whole bunch of other talents and abilities I can grab from. Not that this is a competition about who is better at more things, but an understanding that we are all different and that’s okay. Being different is actually what’s going to set us apart from the crowd and wow audiences.
For me, cultivating your sense of style means being open and willing. Open to new dance styles, open to new ideas and ways of moving your body, being willing to look stupid in the beginning, willing to try, willing to fail, and becoming committed to this journey you will take with yourself.
It’s choosing to allow yourself the courage to step outside of the “norm” you classify yourself in. Allowing yourself to be stretched in ways, choreographically, musically, technically, and emotionally. I feel the closer you are to the edge of the cliff, the more you will cultivate your sense of style.
It’s all about putting yourself in as many situations that can stretch your reach and broaden your horizons when it comes to dance and performing. It’s about putting yourself in classes that make you question your basic technique, watching dance competitions, watching dance shows, watching TV shows related to dance, and attending choreographic events. An example: I was on board a Princess Cruise Lines contract last year, which traveled the world, and with each stop in a different location, they tend to bring on board cultural dance/performing groups to entertain the guests. We had just stopped in Bora Bora, and in the theatre was a cultural performance by a dance and music group from the country. Dale and I went to watch the show. The audience was packed, so we sneaked into the front row to watch. The music, the dancers, the energy, it was magical. I can’t even begin to describe what passion and love they brought to the stage. There was this female dancer who was magnetic on stage. I could tell that with each move she performed, there was so much knowledge, passion, care, and love put into it. It made me cry. Just watching the way she performed and captivated the audience has affected the way in which I dance now.
It requires bravery. Being brave enough to pull on all these facets, techniques, and styles that you’ve learned throughout your life, and shine a light on them so brightly that they inspire others. Learning to let go of those limiting beliefs that want to keep you small and hide who you are. Just imagine when you are 90 years old, your body aging from living a long life, would you look back and just want to dance with no abandon, free from insecurities, and just enjoy the movements you’ve been blessed to cultivate? HELL YES!
I would love for you to go out there and delve into as many areas of inspiration as you can. Start filling your tank with so much creativity every single day. Wherever you go, look for inspiration in the mundane and add it to your cart of talents. Develop these, and have the confidence to add these ways of movement into your performances.
And choose to be brave enough to let them shine. Choose to let the world see what you have spent a lifetime creating. Let them in on the magic that ONLY you possess. And share it freely with no judgment and no need to prove yourself. Share because that’s all you can do: express the love and magnificence you have gained over the years.
Written by Adrian Bennett
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