What You'll Learn
- How to utilize the natural focus an audience gives at the start of a performance
- Techniques for 'playing' with attention by alternating between internal and external focus
- Why constant direct engagement isn't necessary to maintain audience interest
- How to treat attention as a valuable gift shared between dancer and viewer
About This Video
In the world of performance, attention is the ultimate currency. At Broche Ballet, we believe that understanding the psychological connection between a dancer and their audience is just as vital as mastering a perfect arabesque or a stable relevé. This quick tip explores the concept of attention as one of the most valuable gifts we can give and receive as people and performers.
When you first step onto the stage, whether for a full production or a casual studio showing, you possess the audience's full attention by default. At the beginning of a piece, before you have even executed your first plié or tendu, the audience is curious and expectant. This initial moment is a powerful tool.
Rather than feeling the pressure to immediately grab their focus, you can rest in the knowledge that you already have it. One of the most effective ways to create a compelling performance is to play with this attention. Many dancers feel they must maintain constant, intense eye contact or outward energy to keep people watching.
However, some of the most captivating moments occur when a dancer chooses to look inward. By momentarily withdrawing your attention from the audience—perhaps while performing a delicate retiré or transitioning through a controlled fondue—you create a sense of mystery. When you eventually come back to the audience and offer your focus once more, the re-engagement is much more potent and meaningful.
This dynamic of giving and receiving attention creates a conversation. It allows the audience to feel like they are witnessing something intimate and personal, rather than just being performed at. By understanding that the audience will stay with you even when you aren't directly engaging them, you gain the freedom to explore your artistry more deeply.
Join us at Broche Ballet as we dive into these subtle nuances of performance that transform a sequence of steps into a true work of art.
