Why Audience Awareness Defines an Independent Dancer's Success: Blog 8

 A few days ago, I was watching an interview of Alexander Noel where he said that his audience would point out that many of them would be scared of attending his classes because his routines looked very technical and difficult to perform. 

On that, he said, when he is preparing a piece for the Ultimate Dance Week or for a professional two day intensive dance camp, the students who participate are professional dancers themselves and are there in the camp to up skill themselves. But when he is preparing a piece for his regular classes in studios or when he is doing a world tour, he keeps his choreographies a bit simpler, goes easy on the techniques. This is because there are many beginners and non dancers who attend his classes too. In order to make those students feel that even they belong there in the class, he keeps his pieces doable for everyone. According to him, no student should feel left out from the dance community. 

This interview made me think about how independent choreographers today are not just artists, but also creators navigating a very real market. Just like a brand has to study its customers, their demands and purchasing behaviour, before designing a product; a choreographer has to understand who is walking into their class, what are they looking for and what makes them come back to their classes. When a choreographer creates a piece that matches the skill level, comfort and expectations of the people in front of them, they are not diluting their artistry, instead, they are creating a bridge. The choreographer is responsible to shape an experience that feels accessible and inclusive. 

Independent dancers do not have the support of a big academy behind them. Their reputation, teaching style and even their choreography become part of their personal brand. I have heard so many of my dancer friends say "he teaches very fast, I can't catch up, so I will not go to his classes" to a choreographer who actually might be a good choreographer but his choreographies cater to advanced level dancers but not beginners. If a choreographer's audience is full of beginners, making the class feel safe and achievable becomes part of their value. When the audience is full of professionals, pushing boundaries become part of the value. In both cases, an choreographer's ability to adapt becomes an competitive edge. 

Somewhere, it depends on the students as well to choose their choreographers carefully. Based on what a student expects from a particular class, they should spend their money as every slot in dance workshops are quite costly. Some people expect to get a nice video that they would like to share on their Instagram and some people want a solo showcase with the choreographer but that always does not work like that. In some classes, dancing for camera is secondary but learning the techniques in the best way possible is the main goal. But, some aren't okay with that. So, they should choose their choreographers also based on their needs. 

But, at the end of the day, it is about what kind of dance makes you feel something. Irrespective of which class one goes to, be it advanced intensive or a beginner's workshop, if dancing makes you feel content and happy, then it is for you. 

Independent dancers like in an environment where every class, every piece and every student interaction becomes part of their identity. The more they understand the people who he is addressing, the stronger that identity becomes. A dancer's brand is not just how they move but how they make other fellow dancers feel. This is what keeps the dance community growing. 

Shreya Roy Choudhury