Why To Connect With Audience

#dance #connection #audience

Today I would like to talk about the role of connection with audience in dance or in any performative form of art. Years ago, I had a big "AHA" moment while sharing my experience of watching a dance competition in dance formations with my dance mentor. Dance groups from all the Czech Republic gathered to perform and compete in dance formations mainly based on street dance styles. The event took place in a sports hall and on the way to the event and around the hall you could meet many young people dressed in dance costumes and you could also hear the music long before entering the hall. In order to succeed and enjoy the event you have to be ready to face some distraction mainly in the form of loud music and bad acoustics :). And I can tell it can be pretty exhausting experience after a while.

But the reason I am talking about this experience is that I have also seen many beautiful, committed, hardworking, skilled, talented dancers and dance perfomances. Yet, it was difficult for me to enjoy the moment and feel fulfilled. But why? And the answer came to me after sharing the experience with my mentor. Part of it is that it may be quite challenging to create any form of connection with the audience in this kind of environment as there is a big distance between the audience and the dancers in the sports hall. And in my opinion creating the connection between the piece, the formation and the audience is crucial to experience something extraordinary and fulfilling. I have just recently learned about this while participating in other dance pieces either as a dancer or visitor. The connection is something we want to feel and experience . We want to feel that we belong. That is what makes us feel alive.

On the other hand, I have heard feedback from other people attending the event and they had different experience, they felt entertained and fulfilled. So maybe it is just about different expectations. For me watching the dance formations was like looking into a fashion catalogue and picking out a new dress which I would like to buy. In that sense there were some motives, moments I felt inspired by but there was no dress I would like to buy. The style, the fashion was not appealing to me completely. Partly, it also was about a form of how it was presented, that the event was hold in a sports hall whereas my soul enjoys more artistic approach. But I need to also remind myself that it was a dance competition and not a parade of dance performances. I am just learning to find my favourite piece of cake in the dance world.

I am grateful that I am learning about art of connection in performative arts. I've had a chance to be part of a dance performance where we were invited to intentionally create connection with the audience. I remember how fulfilled I felt when watching a street performance of a new circus company where performers were intentionally creating connection with the audience. I believe it was one of the reasons why I enjoyed the performance so much beside the fact that they were great artists and showed us amazing artistic piece.

Connection makes us feel alive and it also helps us to bring to the present moment and flow state. Have you noticed?

With Love,

Jindriska