Performance and breathing...

[Miyu]

Hello dancers!

I would like some advice on breathing techniques while dancing. I find myself getting (and looking!) stiff because Im almost always holding my breath. So that 'professional smile' goes away! Im trying to use spins and turns to breathe but its wont work those times when you have an audience all the way around you (like in a restaurant).

Anyone?:think:

 

[Yame]

If you get a chance to take a workshop from Ranya Renee, do it. Otherwise, I believe some of her DVDs cover breathing.

Try to consciously practice breathing during your regular practice sessions, classes, and drills. Try different techniques... breathing in and out with the movements, or breathing in and out in spite of the movements.

When you perform, consciously think about your breath, and BREATHE! Don't hold your breath... you shouldn't need to use spins as a break for breathing because you should be breathing the whole time.

 

[goddessyasaman]

May I ask why you are holding your breath? Is it to keep your posture and thats how you learned to do it? or are you not trying to and it just happens anyway?

 

[Daimona]

Practice your performance smile when exhausted (whatever that makes you exhausted).

Don't close your mouth while performing and let the air flow freely through your mouth.

When practicing certain choreographies/combinations, try to make breathing part of the movement - particularly when expressing the music and feelings in it.

Just a couple of cents from me.

 

[Miyu]

May I ask why you are holding your breath? Is it to keep your posture and thats how you learned to do it? or are you not trying to and it just happens anyway?

No havent learned it, but then again.. not about breathing techniques at all. I just find myself feeling out of breath in the middle of the dance. It just happens.

 

[Mosaic]

It sounds like you may be doing shallow breathing, so not enough oxygen is getting down into your lungs. You will become exhausted during your dance or any form of exertion. Maybe you should take some yoga lessons to try to help your breathing. Have you told your teacher, she may also be able to call out breathe during your classes so that everyone remembers to breathe, until it becomes second nature.
~Mosaic

 

[goddessyasaman]

No havent learned it, but then again.. not about breathing techniques at all. I just find myself feeling out of breath in the middle of the dance. It just happens.

Well when I learned martial arts (started at age 4 I learned breathing), so when I teach belly dance I teach breathing at the start when you practice your belly dance try inhaling as you start a move and exhaling as you end a move.

Now breathing threw your nose is what you should be doing a lot of us forget to do that and we breath through the mouth hince the term mouth breather at least part of it. so give this a try hope it helps