PERFORMANCE TIP — Storytelling through Dance
STORYTELLING THROUGH DANCE
At NAPA, we believe dance is far more than a sequence of steps and polished technique—it’s a living, breathing art form that tells a story without a single spoken word. When a dancer layers character, intention, and emotion over their technique, movement transforms into something magnetic. It’s the kind of performance that lingers in the audience’s mind and heart long after the curtain has closed. This, after all, is what performance and art are truly about—connection, transformation, and shared human experience.
Character First – Before your first run of choreography, pause and ask yourself: Who am I in this piece? Write down three words that define your character’s personality. Are they fierce, playful, fragile, determined, or something entirely different? Let these words colour your movements like a filter over the lens of a camera—affecting everything from the tilt of your chin to the softness or strength in your hands. Two dancers can perform identical choreography, but the moment their characters shift, the performance changes entirely. Rehearse with these traits so deeply that they become instinctive, even under the pressure of stage lights and an audience’s gaze.
Invisible Script – Every movement can be more than a shape—it can be a line of dialogue in an unspoken conversation. Picture what your character would say right before a jump: are they leaping out of joy, rage, or desperation? Imagine what they’re thinking in the stillness after a turn—are they catching their breath, gathering courage, or hiding something? By assigning this “invisible script” to your choreography, you breathe emotional subtext into your performance. The audience might never know the exact words, but they’ll feel their presence, as if the steps themselves are speaking.
Emotional Markers – Every story has moments of impact, and so should your routine. Choose specific points where you want your audience to feel a clear emotion—tension before a big reveal, elation in a burst of movement, grief in a slow fall to the floor. Then magnify these moments physically and energetically. Hold a breath a second longer than expected, drop your focus to the floor in sudden defeat, or let a smile bloom at just the right beat of the music. These emotional markers are like highlights in a novel—they guide your audience’s attention and help them travel through the arc of your story with you.