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Dance Performances - Selecting Music Based On Audience Preferences by Ramona Klein
Computers and electronics are everywhere, including the world of music. Countless songs are composed and recorded using electronic sounds and computer programs. Electronica (synthesized, techno-inspired music) evokes different feelings than music played on traditional instruments, and this must be considered when selecting songs for dance performances. Audiences of different age groups respond differently to electronica.
Music played on instruments in a traditional way feels different from music created with electronics, synthesizers and computer software. It is like the difference between receiving an email and receiving a handwritten letter.
Younger age groups are accustomed to hearing songs created with computer software and electronic sounds, just as they are used to typing emails. Traditionally-styled music is often appreciated by older age groups, especially the elderly, who are more accustomed to handwritten letters.
Matching the music to the audience
A belly dance troupe director who organizes charity performances for senior citizens says that it disturbs her to see dancers perform at nursing homes using industrial and electronic music. She is in her 60's and says that this music is not so enjoyable for her and her friends; it sounds alien to her, and she finds it hard to relate to. (This will probably change in the future as the population ages.) She asks her students to select music with a more traditional feeling when performing for seniors.
When organizing music for a charity show or party, it is good to match the music to the audience. At a party with age groups ranging from teenage girls to women in their 70's, I played songs from both contemporary CDs and old vinyl LPs. (Vinyl LPs can be transferred to CD with a computer program or CD recorder; some classic albums have been republished on CD.) Interestingly, it was a song from the 1960's which the women in both age groups enjoyed the most. Some of the older women knew the words and sang along with the song, while the younger women recognized the native language of their grandparents in the lyrics.
Matching the music to the movements
I recently taught classes which focused on arm and hand movements. Some of the arm and hand movements are complex (mimicking the appearance of a flower and other themes from nature). This requires very slow music for teaching and practicing. I selected music from the 1950's for these classes because it suits these movements best, and makes learning easier.
The mid-life age women in class loved this older music, and were very enthusiastic about it. They commented that they preferred it to the contemporary pop belly dance music they were used to hearing in my classes, and that something about the older music resonated more deeply with them.
A student in this class commented that whenever she hears electronica, an image of a person sitting behind a computer pops up in her mind. When we hear traditional music, if it conjures up an image at all, it is of people playing instruments.
Old music is new again
Many old belly dance classics have been updated with new modern sounds and converted into electronica, which is very popular with youthful listeners. I've also seen a recent theatrical Pharonic performance danced to a 1950's instrumental-proof that great classics never go completely out of style. Mixing classic song selections with electronica gives variety to theatrical shows.
Ramona is the author of Dynamic Belly Dance, the Joyful Journey of Dancemaking and Performing. See free belly dance videos, read book excerpts and order an autographed copy at http://www.DynamicBellyDance.com
About the Author
Ramona is the author of Dynamic Belly Dance, the Joyful Journey of Dancemaking and Performing. See free belly dance videos, read book excerpts and order an autographed copy at http://www.DynamicBellyDance.com
Copyright 2007 - All rights reserved worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article, give author name credit and follow the EzineArticles terms of service for publishers. Thank you!
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