SOUTENEZ VOS GESTES PAR VOTRE ATTENTION |
BACK YOUR GESTURES WITH YOUR ATTENTION |
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Là où vont les mains,
les yeux doivent suivre Là où vont les yeux, l'esprit doit suivre Là où va l'esprit, les émotions sont générées Là où les émotions sont générées, le sentiment surgit. Citation en Bharatanatyam Where the Hands go,
the Eyes should follow Where the Eyes go, the Mind should follow Where the Mind goes, the Emotions are generated Where the Emotions are generated, Sentiment arises. Quote in Bharatanatyam |
FOCUS is an extremely important element of dance.
TO LOOK OR NOT TO LOOK.. Generally in dance we think of focus as using the eyes to look in a particular direction. But what lies behind the eyes (and ears, and taste buds etc) is even more important. Where is your mind? With eyes and mind so intimately connected, it is important to keep the mind behind the eyes as somewhat of an interpreter. My interpreter is of greatest use when it focuses on my centre of gravity first, and listens to this powerful generator of movement. From there, I can use my eyes as an artistic tool and direct focus in space, in relationship to my centre. To begin using the eyes as a choreographic choice, try on different options for focus: Are you primarily outward or inward looking? Is your focus, precise, curious, wild, soft..? In other words are you letting emotions be seen? Are you using your eyes in line with your movement, or in opposition to it? Everything is possible and interesting with conscious choice. PERCEPTION AND MEANING When we are clear (or intentionally vague) with our focus, the spectator will be able to feel or understand something as well. Even if many dance actions involve the whole body, and are viewed as such, I'm guessing that the spectators gaze (judging from my own experience as spectator) is most often drawn to the face of the dancer, both their expression and where they are looking. We understand the dance by the facial expression; we are guided and/or surprised by focus. In the book The Self Illusion there are some great observations about how we learn so much by watching people's eyes: "For example, babies pay attention to what other are looking at so they understand the link between gaze and actions - people tend to want what they look at. If an adult stares longer at one of 2 different toys, but then picks up the toy they were not looking at, babies are surprised." (source: A. Phillips, H. M. Wellman, and E. S. Spelke, "Infants' ability to connect gaze and emotional expression to intentional action," Cognitin, 85 (2002), 53-78.) TRY IT!
The feeling is totally different in each. Focus is an artistic choice to play with!
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