Striking a Pose: When You Hit a Creative Roadblock in Dance Reclaiming Your Creative Spark in Dance
We’ve all been there: you’re a professional dancer or a student in a dance academy, and you don’t feel inspired anymore. You do the same movements over and over again, the choreographies bore you, you don’t feel like dancing… We call that creative block. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad dancer or that you have no creativity. It’s just a part of the creative process.
You might experience a creative block following a heavy practice session, a high-stakes performance, or after watching another dancer. It might also hit if you’ve been repeating the same sequence for a while or haven’t been challenging yourself to try new things. If you can remind yourself that the creative block is only temporary, you’ll be one step closer to beating it.
Finding the Source of the Problem
In order to progress, try to identify the potential root of the block. Physical or mental exhaustion can inhibit creativity. Overtraining, without adequate recovery, decreases energy and concentration levels. Emotional stress outside of the studio environment can also impact dance training.
Other times, we are held back by our fear. We are afraid of being criticized, afraid of not being creative enough, afraid of imperfection. If you become too much of a critic of your own work as a dancer, you will squeeze out the creativity and lose your freedom of movement.
When you take the time to think about the root causes of an issue, you are able to find solutions rather than getting frustrated.
The Fundamentals Again
If you’re struggling to find inspiration, go back and do the basics. Do combinations, do isolations, do technical exercises, without trying to make them super special.
Repeating basic movements re-establishes the body’s intelligence. It also relieves the mind of unnecessary information. Don’t strain yourself with complicated patterns. Let yourself dance within basic patterns.
What usually happens is that the creativity comes back when you reduce your demands and attention returns to the quality of the movement instead of the creativity of the movement.
Relocating to a Different Area
I think setting affects the creativity of dancers more than they know. When you rehearse in the same studio, with the same soundtrack and the same everything, it can make you think inside the box.
Maybe try dancing in a different studio or space, perhaps outdoors or at home. Try different lighting or different times of the day. You will have new sensory information and new ways of thinking.
Something as simple as moving around to the other side of the room, or reversing direction, can initiate entirely new patterns of movement.
Discovering New Music and Genres
Exploring different musical styles is a great way to keep your choreography fresh. If you primarily choreograph hip-hop, listen to some classical or electronic music. If you typically prefer to choreograph slow, contemplative contemporary pieces, listen to something more upbeat.
“Each style has its own structure and feeling. Hearing different musics disturbs your tendency to always move in the same way, and it broadens your emotional expression.”
Finally, sometimes trying out a different genre of dance for a while exposes you to new techniques and different dynamics which can affect your original genre of dance.
Improvisation Judgment Free
Improvisation is the best tool for releasing blocks. Even with a timer for 2-3 minutes, step into movement, without thought or judgment.
Practice one idea at a time. Like improv with circular paths, or movement with air drag. It’s remarkable how restrictions can foster creativity. They funnel the attention, and you are still free.
Don’t record the session or offer feedback, you want to encourage experimentation and freedom.
Reducing Social Comparison
Just seeing so many social media clips and choreographed dances can foster an environment where you feel the need to compare your dancing to others. Understanding what to look up to is important, but comparing too much will result in a loss of confidence.
When necessary, pause on consuming others’ work. Shift attention from what others do to what you are doing. Creativity flourishes in self-trust and safety, not in competition.
Please keep in mind that each dancer progresses at a different rate and creativity takes time.
Finding Your Way Again
Can you remember why you started dancing in the first place? Was it to express yourself, have fun, tell a story, socialise, or for self-improvement? Going back to your reason can be a great way to re-inspire yourself.
Take note of what dance is to you. Think about the times you felt closest to dance. These reminders can help you regain emotional fuel.
