Ask Colin: dancing a character

Dear Colin,
For as long as I can remember I have been dancing. My favourite styles are ballet and modern expressive, as I enjoy telling a story through movement. Although, like most of the dancers in my group, I sometimes struggle with the acting and theatricality that is required for modern expressive and some ballet performances. We’re coming up to our eisteddfod season, and our teachers are stressing the importance of these skills. They always say that a quarter of the dance is the steps; the rest is your stage presence and expression, which I totally agree with. What advice would you give young dancers on how to develop the skills needed to successfully portray a character or emotion through dance? What processes do the artists of The Australian Ballet go through when preparing for a role, such as Giselle or Odette?
Kara, 24

Dear Kara,
One of the best coaches of acting roles that I have worked with is Anne Woolliams, The Australian Ballet’s artistic director from 1976-77. Apart from insisting that we read as much as possible about the ballet and the character we were playing, she recommended we flesh out the everyday life of the character. The role doesn’t start and end on stage. Before you enter the stage, you have been doing something else – for example, Giselle has been sewing inside her cottage, or helping her mother with the daily chores. She may or may not be surprised by the arrival of Loys; that is a choice for the dancer to make in her interpretation of the role. Her relationship with the woodsman, Hilarion, can also be played as a friendship she enjoyed until she met Loys, or as a friendship that was always going further than she wanted.

So, Kara, as you so rightly observe, the steps of the role are the basis for developing the character. By themselves they mean very little; in fact, the same steps can be used in a princess or Spanish girl’s dance. The challenge for the dancer is to interpret them so that the audience will know who you are. These days we are lucky to be able to view famous dancers interpret roles such as Giselle on DVD or YouTube.  Do not be tempted to copy someone else’s interpretation but do use the footage as a basis for your own approach to the role.

Best wishes for your eisteddfod!
Colin