Lyrical
Lyrical dance is easiest described as a combination of jazz and ballet. It is faster than ballet, but not as fast as jazz. Lyrical dance combines the many technical elements of classical ballet with the freedom and airier aspects of jazz, contemporary and modern dance. Most lyrical dance pieces are performed to music with lyrics and the lyrics of the song are what the choreography of the dance is based on. The songs chosen usually express very strong emotions, like love, joy and anger. Lyrical dance is very graceful with moves flowing smoothly and seamlessly. Jumps are high and turns are very fluid. Lyrical is one of the most expressive forms of dance to watch.
Lyrical dance challenges choreographers and dancers to use motion to interpret music and express emotion. A lyrical dancer's movements attempt to show the meaning of the music.
Although lyrical is stereotypically choreographed to music that is slow or downbeat, melodic and sweet-sounding, it is a very broad form of dance including many dynamic, fast-paced and sometimes thrashy pieces. Upbeat, aggressive styles of music are used frequently. Music can be of any genre; pop, rock, and even hip hop/R&B styles, are popular for choreographing. Pop selections, including soulful, powerful songs by emerging artists, are often used in lyrical dance.
Famous Lyrical Dancers Include: Brian Friedman, Mia Michaels, Blake McGrath, Rodney Diverlus, and Dan Karaty.
Musically, the choreography accentuates and/or flows in synergy with a song's climaxes, but the choreography will also bring out the more nuanced aspects of a song: sometimes a silence between notes in the music, or the breath between words, will be emphasized, possibly with a simple, physical gesture. This may be followed, for example, by a more complex sequence, such as a triple pirouette en cou-de-pied (coupe), or a grand jete, or a series of chaine turns, followed by a cabriole, descending to the floor, only to rise again, and perhaps very casually to walk downstage for a few counts before changing direction once again.
** Instructor Approval Needed For All Intermediate And Advanced Level classes. Contact the studio for registration **
Lyrical dance challenges choreographers and dancers to use motion to interpret music and express emotion. A lyrical dancer's movements attempt to show the meaning of the music.
Although lyrical is stereotypically choreographed to music that is slow or downbeat, melodic and sweet-sounding, it is a very broad form of dance including many dynamic, fast-paced and sometimes thrashy pieces. Upbeat, aggressive styles of music are used frequently. Music can be of any genre; pop, rock, and even hip hop/R&B styles, are popular for choreographing. Pop selections, including soulful, powerful songs by emerging artists, are often used in lyrical dance.
Famous Lyrical Dancers Include: Brian Friedman, Mia Michaels, Blake McGrath, Rodney Diverlus, and Dan Karaty.
Musically, the choreography accentuates and/or flows in synergy with a song's climaxes, but the choreography will also bring out the more nuanced aspects of a song: sometimes a silence between notes in the music, or the breath between words, will be emphasized, possibly with a simple, physical gesture. This may be followed, for example, by a more complex sequence, such as a triple pirouette en cou-de-pied (coupe), or a grand jete, or a series of chaine turns, followed by a cabriole, descending to the floor, only to rise again, and perhaps very casually to walk downstage for a few counts before changing direction once again.
** Instructor Approval Needed For All Intermediate And Advanced Level classes. Contact the studio for registration **
