My ballet face? please.... only fellow dancers.?

Question

im in ballet, im 15, and iv been working very hard lately because im very serious about getting a good part for our next production. i enjoy dancing a lot, but while i dance, i guess im so concentrated, i look angry or bored or upset. people comment on it all the time, and i think its just my natural face. has anyone else had this problem or does anyone know a good solution? thabnks so much! and if you have any more tips or whatever just email me at [e-mail]

Answer 1

I am the exact same way! My dance teachers are all like, its the only thing holding you back from getting really good parts, blah blah blah... And it's like, I can't help it!!!! Try to think of lifting your cheekbones and slightly raise your eyebrows without looking like you're suprised or something. That's what my ballet teacher says and it seems to help...

Answer 2

YES

i thouht only i did it.

sometimes i get told to smile or lighten up in my class

lol

but my fellow dancers say to put on a really big smile at the beginging then as you start concentrating the smile will get smaller but it wont go away.

it sometimes works.

i think you have to just force a smile.

its soemtimes hard when you wan t to be good but think about dance and a big smile.

Answer 3

people in my dance school have this problem too. theres two things to do to make your facial expression look better (says my dance teachers)

-breathe more... you may be holding your breath without your knowledge

-put on a simple smile... it makes anyone's face look more pleasant!

^^do both! thats even better!

Answer 4

I don't agree with all these answers telling you that there are "tricks" to looking pleasant.

You enjoy ballet don't you? TELL YOURSELF THAT! Enjoy it! dance it! love it! live it.

Yes, you have to think about corrections but you do not have to "grind" corrections. Meaning, don't only concentrate on the correction. You don't want to end up being one those amazingly technical dancers that are actually no fun to watch because they don't look as if theyre even enjoying themselves.

The technique will come, as obviously, you pay a lot of attention to it. Giving yourself the freedom to enjoy dancing will not take much away from that.

Answer 5

as a dancer myself, you just have to keep practicing your dance until you could do it blindfolded, at that point, you are ready for the "finishing touches" on your routine (aka: smiles, gracefullness, spacing issues) and you don't have to worry so much about your technical footwork.  it may feel silly to smile because you are dancing, but people are there to see YOU dance and have a good time and make it look like it's so easy to do.  don't overdo-it with smiling cheesy, and judges usually don't like to see open-mouthed expressions after the age of 10 or 11, just smile and think of something that makes you laugh so your smile is genuine. i hope this helped! best of luck in your audition for the production! =]

Answer 6

yes. but the important thing is to practice having a pleasant face whi;le you are having rehearsal not just when you are on stage. that way whne you get on stage it will come naturally to you.

Answer 7

I have the same problem, but I've been using several tricks to stop myself. What I tend to do is purse my lips, stick out my tounge or squint my eyes.  Apparently I do that when I'm writing too, my friend was the one that pointed it out. Its something that happens to me when I'm concentrating really hard on something. My dance teacher always says "keep your lips on your face and your eyes on the road."

When I'm on stage I just remember to smile really big, so I've eliminated the problems in performances, but not in class. What they do to the little kids right before a performance is put Vaseline on their teeth, so you have to smile or taste nasty Vaseline. :P

Another thing I do is add my face to the list of things I have to control while I'm dancing. If you remember to pull up, keep your arches up, turned out, etc., you'll remember to keep your face relaxed and serene.

Hope I helped! Good luck with your audition.

Answer 8

hey, i have the same problem like you few years ago, but now i'm perfectly fine. the teacher said i have really good techniques but i don't smile, i like ballet so much i really want to improve my solos, so i tried think of happy things when i dance, or try to pretend you are one of the characters in the ballet story (like sleeping beauty and swan lake). I really felt i'm part of the story and now i smile everytime i dance.

i hope you'll never give up ballet and the above things helped you.