MEANING, HOW TO DANCE TO THE MUSIC
If you want to rock the song, the first option we have is to learn the song by hard. To memorize it all and prepare kind a choreography. It's not bad, but it's like learning ready answers for the language test. As long as you know the test questions, your answers will match, and it will be impressive but if in a real life someone asks you basically the same question but using a different structure, you feel clueless.
It's still a good option as when you try to memorize many songs, you already can find some kind of a pattern.
The second way is to learn how music is structured. It means understanding certain rules and having reach vocabulary to not only pass the test but to be fully independent. When you understand the structure of the music, it's when the biggest fun starts. You become an amazing social dancer. You can express yourself way better and make every dance look and feel good.
THE STRUCTURE
Most of the songs have a similar structure build on the same elements. You can easily recognize them which will make the music understandable and predictable. Here are the common elements:
1. Intro
An intro is typically a multiple of 16 beats in length and often introduces a new instrument or sound every 32 beats. Some intros open with drums and gradually add layers of instruments. A buildup or other aural cue lets you know it’s over. In the intro, we usually hear just the melody or vocal line, without main beat yet.
The intro is the very beginning of the song. It's the moment where you want to focus on your partner, learn about their mobility, flexibility, energy. It's a perfect moment to build the connection and check the level of responsiveness of your partner. Usually, we are going here for a closer, more controlled embrace. In the intro take things easy, you can start with delicate, slow minimalist movements, or the full range of mobility in the slow motion. You can focus on the density of movement and do things in the slow motion. It's important especially when you dance with someone with who you didn't dance before.
2. Verse
In songs with lyrics, each verse is usually different from the next. The verse sets up the theme of the song and builds a natural progression to the chorus.
You are still in the building connection phase and want to play with your partner with basics and figures of a quite low complicity and speed.
3. Chorus
This contains the main message or theme of the song. It’s built around a melodic “hook” and is the most catchy and energetic part of the song.
This is where the energy and density of the dance pick high. Chorus allows you to to get the catchy part of the song and show of the musicality skills.
4. Breakdown
This is a transition from the end of the chorus to the beginning of the next part of the song. Dance tracks tend not to include percussion during the breakdown.
5. Verse 2
Most songs contain a second verse with different lyrics.
6. Chorus 2
Usually, the second chorus repeats the first chorus.
7. Bridge
This is an optional transitional section near the end of a song, most often in pop music. A bridge will occur only once, and musically and lyrically it’s different from the rest of the song.
In the Bridge we can do things is a different way. Perfect moment to slow down, apply body isolation, go for counterbalance or other things.
8. Chorus 3
Some tracks will repeat the chorus a third time.
9. Outro
This is the closing segment, where the song fades or breaks down to simple beats. It’s most likely the same length as the intro.
It's where we would calm down the last moment to get a nice exit from the dance. Many Zouk, Bachata dancers use here delicate cambre to finish the dance.
More about the music structure you can find here at Mixed in Key.
You can watch as well The Anatomy of a Song.
Breaking down the musicality of Kizomba song by Ogarocious.
Bachata Musicality by Luis Nunes.
Practice, practice and more practice!
Take your time to listen to different songs. Close your eyes and just listen. When you only listen without moving, you can hear more, your full attention is on the music.
Try to find the first beat of a strophe in a song. This is called count 1.
Count on the beat. Start on count 1 and go till 8 and repeat!
Try to recognize the structure of a song. What is the intro, what is the verse, etc.
Focus on separate instruments and listen to their part in the music.
Are there any breaks, interesting moments, bridges?
Dancing starts in your head. Listen to the music and imagine the movement. How would you interpret the song? What does music make you feel like? What emotions would you like to express? What are the most outstanding moments in the song?
Here are some Playlists for you to practice:
I hope you find it useful and see you soon on the dance floor!
Photography: Shaun Spiteri Photography
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