Have you heard of Mikhail Baryshnikov? Of course you have.. lol, who hasn't, right? Well I stumbled on upon a great video that I want to show you, of him and Gregory Hines dancing together using something that I adore and that is.. syncopation.
Watch the video and then come back to me!
https://youtu.be/ImzkWZkaIIM?t=74
How'd you like it? They're not perfectly tight together, but it is a super fun number none the less. What's fun about it, is when they DON'T step when you think they will, OR, when they accent any other beat other than 1!
Definition of Syncopation: A temporary displacement of the regular metrical accent in music caused typically by stressing the weak beat. (Webster Dictionary)
So, first what is the strong beat? That would be beat 1 generally.
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Easy enough, right? Sometimes beat 3 is given a medium accent, so Strong - weak - Medium - weak like the numbers below. 1 is strong. 3 is medium strong.
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Are you with me so far?
Now let's try doing some syncopation!
Count out loud with me and I want you to clap or stomp your foot on the bold/black parts.
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +|
1 + 2 + 3 + |1 + 2 + 3 + |1 + 2 + 3 + |1 + 2 + 3 +
+ | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
How was that?!
Did you enjoy it or was it somewhat hard? Here's one more just for kicks!
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |
Sorry, that's a really hard one! lol
So, the question is, how does this apply to you as a ballet teacher? Well, if making sure your dancers are musical is important to you, then creating exercises with some syncopation in them is a great idea to challenge their musical/mathematical brains!
Syncopation is a real delight for your math geeks in the room!
My challenge for you is to create an exercise using syncopation for your dancers! I'd love to see it so if you do, please RECORD it and tag me on it on FB or in IG with @thebarrepianist #syncopation! I'd love to see what you come up with and how your dancers handle it. :D
P.S. If you're looking for a fun way to introduce rhythm to your dancers, I recommend grabbing my FREE rhythm poster PDF. You can download the PDF, upload it to a local print shop and get a poster made for your studio in minutes! You can have new artwork AND work with your students on rhythms! Win-Win right?
Sign up here to nab your free 3 page PDF guide for ballet teachers who want to be more prepared and capable when it comes to working with a pianist!
(I promise to never, EVER, give or sell your email address to anyone because I wouldn't want that done to me!)
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