Social media has created a new-generation of never before seen expression. The world of dance has been known for its generations of professionalism and strict adherence to tradition. Dancers have recently stepped into the world of social media. Social Media has greatly changed the dance world, and raised the standards for future dancers. Dancers often fit to a mold when performing uniformly onstage. Social media offers dancers an outlet to show their own personalities offstage. It also allows dancers to show who they really are to their fans.
Ouellette states” In a world of online oversharing, it may not come as a surprise that dancers are using visual expressions like Instagram for personal expression. ” At last, dancers are able to show who they really are offstage. Previously, dancer’s personalities were masked by makeup and acting. Now, to be a dancer in the twenty-first century, one must be able to show their true personalities to their fans. This is something that was not expected of dancers before social media. Now, dancers are able to share other interests that they may have, as well as share that they are still human.
Social media allows dancers to break through to the audiences and show who they really are in many ways. According to Kourlas, “ Ballet is, in many ways, a superhuman art form, but it’s important to remember that dancers are still human. ” Dancers are able to post things about meals, injuries, time with friends, and more. All of these things show us that even though dancers seem to be doing the impossible, they are still regular people. Social media gives dancers other options for creative outlets that are not physical (Kourlas). Dancers are able to portray who they are beyond their physical talents.
Social media has greatly changed being a dancer today by allowing dancers to reveal their true personalities. To be a dancer today, one must be able to break out of stereotypes and molds, and express their own personal creativity. Social media has allowed upcoming dancers to put themselves out into the dance world. For generations, dancers have been going to auditions to get recognized. Now, for the first time ever, there is an alternative.
Meller argues “When you participate in social media conversations or go to auditions your chances of being better recognized could rise. Social media has a large community of upcoming dancers gaining fame. Professionals are also on social media, and are always scouting out new talents. Now, to get recognized you don’t just have to the best in an audition, but you have to stand out among a community of thousands of stars. It can become very competitive, but the dancers who put themselves out the most can have the chance to gain many followers and rise to the top. Artistic directors and casting agents recently started booking talents that they have found on Twitter (Meller). As a dancer, being on social media is a big help when trying to find a job.
If a director sees a dancer’s talent through their account, the dancer could have an instant job. American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Xiomara Reyes says” … I think these are wonderful outlets that give more people the opportunity to follow dancers whom they might never see perform live… ” (Escoda). Upcoming dancers from all over the world are able to gain fans who may have never even known who they were if it was not for social media. Social Media has really helped social media sawy dancers gain fame before they are even in major companies.
Without social media, it was very hard for dancers to get noticed. Now, dancers are able to put themselves out there and conquer their dreams. If dancers are able to gain a spotlight on social media, they have the ability to launch their careers. With the introduction of social media, dancers from all over the world are able to communicate with each other. A population of dancers, all yearning for the same thing, can now all share their goals, and see the competition that they are up against. Now dancers have the pressure of portraying themselves as the best in the community of dancers.
For example, Meller states” By simply adding #dance to the end of your tweets, you are able to access a large community of Twitter users that could be other dancers aspiring to get noticed. ” The dance community is now much larger and diverse. Now dance companies from all over the world are able to keep up with each other and communicate. World class companies are expected to be up to par with each other. Through social media communities, dancers can now share choreography and ideas. This opens up style and diversity, sometimes breaks traditional boundaries.
Dancers can now work with world-renowned choreographers even if they can’t be physically present. Before social media, traveling had to be done to be able to work with famous choreographers. Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancer Carla Korbes states her experiences with social media: “Technology can be so amazing: for example, last year at Vail (the Vail International Dance Festival), I had been working with (choreographer) Brian Brooks. I had to leave, but he said ‘No problem. ‘ If we need more time, we can work via Skype” (Escoda).
It is groundbreaking for a dancer to be able to work over video chat. It raises the expectations for a dancer to work, even if the person that they are working with is not physically present. Social media has made communication in the dance world an extremely important aspect of becoming a dancer. Social media has put dancers from all over the world in contact. It has opened up communities of dancers all reaching for the same dream. These new dancer communities allow dancers to connect with so many dancers that they would have never known.
It helps to bring dancers into a more futuristic and diverse community. Pursuing a dream as a dancer can be very hard. With innovative social media, dancers are now able to make more dreams come true. For many young dancers, one of the first steps in achieving a dream is going to a professional summer program. Professional dancer Carla Korbes confirms that” Kids are traveling everywhere to go to summer programs, funding themselves with Kickstarter- putting their dreams on the internet and seeing if they will pan out” (Escoda).
Kickstarter is a social media website that allows people to donate money to different causes. Dancers are using it to pay for experiences that will bring their dreams to life. Now, future dancers have to excuse for missing out on opportunities to fulfill their dreams. Dancers are able to put their dreams all over the internet, and friends, family, fans, and complete strangers from all over can help them to get to wherever they want to. It is a dancer’s dream to have a personal connection with their audience, and gain a large following of fans. Social media makes this dream come true.
The idea is supported by the belief that” In many cases, social networking is the first step toward attracting fans and marketing their skills” (Ouellette). Dancers posting things that offer a view into the life of a dancer will gain many followers. Fans can support dancers and help build them up to their overall dream of fame in a dance career. For a dancer, social media can make dreams come true. It takes hard work, and does not come easily, but the outcome is worth it. A dream pursued in dance is a major accomplishment. Some may argue that social media has not changed the dance world.
Social media has changed many things, but some think that the dance world is so grounded that it can never be changed. The form of dance known as Ballet is one of the oldest styles of dances that is still practiced professionally today. One cannot forget that “Ballet originated in Italy in the 1400s and 1500s, during a cultural movement called the Renaissance” (“Ballet”). It is such an old style of dance, that is still practiced in many of the same ways as it was back then. Italian dance masters wrote manuals that preserved steps for modern historians (“Ballet”).
Many of the same steps are still used today. Many other types of dances use ballet technique. It serves as the core training for all dancers. However, social media has changed many aspects of dance. For example “Dancers have found a way to break through the tulle and tiaras by presenting backstage life on their terms” (Kourlas). Dancers are leaving old traditions behind, and accepting new and innovative ones through social media. Social media has been eye-opening to dancers trying to express themselves in ways that old customs would not allow.
Social media has greatly changed the dance world and raised the standards for future dancers. Dancers are now able to reveal their ti – true personalities offstage, and put themselves into the world through social media. They are also able to join communities of dancers from all over the world. Through social media, dancers can pursue their dreams. Social media is taking center stage in the dance world. It is breaking the stereotypical mold, and creating a challenging, futuristic spotlight for upcoming dancers to perform in.
