I'm always a little sceptical about ATS improv. As I understand, one person improvs the rest play follow the bouncing butt. Just like we do in Egyptian classes. Only in class the next move can be literally anything - we probably have never seen a breakdown of it and it may not be repeated.in ATS, you know the move, but not until they cue it, so you really don't know what to expect until it happens. But with a choreographed routine, you do a certain thing in a certain spot. So is it ok to call a choreography improvised if only a small bit of it is?
This is way more than a 'sameness'. She said it was her solo that she's been choreographing when she performed it for us, then performed it a few days later saying it was improvised.
Please don't think I am trying to pick on anyone or anything, I'm just trying to figure out if she's 'lying' or if saying 'improvised' is quite loose. I've only ever seen other cabaret dancers specify that the performance was improvised when it was only the first or second time they'd heard the music, not when it was a song they'd been working on a choreography to.
I learn SO much from this forum!
Maybe she forgot something and had to improvise, in that case I would say let her call it improvisation.
Marya
So what do you do when a dancer says that her performance was improvised, when you know it wasn't because you've seen her perform the same routine previously?
To be labeled as improvised does the whole piece need to be, or just a tiny bit (about 30 sec) ?
Argh.
I'm always a little sceptical about ATS improv. As I understand, one person improvs the rest play follow the bouncing butt. Just like we do in Egyptian classes. Only in class the next move can be literally anything - we probably have never seen a breakdown of it and it may not be repeated.
From friends who do ATS, I understand not only do they learn a set of acceptable moves - and cues - separately, but they also practice together like nothing else. Is this really improv? Not for the group obviously, but for the leader? First, the moves are pre-defined, the assembly has all sorts of rules, then they practice the same number for hours every week. I'd put money on the result, in most cases, is very similar from run to run. Yes, something new might be thrown in, but the point of all that rehearsal is to make sure the group is never surprised and unable to follow.
A good dancer can improvise and make it look as though it's choreographed. If she knows that music inside out there will be key parts that she does repetitive moves to... I do this myself. Then there are parts you change each time as the mood dictates. To someone who's perhaps only watched it a couple of times, it may look identical but in fact only part of it is.
We were told it was her choreography she had been working on, but there were a few 'holes' yet to be choreographed.
I really just wanted to clarify because I was kinda confused as to what constituted an improvised performance.
Thanks Everyone!