For Percussive Dancers, Dancing at Home Is Easier Said Than Done
Ryan Rockmore is a PhD student in the UCLA Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance. A percussive dancer, his practice involves hard-soled shoes and sound-making, which has become difficult in this moment of safe-distancing and remaining at home—especially for dancers like Ryan who live in apartment buildings.
"I have not worn my flamenco shoes since March 14. As I sit at my desk, day in and day out, they remain perched on a closet shelf, staring at me with grim disappointment. They join me in watching countless YouTube, Instagram and TikTok videos of dancers taking barre in their living rooms, or performing choreography in their kitchens. It feels like everyone in the dance world is playing, and I am watching their fun through a screen.This experience, unfortunately, has been the grim reality for many percussive dancers around the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because many of our practices hinge on bodily sound-making and the use of hard-soled shoes, they can easily become a nuisance to neighbors and a vandal for polished wood floors.
As I started to think of remedies for my artistic confinement, I quickly realized that every idea seemed like another roadblock that most of my non-percussive dancer friends were not facing. What about my neighbors downstairs? Will their lights fall down? What if my stomps echo into the alley? Will I get a noise citation? Will drilling footwork on my practice board become my only rehearsal option for the months ahead?
So, like any resourceful millennial, I turned to my friends and their friends in percussive dance communities. On social media, I found an abundance of creativity. I saw Mary Baird, New York City-based flamenco dancer and co-founder (along with myself) of Al Margen Flamenco, dancing in her basement laundry room. I came across Brinda Guha, New York City-based kathak and contemporary Indian dancer, exploring the lyrical, non-sounding elements of her movement. The bells missing on her ankles made her no less dazzling to watch."— Ryan Rockmore, PhD student in the UCLA Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance, Apr. 16, 2020
This post is an excerpt. Read the full article on the Dance Magazine website.
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