Age-Appropriate Lyrical
Every once in a while, a special performer catches your eye at competition and makes your jaw drop. In this case, it's 8-year-old Amanda Ocampo, whose technique is impeccable, and whose movement quality belies her young years. Check out her performance at Kids Artistic Revue in 2006:
Ocampo is a gorgeous little girl with a ton of potential. This, I won't argue. However, her studio's style choice raises an interesting question for teachers everywhere. Even when you are working with a technically gifted dancer, is it appropriate to give such young performers a lyrical routine that's supposed to be loaded with painful, soft, or nuanced emotion? Does an 8-year-old understand the meaning behind the lyrics enough to convey them through her body and soul, which is what a lyrical performance is supposed to be about? Or is she simply copying the sad faces of her teachers while attempting to nail her technical elements?
I don't have the answer, since when I was a little dancer, all I wanted was to compete with a lyrical solo like the big girls. But, my studio made me wait until I was 14. What do you think is an appropriate age to start lyrical?
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Teacher, Enthusiast, Parent, Studio, Competitions & Conventions, Lyrical (all tags)