Singers that Dance & Dancers that Sing?

[Katymac]

DD is a Dancer that Sings, so is my DH; I'm sure there are many out there along with lots of Singers who Dance.

DD's new singing teacher says he isn't going the traditional route for teaching her because it will give her too many things to think about - so she is going to chest breath, learn some technique then learn to breath lower down

Which tbh makes sense to me as I have been paying for loads of singing lessons & DD is getting more & more frustrated because she doesn't sound the way they want when she sings their way. And they won't listen when she sings the other way.

Both this teacher and the people on the workshop she has just been on are very surprised that she can sing and dance at the same time (but I haven't quite worked out why - DD looks unnatural when standing still.....it's not something I see very often)

Actually could that be part of the problem, she can't just stand and sing as she doesn't do standing still very well?


Anyway I just wondered if other dancers have problems with singing; and how they help themselves to overcome it?

[islandofsodor]

This is one of dh's specialties- teaching dancers to sing.

Dancers are taught to hold their core up and in, but singers have to let go an relax the abdomen.

Some teachers think that singers should only sound a certain way (like dd's music teacher at school and the majority if posters on an epic mumsnet thread where I got slated and dh rubbished as a teacher. Dh thinks that an opera singer and a pop singer don't produce the same sound so why shouldn't there be different techniques for different voice qualities.

[Katymac]

He says DD needs to get some volume & to worry about where it comes from later

Would love to read the MN thread....they do get heated don't they

[Welsh Mum]

My DD has had problems with too much neck tension due to her upright (dancers) posture. The vocal physio she saw said it was common in dancers, as their core is very strong and they hold their posture well (all those years of dance classes.....)

[Katymac]

DD's dance teacher is hopeful that this approach may be a good one

We will see.....

[Kitschqueen]

My dd who is a contemporary and ballet dancer has the most amazing core strength. Maybe that explains why she is an awful singer!!!!!

[Katymac]

Well I don't (really) dance & I can't carry a tune in a bucket

So what is my excuse?

[Kitschqueen]

Probably like me......utterly talentless!!! always in awe at all the amazing children and young people on this site x

[Katymac]

Too right

[Flosmom]

...but we're very talented audience members

Deb x

[SNN]

I dance, mostly for fun, and sing a whole lot more.
Over the half-term I did a street dance workshop thingy and our teacher made us do a lot of core strength exercises.
It took me about 5minutes to get up from one sit-up! I don't know if that's because I sing so much or because I'm just really, really weak

[Welsh Mum]

My Dd was told singers should not do sit ups - puts a lot of strain/tension in the neck shoulder area. She does lots of planks instead - works just as well.

[riverdancefan]

My Dd was told singers should not do sit ups - puts a lot of strain/tension in the neck shoulder area. She does lots of planks instead - works just as well.

That is true - I have heard that from more than one singing teacher..

[Katymac]

My brother ( a fitness fiend) doesn't think girls/ladies should do sit-ups at all - he & DD chat extensively about exercise & diet. I understand about 1 word in 10!