Dancer but not so much a singer!

[josielee]

Hi! This is my first post on here! My daughter is 14 and in year 10 and has been dancing since she was 6. She is intermediate level in ballet, tap and modern and has had a fair share of success at dance festivals and auditions. However, she has only just started singing and has been having singing lessons for the last few weeks. I would definitely say she has made progress and can hold a melody but would struggle singing a power ballard. If she decides to audition late this year or early next year for performing arts colleges starting in September 2016 are they expecting AMAZING as far as singing is concerned or just potential at this stage? Hope this makes sense!!!

[fartoomuchtodo]

In my (limited) experience most performers have varied strengths and weaknesses - very few can sing, dance AND act all to the same level and I am certain colleges appreciate this. They are, after all, in the business of delveloping talent - if everyone came fully formed they'd be out of a job

[josielee]

I suppose I was thinking that as there are so many people that apply to these colleges and so few places available, you would have to be well above average in singing, dancing and acting. All a bit of a minefield for me at the moment which will probably only get worse as time goes by!!

[Katymac]

Might be worth keeping an ear out for this man http://www.balletcoforum.com/index.php? ... r-dancers/

He understand the problems Dancers have with singing - it's to do with posture and breathing according to my DD

[josielee]

Thats really interesting thank you! Will definitely look him up

[2dancersmum]

I think also it depends which course and college you are looking at. Professional dance diploma or MT diploma or degree. The colleges are obviously going to look at potential as well as level and I think that is especially true for singing. I remember when my DD did auditioned for 6th forms at vocational schools we were told by one school that they liked including the vocal section in an audition (for a dance course) as many dancers did not even realise they could sing as they had concentrated on the dance side so much. Despite all this, competition is obviously tough for all the colleges and in my experience it is often impossible to say why a college offers a place to one student but the another. There are more applicants than places - some will always be disappointed

[Robsmumma]

This was my dd a couple of years ago. Danced since 2, loved it all and was good. Singing...hated it, wouldn't sing in front of anyone, refused lessons until she realised if she wanted to get into college she would have to start.
Did Urdang foundation which gave her a little more confidence but still was reluctant to sing in front of anyone.
This got her into Laine on a DaDA and oh my gosh!
She is now in her second year and her voice is amazing. She got a solo singing part in the 2nd yr musical and I can't keep her quiet. Loves it, in fact she reckons it's taken over from dancing as her 'strength'.
Just needed the confidence.

[josielee]

Wow Robsmumma! Just goes to show what you can be capable of without realising! My DH sings professionally and has tried to teach her but I think she feels too self conscious singing in front of him or in earshot of anybody else, hence why we have gone for somebody else to teach her. Hopefully during the next few months she will grow in confidence but if she doesn't feel ready auditioning at 15/16 she will just wait a couple more years.

[Fruitcake]

My lovely niece is going through this exact same dilemma at the moment.

She has just turned 17 and has suddenly decided, having danced since she was 3, that she wants to pursue performing arts as a career.

She, too, has never sung, says she can't sing, and refuses to sing in front of anyone. She says she cannot hold a tune (her Mum confirms this!!) and doesn't think she ever will be able to. Her dance teacher has offered to arrange some singing tuition for her, but she is very reluctant to go down that path.

I have, very gently, tried to explain to her that she should give it a go as it will benefit her in the future, but she says she just wants to dance! The same also goes for acting, as this is something else she has never done.

I have tried to explain to her that she needs to have as many strings to her bow as possible if she wants to make a career out of PA.

I have also urged her to get involved in as many local shows etc as possible, but she still seems very reluctant to do anything other than dance.

I have seen her dance numerous times on stage, and, although she has improved enormously, and is technically very good, she doesn't have that 'spark' that sets her apart from everyone else. She seems to dance for herself, rather than perform, if that makes sense.

I am very worried that she doesn't have what it takes to make it. Although I am a great advocate of the saying "If you don't try, you'll never know", I also don't want her dreams to be shattered before they've even begun.

I will watch this thread with interest.

[jennifer1972]

I think that's a really good point you make Fruitcake about dancers standing out. My DD has been dancing since age 7 and only now age 15 is she beginning to understand about performing through dance, showing emotion through her face and trying to be the one that everyone looks at. I was at a dance show last week and realised that out of the 10 dancers on stage, only 2 of them really caught my eye. It's an awareness that needs to be learnt as it's so easy to fade into the background.

[Forecast Academy]

This is a common occurrence with young performers, and one I can completely empathise with.

We teach each of our students all 3 disciplines and naturally there are some that find a particular discipline more confronting, and may have felt in similar shoes to what you describe.

All I can say is that it has, without exception, made a significant difference for our students to train in all 3 disciplines. There have been personally-established limitations broken down, and without fail, every student has learned that creativity doesn't just come in one form.

I would continue to encourage further exploration of, in this case, acting and singing, as an understanding of each discipline assists in the fruition of the other. Performance is performance, and so the more you can understand about how to act a dance, etc, the more full, engaging and informed the performance will be.

Of course, finding the right place for them to be nurtured out of their fears of embarrassment, and to start that exploration safely, is key. It can be a confronting thing to do, but all my experience says it is only ever beneficial. The amount of wonderful surprises we've had teaching 'actors' to dance etc! And ironically therein can lie their biggest senses of achievement, and hence growth of confidence.

GOOD LUCK