What is lyrical dance (anyone's opinion)?

Question

I'd like to hear from dancers and non-dancers...what do you think lyrical dance is? I've studied dance at the college level and have only started hearing people talk seriously about "lyrical dance" since the show, "So You Think You Can Dance."

What is the difference between lyrical and modern? Can you give examples?

Please, no wikipedia answers.

Answer 1

Lyrical dance is a fusion of ballet and jazz dance techniques. Lyrical dance challenges choreographers and dancers to use motion to interpret music and express emotion. A lyrical dancer's movements attempts to show the meaning of the music.

Lyrical dance is a unique dance form in that it has no particular history. It is the coming together of ballet, jazz, and modern, for the most part and is performed to music with lyrics. The lyrics of a song are the driving force for the inspiration of the movement. Choreography is often emotional, gripping, and delicate all at the same time.

Movements in Lyrical dance are characterized by their fluidity and grace. Leaps are executed high and with a soaring quality; Turns are airy and flowing.

Answer 2

Lyrical dance is for "posers": those who think they can avoid the hard work of learning ballet, which is the foundation for modern and jazz, and ignore proper technique. Teachers who teach lyrical in their competition studios are simply shortchanging their students, as students who study real ballet along with jazz are better able to pick up all styles of dance - from ballroom, to modern and hiphop and beyond. Only by learning the rules of a particular style and seeing how they contrast with the rules of another style can dancers become equipped to distinquish what makes any particular style special.

But lyrical has no rules; it's all made up and lacks distinctiveness. Distinctiveness is the ability to communicate precisely and dance is a form of communication; it's a language of the soul. If the painter wants to paint a line in maroon, then that's what s/he wants and not "kinda red." Real art and new styles of dance are created when dancers can understand the distinctions that a choreographer is trying to make when communicating with a group of dancers. As I hope you've discovered, no respectable college dance program teaches classes in lyrical, even though electives in Latin dance, hiphop, etc may be offered.

I love the show SYTYCD, and it's done a lot to bring greater visibility to the study of dance. However, I think the very nature of the show maintains a bias against the study of ballet, due to the fact that they can't very well set ballet routines on the contestants if they haven't studied it. Essentially, it would come off looking like lyrical. So, in order to stretch their candidates abilities in the "balletic" direction (if they come from other backgrounds such as hiphop, swing or popping/locking), the producers (and, really, the whole Dance Competition industry) are forced to embrace lyrical as a "style" when it's really a non-style.

I say lyrical is to dance, as crying hysterically (or ranting, or babbling incoherently) is to language. They don't teach "mumbling" in college language classes, either.

Answer 3

When the dancer interprets a lyric through her body, hand gestures and facial expressions while feet are keeping to the rhythm; it is called lyrical dance. Here the dancer displays his/her artistic skill for elaborating the real essence of the lyric by inserting themes/sub-themes related to the lyrics.

Indian classical dances are lyrical dance. Lyrics are their soul.

In modern dances, lyrics are actually choreographed not interpret. Here light and sound effect, costume, stage-setting, and other props are also used as a mode of expression.

Answer 4

I have to say lyrical is one of my favorite forms of dance. In all the yrs I have been teaching, I prefer to watch and choreograph lyrical over just about anything.
Lyrical strives to express the emotion and feeling as well as the lyrics of the song. I use very fluid lines and movement, then when the lyrics justify it-very powerful, strong moves also. Lyrical asks the dancer to perform the song with their body as well as their face and expressions. It is also (usually) a very technical dance. It takes the strong technical moves and demands of ballet and and softens them up. Many turns, leaps, suspended balance, etc. make up a good lyrical routine.
It really has been around for years, it has just gained some popularity with the TV show.
I wish I could make a good comparison to modern for you, but modern is the only dance form I have not studied in depth. It is my understanding the modern dance expresses thought and emotion through moves, but not necessarily with the words of a song. Modern tends to be abstract and unpredictable, it can also utilize props, sets, lighting and other visual art forms to convey the idea being presented.
I think it might be like comparing Norman Rockwell, who painted realistic scenes with expression, to Picasso, who painted in abstract with expression. Well, the comparison may be a bit rocky but I hope you get the idea.

Answer 5

From a non-dancer with some training: Lyrical dance is that awesome 80's mix between ballet and jazz. 80's jazz routines they did at drill team competitions. A lot of beating the heart or the floor at appropriate times during the songs....usually when someone's heart is breaking or they're just really mad or sad. Paula Abdul if she choreographed a slow song. Maybe we could do one to "Rush, Rush"?

Answer 6

well i take both modern and lyrical and yes they are very different. lyrical has more teqnique than modern and is more like ballet, but faster and tells a story. modern is just i don't want 2 say doing whatever but it kind of is. modern is very diversefied and has its own unique technique. lyrical is more step by step where as modern u have to be more "out there" and creative. as for shoes lyrical is usally performed in either jazz shoes, lyrical shoes, or little foot thongs. modern is almost always just in bare feet. hope this helps you out =)

Answer 7

I know there is a genre of dance called "Lyrical," but I have always thought you were dancing in Lyrical when how your body moves is really acting out the words

Answer 8

"Lyrical is a combination of jazz, ballet and modern dance styles. Lyrical dance usually displays movements that "interpret" the lyrics of a particular song. Lyrical is a dramatic and beautiful form of dance."

Answer 9

ok basically both modern and lyrical are based on ballet. lyrical, i think, is more like ballet...it's classical moves with modern style and music...Modern is like freeform ballet.. Basically ballet but with a lot more freedom and creativity with your body.

Answer 10

That is a beautiful song... I'd go for it. =) ~Kate