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PCD6102 Advanced Techniques and Performance Studies

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Within contemporary, I struggle to be fluid when it comes to floor work; this is mainly due to the lack of understanding of knowing how to control my body weight on the floor and lack of strength. In this video, you can see how I continuously stop and start when trying to execute this type of movement. By working on this it will help me to understand my body more and allow me to be confident in moving across the space if needed. I also want to work on balance and the articulation of my feet; these two things will help me to become a stronger and precise dancer, allowing me to execute movements like jumps more safely and improve my technique.

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Has Influencer Culture Affected How Dancers Are Hired?

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New York City–based choreographer and director Jennifer Weber once worked on a project with a strict social media policy: ” ’Hire no one with less than 10

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There is an undeniable magnetism about TikTok videos. It is quite easy to fall down a rabbit-hole and spend far more time than initially planned, scrolling through endless dance challenges and sixty-second comedy sketches. It became an outlet for creativity and a source of entertainment for millions over the past year. Many professional dancers, barred from the stage, joined scores of TikTok dancers, creating lively and engaging social media content with their dance training. It has shaped our current culture, particularly in the younger generations.

Yet, wherever there is a large audience, businesses realize there is a profit to be made. TikTok, much like other social media networks before it, has given rise to a new generation of influencers who have amassed colossal followings through their performance of short viral dance moves. Indeed, TikTok has billed itself as a place for dance to proliferate, and the dances created on the platform are finding their way into today's dance vocabulary, but are the most popular (and profitable) TikTok dancers truly dancers? The personalities on the app with the largest followings are not highly trained dance artists, but rather media-savvy teenagers making north of a million dollars through sponsorship deals; parlaying their social media clout into other avenues like music careers and makeup lines. To be sure some of them, like Addison Rae Easterling and Charli D'Amelio, have a modicum of dance training, but what kind of artistic value is their TikTok content adding to society?

These aforementioned two teens earned five million and four million dollars, respectively, in the last year through TikTok. Though the average salary of a professional dancer varies-it can fall anywhere between $22,000 and $180,000-it pales in comparison to the massive income these TikTok dancers are raking in. What accounts for the vast difference between these earnings? TikTok dancers do not have more training; in many cases, it is easily arguable that they have less training than professional dancers. They are not creating new, thought-provoking art, in fact, many of them are not the original creators of the dances they rose to fame performing. They can be entertaining, certainly, but the bulk of their cash does not stem from their artistry, but rather from their ability to sell products through sponsored content to their enormous fan base. They are, essentially, human billboards and walking infomercials. I am not implying that they do not work hard, I am certain that they do, but I am not convinced that dance is what they work hard on.

Creating a well-liked TikTok dance can have a large potential impact on your financial future, and open up a world of possibilities, but you have to get the credit for it first, and that has been notoriously difficult to do on the app.

There is also a good bit of luck and privilege wrapped up in these TikTok dancers' success. Of the seven top earners on TikTok, the majority of them are white, all of them are young, and all of them are conventionally attractive. The app has come under heavy fire for problematic and racist algorithms that flag body shapes that fall outside of the norm (too big or too small), people with missing teeth, visible wrinkles, or facial scars, and surroundings that seem less desirable (cramped, dirty, or poorly lit). Furthermore, content creators of color have a harder time getting views and as a result, sponsorships and money, because the algorithm continually selects white creators for the majority white TikTok audience to view. There have also been accusations that Black creators' videos get removed at a higher rate than white creators. There is a nefarious reason that the most successful TikTok dancers tend to look alike, and their popularity and financial success are not simply merit-based.

Additionally, TikTok has had issues with theft of intellectual and creative property. There is the well-known case of Charli D'Amelio receiving credit for creating the ubiquitous "Renegade" dance when the true creator was a young Black teenager, Jalaiah Harmon. While Harmon is now widely recognized as the true creator of "Renegade," it does not make up for all the attention, likes, views, appearances, opportunities, and dollars that D'Amelio garnered from her popularization of the dance. More recently, Addison Rae Easterling received backlash for her appearance on Jimmy Fallon where she performed eight popular dances that were again mostly choreographed by Black creators who went uncredited. Easterling's performance was noticeably lackluster when compared to the originators, especially when looking at a side by side video of "Up" creators Mya Johnson and Chris Cotter next to Easterling. Yet once again, since Easterling already has such a huge following and is launching a music career as a result of her social media fame, she was featured instead. Fallon has since had the creators of the dances on his show, but there is little doubt this recent turn of events was in response to the online fallout following Easterling's appearance. Creating a well-liked TikTok dance can have a large potential impact on your financial future, and open up a world of possibilities, but you have to get the credit for it first, and that has been notoriously difficult to do on the app.

With all this in mind, it is hard to see the rising popularity of these particular TikTok dancers as unproblematic. They do not seem to add cultural value or contribute to the betterment of society. Art, dance in particular, always has the power to bring people together, and viral TikTok dances have done just that, providing moments of levity in a heavy time. Unfortunately, though, the originators of these dances do not have much crossover with TikTok's highest earners, who seem to only profit off of others' creativity. Their notoriety has caught the attention of many corporations that do not care about artistry or creativity when there is money to be made. While some companies have employed professional dancers who have a positive societal impact-like Under Armor's partnership with Misty Copeland-it is more common to see a TikTok influencer like Loren Gray partnering with giant brands like Revlon, Hyundai, and Sketchers before even well-known dance artists like Dominic (D-Trix) Sandoval or Houston Ballet soloist Harper Watters. Though it should be noted that, thankfully, professional dancers are increasingly tapped for corporate deals.

Despite these drawbacks, TikTok holds intriguing potential for the future of the dance community. With more and more professional dancers flocking to the social network, it is raising public awareness about the art form, and when live performances are possible again, their online fan base might just follow them into real life. The app offers interactive engagement that encourages users to move and learn something new or challenging rather than just blindly scroll. The dances created on the app offer an opportunity for people to connect and share in a collective cultural moment at a time when the normal collective cultural experiences like concerts are not as accessible. Anything that raises the national awareness of and interest in dance, like So You Think You Can Dance in the early 2000s, has the possibility to bring more fans, support, and money to an art form that could always use more of all three. Finally, TikTok, for all its flaws, has the potential to be a very inclusive space. There are low barriers to entry (anyone can sign up for an account) and there does not seem to be a gender based stigma that we see in some forms of dance, particularly Ballet.

So, while TikTok has its definite downsides, its existence has also brought people together during a dark time for the world, making them laugh and keeping them moving. As much as it has provided a space for racism, theft, and inequality, it has also provided a platform for people to share their creativity beyond their community. There are well-paid, young influencers that many call "dancers" who are no more than glorified salespeople, profiting off of smaller creators, but there are also incredibly talented individuals who the world might never have seen without TikTok. It is, like many things on our planet, both simultaneously bad and good.

Caitlin M Heflin

Caitlin, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, holds a BFA in Dance Performance and a BA in Economics from Southern Methodist University. After graduation, she performed and taught in and around the Chicagoland area before the windchill drove her west. She currently lives in Los Angeles, California, where she is a company member with Seda Aybay's Kybele Dance Theater. When not rehearsing, touring, and performing with Kybele, you can find her either teaching ballet and modern dance at several local studios, or battling traffic on the 405. She is deeply passionate about all facets of the art form of dance.

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The Rise of TikTok Dancers: Is It Based on Clout or Talent? | Dance Articles

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Is influencer success truly based on talent and merit, or is it something else? How do TikTok dancers and professional dancers compare?

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© Tyrone Bradley / Red Bull Content Pool

The social media platform is ushering in a new generation of dancers -- and bringing talented dance creators a wider audience.

The creativity, that's what blows me away.

Tiana Canterbury, choreographer

It's just made it way easier to be exposed to dance

Tony Oxybel, Red Bull Dance Your Style 2021 Australian winner

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How TikTok is making dance bigger than ever

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The social media platform is ushering in a new generation of dancers -- and bringing talented dance creators a wider audience.

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The American dance industry has evolved and changed over time. It originally started out focused on Ballet for political purposes and slowly evolved into a more expansive industry, opening its arms to other styles such as Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop, and Contemporary to name a few. Dancers would strictly perform for audiences in large theaters and arenas. Becoming a staple dancer and choreographer within the industry was harder to come by and required lots of experience and exposure to the industry and other influential individuals. However, recently, the world has changed, and along with it, the dance industry. Social media quickly and loudly interrupted the way individuals consume media and participate in the internet. Dancers and choreographers found a way to utilize it as a tool to market themselves and showcase their talents. Dancers now have a more expansive audience than before. It used to be limited to people within the theater, but now, dancers and choreographers can share their talents and work through TV, Social media, and Film as well. Dancers are now able to book jobs and connect with industry professionals through social media like never before. I will dive deeper into the effects social media has had on the dance industry, on social, geographical, and personal levels throughout this piece.

Dancers saw opportunities within Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube in the early stages of social media as platforms in which to market themselves and gain industry exposure. Organizations and individuals are now able to use social media as a tool to build their own brand to highlight their personality and professional abilities for exposure and potential job opportunities. ( Social Media for dancers, the pros and cons). Traditionally, dancers would move to a city where the dance industry was booming, typically New York City and/or California, to audition for agents and be in close proximity to jobs and other opportunities. For years, agents have signed dancers and helped push them into industry auditions and book professional jobs. Although this is still a very important, successful, and essential way for dancers to find success in the field, the invention of social media has definitely altered the process. Dancers can also book jobs on their own, without an agent, based on the content they post and the following they have gained. This is where Dance Influencers were formed ( Social Media changed the dance industry. L.A. Influencers show how). Some dancers have found a way to slip through the cracks of social media and be highly recognized for their talents. Talent agencies have seen the importance of a successful social media account for dancers and now use it almost as an insurance policy when signing dancers. It plays a part in their process of selecting dancers to sign. Oftentimes, casting directors ask prospective signees to include their socials within their resumes. This is done in order for the agency to take a deeper look into not only who the prospect is as a dancer, but also their personality and work ethic.

"Social media allows dancers, choreographers, teachers, audiences and fans to post and share dance to a nearly infinite internet audience" (Social Media: How Does It Affect The Dance World)

Unfortunately, social media accounts for dancers are transitioning to a necessity, emphasizing the need for likes and comments. (Later on, I will talk about how this affects the mental health of dancers, but for now, I will stay on topic; How social media is opening up dancers to other opportunities and avenues into the dance industry). Of course, there are always exceptions, but follower counts and overall exposure of their page are now becoming a huge part of signing with an agency or booking a job. However, it is again important to emphasize that dancers still have the ability to infiltrate the industry on their own because of social media...
Dance Influencers and The Breaking Of Dance Stereotypes.
Amanda LaCount, a Dance Influencer, got a DM from Parris Goebel, Choreographer for Justin Bieber, Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, and Rhianna, asking her to audition for a job. ( Social Media changed the dance industry. L.A. Influencers show how). Parris Goebel originally made a name for herself as a choreographer by posting her work on Instagram and YouTube. Her latest industry job was choreographing Rhianna's 2023 Super Bowl Halftime show. After receiving Paris' DM, Amanda has gone on to have a highly successful career dancing backup to huge artists such as Rihanna and Meghan Trainor. Both Amanda and Paris are prime examples of dancers who have successfully marketed themselves on social media.

Social media has been used as a gateway to usher in change within the dance industry through brave individuals such as Amanda LaCount, Darrion Gallegos, Yanis Marshall, and to name a few. They all post content on their platforms to showcase their individuality and authenticity ultimately breaking boundaries placed upon them by the dance industry and the world.

Amanda LaCount uses her platform to inspire and actively break down a stereotype that exists within the dance industry: The representation of hyper-skinny bodies within dance media throughout history and even still a little bit today. As a plus-sized woman, Amanda is inspiring thousands of dancers across the world and consistently showing them that every body and everybody can dance and be wildly successful. Recently, the dance industry has seen all body types starting to get represented behind artists such as Lizzo and Cardi B. Although social media can be used by brave individuals as a tool to usher in change, there is still an issue with dancers constantly being exposed to the content of women with the "ideal body type" wearing very sexy clothing pushed on social media.

Darrian Gallegos and Yanis Marshall much like Amanda, use social media to be authentically themselves. These two are breaking gender norms; Yanis is famous for dancing in and teaching a heels class, while Darrien dances backup for Arianna Grande where he dresses and performs in more feminine roles ( Social media changed the dance industry. L.A. influencers show how)

Misty Copeland broke racial barriers and body type expectations within the Ballet world. For many years, ballerinas were expected to be super skinny to the point where it was unhealthy. Misty Copeland has a busty chest and is incredibly muscular, which are two attributes that were not celebrated within the stringent ballet world. She has gone on to have one of the most successful careers ever and inspires thousands of African American dancers across the world. The ballet industry moves slower than the commercial dance industry. Misty Copeland's more recent break into ABT (American Ballet Theater Located in New York City) changed the course of ballet and history in general because she was the first-ever African-American principal dancer within the company.
Social Media Connects Dancers, Teachers, and Choreographers To The Industry
The way Amanda LaCount booked her first industry job highlights another amazing aspect of social media, especially within the dance industry. That is the access to communication with others from all over the world. Social media is a communication web that has the ability to connect us to all sorts of people within all sorts of industries. Anyone can message, follow, or tag industry professionals to gain exposure and a potential mentor. Features such as Direct Messaging (DM-ing) make connecting and communicating with industry professionals, dance companies, talent agencies, etc., much easier and accessible to all.

Young dancers all around the united states have definitely utilized this feature on their social media accounts. Dance Conventions are events in which industry professionals teach the next generation of dancers. Students of all ages take classes all weekend to gain insights and experience working with current industry professionals (both professional dancers and teachers/choreographers teach on these weekends). Kids later post videos or pictures from the weekend and tag their favorite industry professionals/teachers of the event. Dancers are often able to gain their attention on social media through that. Possible getting a like, comment, or follow from a working professional within the industry. This is a fairly new part of the dance industry, attributed to social media.

I myself have experienced the connective capabilities of social media with industry professionals. I have posted after a convention weekend and gotten interactions and sometimes follows from faculty members. Many people within the dance industry are so inspirational and want to help others navigate their careers and often provide encouragement and compliments either in comments or direct messages. It is amazing how accessible social media makes conversations and interactions.
Effects Social Media Has Had On Choreographers
Social media, much like for dancers, provided teachers and choreographers with platforms to share their work and get recognition. Their accounts are an extension of them and their talents, making it a huge part of pushing their name out into the industry for being a great educator and choreographer.

Matt Steffanina posted content of dancers performing his choreography on YouTube. The videos blew up on the internet and allowed for huge choreographic opportunities for stars such as Chris Brown and Jason Derulo. ( Source: Social Media Changed the Dance Industry. L.A. Influencers show how). Paris Goebel has huge industry opportunities from posting her work on Youtube and Instagram. She ran a Hip Hop dance company, named The Royal Family, and got enormous recognition for her innovative and iconic choreography. She has gone on to have an illustrious career choreographing Jlo and Rhianna's halftime shows.

The newest social media platform that celebrated dance was TikTok. During the beginning of the 2019 pandemic, this platform experienced an exponential boom unlike anything ever seen before. The number one thing that was trending on the app in the earlier stages, was TikTok dance trends. This was a great platform for choreographers to post their work for others to dance to. Although this was a great way for a choreographer's work to spread, trends took off so fast and people would not tag the original creator of the dance so choreographers wouldn't get the credit.

This issue of dance plagiarism is huge on social media through TikTok and other mediums. TikTok is a little different because the dances are short combos created to be learned and shared. However, there is still a lack of choreographer credit for the origin of the trend. In other words, choreographers @'s were often left out of captions as their work would spread like wildfire, leaving them with recognition. There is a bigger issue for choreographers who post their work on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, etc. Some people take choreography from creators online by setting phrases and sometimes even whole pieces on dancers within their own establishment, taking credit for another person's work. Teachers and choreographers post online to show their work and get exposure, not for it to be stolen from them.
Social Media Impacts the Mental Health Of Dancers
Our access to an abundance of content showcasing so many talented dancers can breed a lack of self-esteem. Dancers can find themselves in an unhealthy cycle of comparing themselves to others and potentially pushing their individuality down to follow trends and dance like others. Dancers can feel that they are not good enough because there is so much talent in the world and pushed out on social media. It is a part of human nature to compare. This was always a difficult part of dance that individuals have had to learn to overcome, but social media has exacerbated this part of dance.

It is also very easy for dancers to be consumed or obsessed over how many likes their posts get or how many followers they have. This is prevalent in society as a whole but is especially prevalent within the dance community. This is largely due to the fact that high account engagement is often paired with success.

I have first-hand felt the implications of social media on my mental health. Although I feel very lucky that I have never allowed myself to let social media consume me, I have fallen victim to comparing myself to other dancers by watching videos on social media. It is both amazing and difficult to have access to so many talented dancers through social media. However, as I have gotten older, I have learned through my own self-evaluation and appreciation, to look to others for inspiration, not use them as a mechanism to speak or think negatively of myself and my talents. I think that this is something that is addressed by dancers on social media but should be shared way more than it has been.

At the end of the day, dance is a common language. It is an art form supposed to be felt, shared, and experienced. It is beautiful that social media has allowed dance to be shared on a much larger scale. With that being said, It is important for dancers to remember that everyone brings their own unique and special qualities to dance that no other person can do exactly the same. In dance and other areas of life, individuals should not try to be someone else. You can look to someone as a role model or for inspiration but learn to appreciate and celebrate your own individuality as well.
Social Media Breeds Hate
It is easy for people to spread hate online because they can hide behind screens blatantly bullying others ( Social Media for dancers, the pros and cons). The dance community is generally supportive and kind, but that is not to say hate is not experienced by dancers, teachers, or choreographers through social media.

I was always taught growing up that hurtful behavior is often a reflection of that individual's own hurt and pain they are projecting onto me. The dance community is supposed to be encouraging and accepting of all. However there are still people within, and outside individuals who chose to use the platforms to spread hate. This is an issue all across the internet that we need to learn how to combat.

Like a lot of things in the world, social media can be used for so much good, but it can also be used for evil. It is important that individuals within the dance industry, who have legitimate marketing reasons to utilize social media, do not feed into the negativity that can be felt online. Change starts with one individual and spreads to many. If dancers spread love on social media, which they oftentimes do, we would be able to see how that positively influences others outside of the community to behave the same way.
Social Media Is Affecting The Physical Health Of Dancers
Dance educators are worried about young dancers today as they see postural misalignment due to their constant use of technology; Tech neck. ( Social Media For Dancers, the Pros and Cons). The term Tech neck refers to the downward slanting of the neck and overall slouched posture of the upper spine from the constant state of looking down on their phones and at social media. Believe it or not, this has major implications on the health of their bodies, and a dancer's ability to dance long-term. Proper body alignment, aka neutral spinal and pelvic alignment, is essential to the health and longevity of a dancer.

"To combat tech neck, strengthen your upper back muscles in Pilates and ballet classes, and be mindful of your head and neck placement when you do use technology" ( Social Media For Dancers, the Pros and Cons)

Correct posture or neutral alignment helps dancers stay on center and prevent injuries of all kinds. Tech neck pushes the upper spine forward and could make dancers more susceptible to falling forward out of movements and to injuries. The constant state of slouching from looking down at technology can also cause difficulties in moving the upper spine and the neck in the opposite direction. This is a very big issue for dancers specifically because fluidity and mobility of all curvatures of the spine are essential in dance.

Recently, with the global pandemic of Covid-19, the dance industry found ways to further utilize the technology at our fingertips in order to keep the industry alive and keep people employed. There are lasting innovations from the pandemic, such as online classes, that will forever continue to be used within the dance industry to open up to a wider pool of dancers. Social media has helped the dance industry transcend geographical limitations.

"Throughout COVID, when dance companies' performances were canceled and theaters were closed, directors and choreographers turned to technology and social media to still let their work be seen. Classes and behind-the-scenes footage were made available on Instagram Live, and entire full-length productions were live-streamed on YouTube and Facebook, showing that not even a pandemic could stop the dance world." ( Social media: How does it affect the dance world?)

Social media and the digital world, in general, pushed the dance industry into teaching and taking full classes through the digital Zoom world. This opened up so many opportunities for choreographers, teachers, and dancers. Initially, Zoom classes, much like in the educational system, were used as a mechanism to continue training, keep businesses running, and keep teachers or choreographers employed. What came out of the digital transition of the pandemic was much more access to students and teachers, different techniques, working professionals, material posted, and online teaching programs.

Dance teachers, choreographers, and dancers had to learn how to teach and take classes on Zoom. Dance is a very personal sport, where physical contact is an instrumental tool used by teachers to help their students. This was obviously not an option during the 2020 global pandemic, thus teachers and students had to completely adjust their way of taking and/or teaching classes. Because cameras often flip images, teachers had to begin specifying what foot they were stepping on, what direction they were turning, etc. Normally dancers in the room would see and mimic the teachers to learn exercises and choreography. During the pandemic, however, this was no longer the most effective way to learn choreography or take classes in general. Hyper specific language had to be used when teaching and learning on Zoom. That was the most effective way for teachers to teach and students to learn through Zoom. With that being said, teachers, students, and choreographers quickly adjusted to learning and teaching digitally and are continuing to use it as a tool.

Without a doubt, social media has changed the dance industry by widely opening up opportunities for dancers, teachers, choreographers, and dance businesses/ business owners. It can be used as a mechanism for self-marketing and branding and as a means of communication and connection. Social media also helps defy geographical limitations and spread the art form to the entirety of the community and beyond. In general, social media has opened up connective capabilities like never before, but within the small dance world, it has brought a tight-knit community even closer together.

Works Cited

Callahan, Mary. "Social media for dancers: The pros and cons." Dance Informa., 1 August 2021, https://www.danceinforma.com/2021/08/01/social-media-how-does-it-affect-the-dance-world/. Accessed 23 March 2023.

Callahan, Mary. "Social media for dancers: The pros and cons." Dance Informa., 1 August 2021, https://www.danceinforma.com/2021/08/01/social-media-how-does-it-affect-the-dance-world/. Accessed 23 March 2023.

"Social media changed the dance industry. L.A. influencers show how." Los Angeles Times, 16 January 2020, https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-social-media-dance-influencer/. Accessed 23 March 2023.

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How Has Social Media Impacted The Dance Industry?

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The American dance industry has evolved and changed over time. It originally started out focused on Ballet for political purposes and slowly evolved into a more expansive industry, opening its arms...

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TÉJA MONÉT - Creative based out of Sacramento, CA.

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March 2020. The notorious month in United States history where COVID-19 was officially declared a pandemic. Coincidentally, also, the month I downloaded TikTok. With the ongoing shifts occurring in the world and newfound boredom curated in quarantine, a lot of people unmistakably found comfort on their phones. TikTok catapulted to fame in the depths of quarantine, while the world simultaneously descended into a plethora of unknowns. TikTok brought a new and exciting form of entertainment, similar to the once loved and successful platform known as Vine. For adults around my age (I was born in '97), Vine was a staple in our pop culture, so TikTok felt like a sweet taste of nostalgia. TikTok became well known for its trends rooted in comedy, creativity, transitions, and you guessed it... dance. With new dance content constantly in rotation on a popular platform like TikTok, it is necessary to analyze how these new online dance trends are effecting dance in real life. In 2020, TikTok was the most downloaded app globally. The app has singlehandedly influenced an entire generation of people with its popular trends. We can't deny the power TikTok holds... but has it done more bad than good?

Dance content carries TikTok.

As with everything in pop culture, there are trends to delegate something's relevancy. For example, there are fashion trends, make up trends, etc. Social media is no different. On TikTok, there are many trends that are constantly fluctuating, however, there are a few content ideas that seem to always guarantee viral potential. One of them being, dance videos. Every month on TikTok, there is a new dance trend either based around a sound (TikTok audio) or a popular move. An example of a popular TikTok dance is the viral dance to "Savage" by Megan thee Stallion, which was created by Keara Wilson. If you haven't seen or know what I'm talking about, you must live under a rock because it seemed like everybody and their mom was doing this dance at some point. Since this popular dance trend, there have been many others that followed such as, the TikTok WAP dance created by Brian Esperon. Charli D'amelio is the most followed person on TikTok with 122.7 million followers and 9.7 billion likes as of August 19, 2021. Charli's main content that she posts on the TikTok platform is dancing videos. Her first viral TikTok was a video of her dancing, which helped her rise to TikTok fame. Dancing is extremely popular on TikTok and it is notably a form of content creation that helps carry the success of TikTok.

TikTok Dancing vs. Professional Dancing.

Due to dancing being eminently loved on TikTok, there are many people being exposed to dance in a way that they weren't prior to the app. TikTok's unique algorithm allows the possibility for anyone to go viral, meaning that people are seeing various dance content from different people all over the world on their feeds. On one hand, it is beautiful that a) people are admiring dancing and b) TikTok has given people the confidence to dance that wouldn't normally do so. On the contrary, a) TikTok dancing is becoming extremely popular and b) the idea that anyone can be a dancer is being heavily pushed. Let's discuss the former first. There is a difference between TikTok dancing and professional dancing. Can we just take a moment to let that sentence sink in please? TikTok dancing is often 15-30 seconds long (can sometimes be longer), it is usually basic movement set to basic musicality (if any), and almost anyone who has rhythm and/or patience can do a TikTok dance. The " Out West" TikTok dance trend, which was created by Nicole Bloomgarden is a great representation of this. The dance is two 8-counts long with basic upper body and arm movement. TikTok dancing does not require a lot of skill, experience, or years of dedication and practice. Don't get me wrong, I am someone who regularly enjoys and participates in TikTok dances, but let's not get confused on the minimal amount of skill it actually takes to complete a TikTok dance.

Every good professional dancer of any dance genre can do a TikTok dance, however every TikTok dancer cannot do a professional dance.
- Téja Monét

There are TikTok dances that do require higher skill levels, however, those dances are often created by professional dancers that use the platform. Professional dancing can be anywhere from 1 minute to 1 hour or longer (The duration depends on the context of where the dance is being performed; it is possible for a professional dance to be less than 1 minute). Some professional jobs include, but aren't limited to, commercials, live shows (such as award shows, festivals, tours), music videos, etc. Professional dancing consists of pocket, texture, performance, advanced musicality, weight changes, technique, stamina, and so many more things. Being a professional dancer is not an easy feat - it takes training, experience, networking, connections, professionalism; it takes a lot of different elements that are not needed for a TikTok dance. Since professional dancing is in the entertainment industry, there is another element involved called typecasting. It doesn't matter how good of a dancer you are, if you don't physically fit what is being requested, you won't get the job. TikTok doesn't typecast - Anyone can "book" or go viral regardless of what they look like. TikTok is not as competitive as the professional dance industry.

TikTok has propelled the idea that anyone can be a dancer. Yes, technically, anyone can be a dancer. However, we all know there's a difference between doing something recreationally, competitively, and professionally. I guess the key thing to look at is anyone can be a dancer, but not anyone can make it in the professional dance industry. There are some TikTok users that are mistaken thinking they can dance at the same caliber as professional dancers because a) they can successfully TikTok dance or b) they have booked certain dance-related jobs. Well, we know that TikTok dancing is not the same as professional dancing so that is not a relevant justification to this thought process. If certain TikTok dancers were to go to an industry audition today in a room full of professional dancers, go across the floor, learn a combo, and perform it for a panel - Could they do it? Potentially... but let's be real, not even every dancer that has been training for years is cut out to do that. In regard to booking dance-related jobs, a lot of TikTokers are getting booked on these type of jobs due to their social media clout and popularity, not necessarily because of their dance abilities. We live in a capitalistic society where everything revolves around profit. Of course someone with a following on one of the world's most popular apps will get hired over someone that is less known, regardless if they are more talented than them or not. The more popular someone is endorsing a product, the more attention it will receive due to association, which will potentially lead in more sales. (This is not always the case as there are talented dancers on TikTok that are not professional dancers within the industry who get hired for certain jobs). It is harmful when people who are not qualified are given the opportunity to showcase dance, because they are often portraying movement incorrectly. This results in these people spreading a false perception of what certain movement is supposed to look like, which is doing a disservice to the pioneers and/or cultures that are the original creators of specific movement.

Professional dancers use TikTok too.

For TikTok users who enjoy dancing, but don't have a dance background - I think they sometimes get the wrong idea regarding dance because there are regular people making dance content on the app, as well as professional dancers. A prime example of a professional dancer that is actively creating TikTok content is Charlize Glass. As of August 19, 2021, Charlize Glass has 927 thousand TikTok followers and 12.5 million likes. Charlize Glass has been in the professional dance industry since she was a child. You might recognize her from the viral video of her dancing to "Yonce" by Beyoncé, which was choreographed by Jose Hollywood. Charlize was also on MTV's America's Best Dance Crew performing with 8 Flavahz, as well as a contestant on World of Dance with her partner Julian DeGuzman. These are merely a few of her accolades, but the point is, she's a professional. A lot of people on TikTok who don't have a dance background, are probably being exposed to professional dancers like Charlize for the first time through TikTok. Although Charlize is becoming a popular TikTok creator, she has an entire professional dance career outside of the app. Non-dancers might see people like Charlize and think, "She is a TikTok dancer. She is doing TikTok dancing. This looks easy. I can do exactly what she's doing." I have to be the one to say that there is a difference between TikTok dancing and a professional dancer doing a TikTok. Many people try to mimic and recreate what they see online, especially from professional dancers that create TikTok dance content. This will sometimes result in people repeating movement incorrectly because they lack basic understanding of dance movement. Now there is a facilitated group of people that think they can dance although they don't understand where the movement comes from, where their weight should be, where the move initiates, what it should feel like on their body, etc. People like Charlize may be doing TikTok dances, but any real dancer can see she is still hitting the pocket, texture, specific musicality, etc. of movement, however, if you aren't a dancer you aren't able to see that. If you aren't a dancer, you probably don't even know what pocket is.

Everyone is a critic.

Lastly, since many people are over consuming dance videos due to the algorithm, TikTok has become oversaturated with people that are extremely opinionated about dancing. We all know everyone online is a critic, but I didn't realize everyone was a qualified competition judge who could make critiques on people's execution. Non-dancers are the first people to comment under a professional dancers TikTok video saying that the person is being "too aggressive," without understanding what it means to dance full out and/or mark. There are professional dancers that are booked in the industry receiving negative feedback from strangers online because everyone is all of a sudden a dance professional. Non-dancers have created a standard of what dancing should look like on TikTok, however, this is only detrimental for the actual dancers simply trying to showcase their art on the platform. Professional dancers should be allowed to use the platform without being attacked in their comments for dancing full out when dancing full out is their profession.

If the extent of your dance knowledge is Matt Stefanina Youtube videos and TikTok content, you shouldn't be commenting on someone's dancing.
- Téja Monét

Conclusion.

Is TikTok ruining the integrity of professional dance? Yes. TikTok is creating more harm for the professional dance industry than good, because TikTok is creating a false narrative of what dancing is. People are attempting to intertwine TikTok dancing and professional dancing as if they are the same thing when in reality they are not and never will be. The differences of the two are a direct result of what proper execution consists of: technique, control, alignment, training, choices, etc. Those things are not needed to execute a TikTok dance video, but they are needed to successfully complete a Brian Friedman master class. Dancing is significantly more than the simple 8-count made to a new trendy song. The creation of TikTok dance content made by regular people and professional dancers only confuses people and perpetuates this notion even more. Again, it is important to understand that professional dancers creating TikTok content and TikTok dancing are two separate entities that require different skill sets. Should professional dancers stop using TikTok altogether? Let me know what you think in the comments.

I must clarify that there is absolutely nothing wrong with being a TikTok dancer. TikTok dancing is fun and entertaining, but it is important for people to not disregard nor disrespect the years of training professional dancers have invested in themselves and their dance career. A TikTok dancer arguing that they can do the same things as a professional dancer is giving very much "IG model" vs "runway model." Neither are wrong. One is not better than the other. However, one does require different proficiencies, practice, and experience. Same thing with dance.

If a non-dancer sees something they like on TikTok, that's great. Dance is a universal art form for all people to respect and enjoy. When this happens, if possible, make sure the movement is being practiced the right way. How can this be done? Ask questions or take class from a dance professional. Comment under the video and ask what the move is called or what style someone is doing. From there, research, research, research. I recommend taking dance classes from a professional in that style over researching online because you could be learning the wrong information from someone that is inexperienced. The best thing you can do is take dance class, but if that option is not available, seek out YouTube tutorials or study videos of people doing that style.

Let's respect and keep the integrity of the dance art form. There is no other art form like dance on the planet - it is utterly unique on its own and deserves to be treated as such.

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TikTok is Threatening to Ruin the Integrity of Professional Dance - TÉJA MONÉT

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If the extent of your dance knowledge is Matt Stefanina Youtube videos and filming TikTok dance content, you are not a professional dancer.

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Social media. It's infiltrated every part of our life - our relationships, travel, work, news, school and entertainment. Technically, social media includes any website or application that enables users to create and share content within a social network. Take a moment to think about how many times you utilize social media per day. That's not only Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, Twitter and Snapchat but also Yelp, blogs, YouTube, Pinterest, Reddit and more. And especially in the past year and change, our lives - and the social media we use in it - have completely flipped upside down. During periods of quarantine and being apart, social media has allowed us to reconnect with friends of the past and make new ones. When companies' seasons were canceled, technology and social media allowed them to still have a presence.

But is this all good? Do we rely on social media too much, or does too much time on our devices have an adverse effect on our mental health? There are positive and negative effects of social media on our society at large, but how does it affect the dance world in particular? Let's take a closer look.

PRO: So much dance

Social media allows dancers, choreographers, teachers, audiences and fans to post and share dance to a nearly infinite internet audience. We have so much archival material, historical information and visual resources at our fingertips and are inundated with new and innovative content every day.
CON: Tech neck
"Tech neck" is the poor posture we've developed from hunching over our cell phones, keyboards and laptops. Joy Karley, a ballet and Pilates teacher over at Broadway Dance Center, worries that today's tweens have the posture of 80-year-olds. To combat tech neck, strengthen your upper back muscles in Pilates and ballet classes, and be mindful of your head and neck placement when you do use technology.
PRO: Reach
Social media has broadened dance's audience beyond those sitting in a live theater or tuning in to watch a TV program. We don't just watch; we can also connect with dancers and organizations around the world.
CON: Comparison
Putting your work - your art - online can be incredibly scary. It's easy to obsess over how many likes you get and how people respond to your content. This comparison often leads to feeling like you're not good enough.
PRO: Bringing live dance to your living room
Throughout COVID, when dance companies' performances were canceled and theaters were closed, directors and choreographers turned to technology and social media to still let their work be seen. Classes and behind-the-scenes footage were made available on Instagram Live, and entire full-length productions were live-streamed on YouTube and Facebook, showing that not even a pandemic could stop the dance world.
CON: There's nothing like live, in-person performance, though.
Even after the pandemic and when all theaters have returned to normal, will some directors still choose the virtual performance option over a live, in-person show? Nothing can replace the feeling of sitting in a room full of strangers, living and breathing a performance together. There are no distractions from the upstairs neighbor, there are no snacks to be had; that hour-and-a-half is made for enjoying the truly special live art form of dance.
PRO: Engagement
Social media is just that: social. It fosters engagement between creators and audiences and, when used effectively, often cultivates meaningful conversation.
CON: Filming class
Dance class should be a safe space where students can be empowered to take risks without feeling ashamed if they fall down or mess up. While filming dance class has become the norm (especially in musical theater, jazz and street styles), this should not be the priority of class. What's more, filming class combinations has become so casual and common that sometimes dancers will record on the side of the studio without even asking permission from the teacher or the other dancers in class.
PRO: Platform
For so long, dancers were meant to be seen and not heard. Now, our individual voices and collective voice are growing ever stronger.
CON: Filming performances
The next time you're at a live theater performance, look around to see how many people are watching through their iPhone camera. It's mind-blowing. Filming is not only distracting for the performers and other audience members, but it is also illegal and negates the magic of live performance.
PRO: Branding
Organizations and individuals can use social media to build their brand. Think of the image, copy and messaging of New York City Ballet or Broadway Dance Center. And also look at the channels of popular dancers like Katie Boren, Ashley Everett or Maddie Ziegler to see how each dancer is able to show her personality and professional abilities through social media.
CON: Getting jobs
In both the commercial and theater worlds, casting directors often ask you to include your social media handles on your resume. Your number of followers and online image can make or break whether you book a big job.
CON: Hate
Whether it's gossip, criticism or outright bullying, social media is a breeding ground for hate. For some reason, people feel more confident airing their grievances online, often posting things they would never say in person. As an example, one dancer published a Facebook post mocking a recent Broadway revival. Well, that dancer made her Broadway debut in that very show just months later and had to personally apologize to each member of the cast. Our business is tough enough. Don't contribute to the hate.
PRO: Promotion
Social channels like Instagram and Twitter offer free (and also relatively inexpensive) marketing tools for teachers, choreographers, studios and performing arts organizations. It has become so much easier to advertise classes, shows and services and to increase awareness of issues in our community (i.e. #boysdoballet).
CON: Pressure
As if filming class wasn't enough of an invasion, auditions are often filmed nowadays as well. Behind-the-scenes segments are always intriguing and great for marketing a new show, but that added pressure at auditions is every dancer's worst nightmare.
Social media rules of thumb: #1. Keep class a safe space.
Honor the sanctity of the dance studio. Class should first and foremost be an encouraging, challenging and motivating environment to foster growth, creativity and artistry. If you (teacher or student) are hoping to record the class combination, ask permission from everyone in the studio and save filming for the very, very end of class.

We're on our phones over three hours each day. When you're seeing a live performance, put your phone away so that you can really be present to the experience. Encourage your peers to do the same.
#3. Advertise classes that will be filmed.
Learning to dance for the camera is a tremendous skill! If you want to focus on this, advertise your class accordingly and take the time to teach and practice how dance for film differs from dance on stage.

That goes for when you're on stage, in the studio and online. This industry is incredibly small, and no matter how much talent you have, your reputation always precedes you. Make sure it's one you can be proud of.

Don't dance for comments or likes or with the goal of going viral. Never lose sight of creating meaningful art, honing your craft and performing simply because you love to.

By Mary Callahan of Dance Informa.

Ashley Everett, dance health, dancer health, Facebook, Instagram, Joy Karley, Katie Boren, Maddie Ziegler, New York City Ballet, social media, social media for dancers, social media tips, tips and advice, Twitter

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Social media for dancers: The pros and cons - Dance Informa Magazine

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Social media. It's infiltrated every part of our life - our relationships, travel, work, news, school and entertainment. Technically, social media includes any website or application that enables users to create and share content within a social network. Take a moment to think about how many times you utilize social media per day.

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One element of my ballet technique I have been aiming to work on this year is the height of my développés and grand battements. As you can see in this video i can initially get my legs higher than 90 degrees but struggle to hold it there. I have had issues with my hips for a couple of years and seems that when I développé my legs i lift from this area which causes more strain. I also over use my thigh muscle which has been affecting my knees. This could eventually cause injury and impact future opportunities.

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After doing some research, it seems that i have been over working certain muscles to compensate for my weak hamstrings and glutes. In order to reach my goal, I have been working on the strength within my hamstrings and my glutes. In order to reach a higher développé, I have been working on the strength within my hamstrings and my glutes. As you can see in this video, one of the exercises I have been doing it flatback. When doing this I ensure to take my time allowing me to correct my alignment and engage my hamstrings and glutes as I lift my back and lower back down. Another exercise I have been doing is donkey kicks, this not only strengthens the glutes and hamstrings but also helps to strengthen the core as it has to be engaged to maintain strong alignment.

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The exercises I am doing for grand battements are both strengthening and helping to increase my flexibility which will also benefit the development of my other goal. Using ankle weights whilst doing the exercises in this video is strengthening my leg and helping me to achieve the strike that is needed for the dynamic of a grand battement. As I have worked a lot on strength, I have also been balancing this out with stretching a lot more to ensure my flexibility doesn’t hinder my progress with my goals.

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By doing these exercises I have noticed a change in the way I approach my développés; I feel a lot stronger in my hamstrings and feel less strain in my hips and thigh muscles. Even though I feel stronger, I still haven’t reached my goal however with maintaining these exercises I hope I will be able to gradually hold it higher. My grand battements have gotten higher however I aim to continue working on my strength and flexibility as this could increase my chances of getting booked for musicals and cruises.

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To help my development in jazz, I have been working on my leg extensions and not cutting off my lines. As you can see in these videos, my back leg is bent when leaping and also when turning. I know by straightening my legs it will help my leaps look longer and help me to do clean turns without falling out of them. Usually, the faster the choreography the more I cut my lines off; one reason for this is the lack of strength in my upper body. To help with this, I have been working on my core and strength within my arms.

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For my legs to get used to being straight at the right times, I have been working on rises; this including rises with sharp dynamic, slow rises and transferring of weight on to each leg in a rise. With doing these different types of rises I aim to gain more awareness of how it feels to pull up my legs more so that it becomes easier when doing choreography. By working on these elements, it will give me better opportunity of being booked as the choreographer would be able to rely on me and know that I am capable of delivering the material to a good standard.

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To ensure I can execute choreography without cutting off my lines I have been completing a 20-minute-deep core workout and core swings. This workout targets all four abdominal muscles: transversus, rectus, external and internal. It is important that I work on all four types so that none of them need to compensate for the work of another muscle (avoiding injury or other complications). I have also been setting myself different challenges each week in order to gain more arm strength. For example, increasing the amount of reps I do of push ups (and performing different types of push ups), arm raises and alternating plank as seen in the video.

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After completing these exercises, I have noticed a big improvement in the way I execute choreography. I feel a lot stronger which has allowed me to be more confident in performing especially in this style. As you can see my leaps and turns look cleaner and more precise. By working on my upper body strength, I can see that I am more capable of executing my full range of movement and finishing each line. I aim to continue to work on the above so that I can become a stronger and efficient dancer/ performer.

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In order to have more flow when executing floor work and to manage my balance better, I have been working on my strength, transfer of weight and experimenting with material on the floor. As stated in other sections of my Padlet, my upper body strength is weak so I have been completing a few exercises (as seen in the video) that target the four sections of the core. I have also been aiming to put my upper body strength into play when it comes to hand-stands and cartwheels. Through doing these exercises I hope to gain more control of my movement and placement when performing floor work and confidence when interacting with the floor as handstands and cartwheels are something I tend to shy away from.

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Recently when trying to articulate my feet more, I tend to get sharp pains and cramp in the bottom of my foot. After doing some research, it seems that my feet need to be stretched out and worked more, which is also what helps to gain better articulation. In this video you can see me stretch through the top and bottom of my feet to enhance their flexibility. With working my toes (as seen in the last clip) and more flexibility, I will be able to lengthen my feet and present them better in technique classes, as well as using the floor more.

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The flow of my floor work in comparison to the first video is a lot better, however I would still like to work on it. I feel in order to be comfortable and confident, I need to do floor work more often so my body and mind are used to it. I have noticed I have consciously been thinking to engage my core when doing certain movement, especially movement that requires a high level of balance; and as my core feels stronger it is easier to do so. However, the articulation of my feet isn’t at the standard I would like, so I will be continuing these exercises and finding new ones to help with this.

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Throughout all styles, I have been aiming to work on the amount of space my body can consume when dancing. One reason for this is so I can naturally hold a stage when moving if I wanted or was required to. In this video, I have noted down a couple of moments in which I wish I moved more (with size and travel) and moments where I cut off movement. With understanding my range of movement, I will then be able to work out my dynamics on top of this foundation as I am already capable of adding dynamics when I have got the choreography down.

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To work on the above, I have been mentally working on lengthening, stretching and trying to use my full range of movement in any environment (class/ rehearsal). In the first clip, my main goal was to ensure I didn’t cut off movement whilst keeping in mind the essence of the choreography (more groove rather than full shapes). The second clip is when I focused on my range of movement as the intention for this choreography was for stage. As the last clip was a rehearsal, I aimed to bring both range and quality of movement together as I knew I would be running this multiple times, so I had more time for my body to process it. Having a mental note of something to work on when dancing, really helps me to stay conscious and in turn develop.

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To support my above approach of reaching my goals, I have also been ensuring I keep up with my fitness and overall strength. Recently, I have been struggling to maintain my fitness however, I know it is important if I wish to reach goals like this. Therefore, I have been completing a similar workout to what I have been doing for my core techniques so that I am able to transfer the same strength over into other styles. By doing this, I hope it increases my level of strength in order to perform to a higher ability.

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As you can see in the Angels in Tibet video, my movement looks a lot stronger and includes a mature level of dynamics especially when moving towards the centre; this could be due to both the above approaches and also knowing the choreography for a while. In comparison, in the rehearsal footage for Qho Qho, my movement looks a lot weaker however, this section is more towards the end which tells us my endurance and cardio level isn’t up to the standard it should be to execute a piece of choreography all the way through. Furthermore, I will continue to work on cardio and strengthening to give me a better chance of being booked for commercial jobs.