HOW TO ORGANISE A FASHION SHOW – part Five 

DANCE FOR ENTERTAINMENT AT A FASHION SHOW

If the main purpose of having dancers at your fashion show is for entertainment then you can change the emphasis of their routines to be more fun and spontaneous. You could even allow your dancers to improvise when they feel that they have some variation to add to their basic routine.

A dance group strikes an ending pose at the conclusion of their competitive performance. Groups such as this are typically formed from students in a dance class. The dancers in this image are members of a tap dance class. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Please remember that if the dancer is part of a group and not just dancing individually then it is probably better to rehearse a set routine and stick to this as any changes may confuse the other members of the group.

Like podium dancers you could provide background music which allows the dancers to move in rhythm, and dance at a speed which matches the tempo of the music.

Obviously when you are dancing in a group you must all know where to position yourself on the stage, when to change position and where to move to. There should be a purpose or point to any changes that you make and everyone must know when these are going to occur and how the changes will affect their own individual routines.

HOW TO ORGANISE A FASHION SHOW – part Five continued 

This is often the job of the dance choreographer. As a choreographer you will work with the dancers to work out the most effective routines for them, bearing in mind the purpose of the dance routines, what costumes the dancers will be wearing and the dancers individual skills, flexibility, and experience.

When choosing the outfits for the dancers to wear remember that clothes can be restrictive and prevent movement of the dancer. Costumes can also be used to add sex appeal by showing the dancers physical shape or body outline.

When you are working out the routines always be aware of the safety of the dancers and never put them at risk of injuring themselves. You should always have adequate safety precautions in place for any jumping or acrobatic movements you are going to use, or routines involving the use of equipment such as trampolines. If you are considering this type of performance then you should use gymnasts and people with experience in this area of dance.

Dancers celebrate their accomplishments at the end of an awards ceremony. Some competition production companies encourage celebrations like this, while others prefer dancers to take a more introspective approach to the competition results. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It is best to work out basic routines to start with. Remember that the dancers will have a lot to concentrate on during the show so make the routines easy to remember and put visual clues or reminders on the stage to help the dancers move into the right positions at the right times.