Too young?

[mellie]

Just wondering what you all think of this song for a theatrical lyrical ( contemporary dance) piece for a 12 year old, who is smallish for her age. She's 12, but looks 9, ( she's petite ) do you think it's too mature for her?


https://youtu.be/KWz7ur-4aLc?si=prhY8rQYSJEjm5vt



I want it to be her solo, a "big girl" solo, because she's always being given cute kiddy costumes and dances, which she's always done very well with, but I think it's time for her to break into a more mature style.

Yes she's cute, but I feel she has so much more to offer, especially theatrically and dance wise. She has a unique gift of being more flexible than most kids, ( has hypermobility of her joints) which she's inherited from her poor old mamma lol, which enables her to do tricks most other kids can only dream of doing.

She would have made a thumping good gymnast, however her true love is dance, contemporary, neoclassical and musical theatre.

Anyway, just wanted some feedback on whether an audience might find this piece of music too mature for a 12 year old.

Yes she looks younger, but she's a very mature and advanced performer for her years so I think she could pull it off.

I haven't asked her teachers yet.

Any thoughts, or even recommendations for a lovely piece of music you guys would consider yourselves to be beautiful.


I know I normally talk politics, but as eisteddfods are fast approaching, I am thinking perhaps it's time for something less childish for her.

[mellie]

This is the piece of music I'd like for her, however it's up to her teacher's of course.

https://youtu.be/KWz7ur-4aLc?si=prhY8rQYSJEjm5vt

[mellie]

Twelve is an awkward age for dancers, the piece & performance can't be too juvenile, but the judges can sometimes be very critical and find music too mature, and will knock points off, simply because they think the themes or music are too mature or even young in some cases for the dancers.

She'll be performing with girls who tower over her, 14s and under so it's got to meet the maturity level, even if she is tiny, an opportunity for her to show them that even when small, they can handle more mature , heartfelt and difficult themes.

Themes like struggle, depression, fear, despair, which are themes normally reserved for the "big girls" 16 years +.

She has incredible talent with theatrical pieces, and is more than capable of drawing the audience in with these emotions.

So I can't see why not.


https://youtu.be/KWz7ur-4aLc?si=prhY8rQYSJEjm5vt

[mellie]

Note- Mamma herself has RA these days, so definitly no tricks for me. Not unless I want to pay the price the next day .
And fortunately, she has no markers in her pathology for autoimmune disease, so is fortunately, very unlikely to end up like me.

Great news, because I couldn't bare it if she did.

She has so many dreams, wants, and such a desire to do the best she can.

So, is this too mature?

https://youtu.be/KWz7ur-4aLc?si=prhY8rQYSJEjm5vt

I promise not to challenge your view's on this, because there really is no wrong or right, I just want to ask others what they think before I ask her teachers.

You don't need to be classically trained in performing arts to have an opinion on this.

It's the audience that the judge's will be basing their opinions on, because the piece itself has to sit well with those watching it, not leave them feeling uncomfortable.

[tllwd]

Twelve is an awkward age for dancers, the piece & performance can't be too juvenile, but the judges can sometimes be very critical and find music too mature, and will knock points off, simply because they think the themes or music are too mature or even young in some cases for the dancers.

She'll be performing with girls who tower over her, 14s and under so it's got to meet the maturity level, even if she is tiny, an opportunity for her to show them that even when small, they can handle more mature , heartfelt and difficult themes.

Themes like struggle, depression, fear, despair, which are themes normally reserved for the "big girls" 16 years +.

She has incredible talent with theatrical pieces, and is more than capable of drawing the audience in with these emotions.

So I can't see why not.


https://youtu.be/KWz7ur-4aLc?si=prhY8rQYSJEjm5vt

Like that?

[mellie]

Yes but she'll be doing hers as a solo, more lyrical costume, a little dark, but not black.

But yes, you're on the right track for what I'm looking at.

ALDC dance studio did a dance to it also, which in my opinion, went too far, so there won't be anything too dark, because her teachers style is "positive "... especially with younger students.

[mellie]

I just feel she's ready for a more mature piece, something whereby she can showcase her theatrical ability, as well as her dance ability.

[mellie]

And I just wanted to quickly add, I don't normally interfere or even request music or dance styles, ever, but I just really feel this would be amazing for her.

[tllwd]

I just feel she's ready for a more mature piece, something whereby she can showcase her theatrical ability, as well as her dance ability.

Solo.

[mellie]

Yes, but more theatrical , just not gross, ie the seizures of the heroine addict, or the ways of the prostitute and anorexia victims in this clip.

https://youtu.be/Do3qGLDd4cU?si=ac4BDhsPBFIqZwU5