Dance Beyond the Tricks: with Rosina Andrews on Creativity, Storytelling & Uniqueness

“Every dancer has a story. Your job is to tell it with your whole body.”

That’s the message our seniors heard loud and clear from celebrated educator and author Rosina Andrews in our latest M-Pulsive Uncut episode.

As our dancers put the finishing touches to their showcase pieces and prepare new pieces for a new seasons of competitions, Rosina’s insights are the perfect reset: yes, technique matters but what sets a performance apart is creative voice, meaningful storytelling, and being unmistakably you. In order to be truly creative we need to start from how it feels, not how it looks

Rosina reminds us that creativity comes from the inside out. Instead of chasing trends or what’s popular on social media, begin with a simple question:

“How does this music make me feel?” When dancers move from genuine feeling, choreography becomes personal and far more compelling for watchers and judges.

Rosina is not only a well known dance educator on the UK dance scene, but also a regular judge of competitions across the country. So she sees many routines every month. She shared with us some practical tips on how to get started on your next peice…

• Don’t schedule “the” hour to find music. Let inspiration happen while you’re driving, watching a favourite show, or doing life.

• Get in the room and improv. Film short sessions; you’ll spot organic moments you can build on.

• Choose tracks that connect with your story, not just what’s trending.

Storytelling: connect movement to music (and surprise us…)

Rosina loves a great trick and she literally has written a method and books on turns and leaps- but she agrees that what makes pieces stand out is how you blend them and how you use dynamics.

“If there’s a crash in the music, let us feel a crash in your movement. If the track breathes, you can breathe too.”

What judges notice:

• Smart placement of skills that serve the story, not dominate it.

• Dynamic contrast: soft vs sharp, fast vs suspended, intricate vs spacious.

• Choices that feel different whether that be a fresh costume idea, an unexpected musicality, a surprise transition.

Uniqueness: showcase what you can do (and let go of the rest)

We took some time to chat about those who may be worried about not having “the big trick” to showcase in their pieces? If this is you has this stopped you from putting a piece out there in case of the missing piece being noticed? Rosina’s take is freeing: you don’t need it if it isn’t authentic.

Focus on the strengths you already have- quality of movement, presence, musical connection, unique combos and motifs then build from there. In a sea of similar pieces, genuine storytelling can be the most memorable “wow”.

Before we wrapped up our conversation we asked Rosina for one piece of top tip advice to take choreography to the next level… Rosina’s single biggest tip? Don’t underestimate silence and stillness.

A courageous pause (a look, a breath, a held shape)  can draw the audience in, reset your stamina, and give the next phrase real impact. Let the music breathe, and your performance will too.

We also spoke about the age old situation of what to do when you’ve made some routine, but fall out of love with it and lose inspiration to finish it.. The advice is- don’t scrap it (just yet)

Before you throw a routine away:

1. Film it as you might salvage a section later.

2. Identify what you dislike (music? a middle phrase? costume?).

3. Tweak one variable at a time: track, dynamics, or a cleaner transition.

Progress beats perfection. Your first draft teaches you what the second draft needs.

Try this: a 30-minute creativity warm-up

• 5 min: Play a new track and free-write three words it makes you feel.

• 10 min: Improv to the chorus only. Film it.

• 10 min: Recreate two favourite moments from the improv to create 16 counts

• 5 min: Add one deliberate stillness or breath. Re-film.

For parents: why this matters

At M-Pulsive, we teach strong technique but more so we nurture the courage to create. That combination builds confident teens and future adults who can express themselves, present, and connect far beyond the studio.

Listen to the full conversation with Rosina in our “M-Pulsive Uncut” relaunch episode and watch your piece transform from steps to story.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2512127/episodes/18149060