Lessons on tricking yourself

I'm working on a solo right now. The way I've been working so far is to generate movement through improv exercises which I record and then pick and choose what I want from what was created. Since it's just me working on this seciton; however, I was struggling to come up with a way to improv without 'already knowing' what I wanted which usually isn't what I actually want, if that makes any sense. Celeste gave me the idea to pick a video of someone dancing and describe all the things they were doing that I liked and then make up my own movement following those directions. I picked a video that I like on YouTube and have watched about a million times. I described about half her movement and then put it in a list randomizer to get a new order. I'm really happy with the result! I got a lot of usable material from it. This exercise is definitely a keeper!


Here's the original description:

Release pose and bring hands to elbows

Drop left arm and head at the same time while bending knees symmetrically

Initiate movement with right hand creating a straight line with body (hand to foot)

Turn in a semicircle with weight only on one part of your foot

Flick left foot then extend leg, drop/pull/throw arms in opposite directions

Bring right leg and left arm together with right arm in the middle (separating the two)

Float left leg, create a bend at the knee while bringing hands together in a ‘push down’ gesture

Cross left leg over right, then right over left while handing at the waste

Bring hands to touch behind your back

Cross arms in front while picking up one foot at a time from the ground

Trace a pathway with right foot with your arms straight

Look at your right big toe while bending your left leg

Swing left leg and arm around for a ¾ turn

Bring right arm across the body, throw it in a sequential manner while moving the left leg directly with force

Make a ‘push gesture’ with both hands

Travel for four steps, clasp hands to pull you in a new direction

Arch with symmetrical arms

Circle hands in a grasp gesture

Bring right arm overhead, pull down, bring left hand to meet it, release gesture at elbows

Bring left hand to ear, extend right palm directly while transferring weight to your left leg

After it was randomized:

Bring right arm across the body, throw it in a sequential manner while moving the left leg directly with force
Release pose and bring hands to elbows
Arch with symmetrical arms
Cross arms in front while picking up one foot at a time from the ground
Swing left leg and arm around for a ¾ turn
Cross left leg over right, then right over left while handing at the waste
Initiate movement with right hand creating a straight line with body (hand to foot)
Trace a pathway with right foot with your arms straight 
Bring hands to touch behind your back
Travel for four steps, clasp hands to pull you in a new direction
Drop left arm and head at the same time while bending knees symmetrically
Turn in a semicircle with weight only on one part of your foot
Bring left hand to ear, extend right palm directly while transferring weight to your left leg 
Look at your right big toe while bending your left leg
Bring right leg and left arm together with right arm in the middle (separating the two)
Make a ‘push gesture’ with both hands
Flick left foot then extend leg, drop/pull/throw arms in opposite directions 
Bring right arm overhead, pull down, bring left hand to meet it, release gesture at elbows
Circle hands in a grasp gesture
Float left leg, create a bend at the knee while bringing hands together in a ‘push down’ gesture