This article was originally published on linkedin.com.
Storytelling is powerful. In my program, we focus on the power of storytelling in almost every class. How do you engage with your audience? How do you grab their attention? How do you tell your story?
We focus on storytelling with words through news writing, podcasts and video documentaries, but storytelling with words is simple- you say what you need to say. It’s easy to understand stories with words, that’s why we read.
Another way to tell a story is through movement. Growing up in dance, I’ve had to learn how to use my body movement and facial expressions to tell a story. Since there are no words in movement, other than song lyrics, the biggest issue is portraying your story successfully. It is common to have the movements lost in translation or misinterpreted. So what does successful storytelling through movement look like?
Dancing with the Stars. The majority of the pros on Dancing with the Stars work hard to choreograph dances that tell the stories of their celebrity partners. Storytelling through movement allows the celebrities to be able to connect with dance on an emotional level, while also allowing the audience to see the personal side of each celebrity competing.
Although all of the pros are talented in their own ways of storytelling through movement, I would argue that Derek Hough cracked the code. Derek Hough holds the record for the most Mirror Ball Wins on the show, having won six times. A pro turned judge, Derek Hough has learned how to tell a story through movement with each partner he is given.
Below are a few of my favorite dances he has choreographed that tell a story from beginning to end without a single word. The connection between him and his partners, the style of dance, the music and choreography all come together each and every time to create beautiful stories. Watch and learn to see how powerful storytelling through movement can be.
Derek and Hayley Hough – Dedication Night 2024
Derek and Hayley Hough performed “Beautiful Things” last week for Dedication Night. This dance is a tribute to Hayley’s health journey and the experience the couple went through following the diagnosis of a serious brain condition. This dance marks Hayley’s return to the ballroom. If you listen closely, you can hear details in the music that add to the overall story including the sounds of hospital machinery.
Derek Hough and Bindi Irwin – Most Memorable Year 2015
Derek and Bindi performed “Every Breath You Take” for the Most Memorable Year week in 2015. This video has the story attached to give the backstory of the dance and what it means for Bindi. If you choose to watch both the story and the dance, look for the little details of the dance that are mentioned in the story to see how the movements bring the story to life.
Derek and Julianne Hough – Special Performance 2017
Derek and Julianne Hough performed “Unsteady” as a special performance in 2017. It was the sequel to their “Elastic Heart” special performance the siblings danced to in 2015. While both dances tell stories of the pair’s childhood, Unsteady focuses on the impact of their parents’ divorce. The juxtaposition of the dancers with their “younger selves” reveals how the dancers are impacted by the experience to this day.
All three of these dances have been engraved in my brain since they first aired. I remember the songs and the movements as if I was recounting the plot of a storybook. Having a personal connection to dance and being an avid fan of Dancing with the Stars might make me a bit biased, but I believe the winners of the show are the ones capable of telling the story- adding life and emotion to the movements that would otherwise be plain and boring. How do you tell your story without words?