Human movement exists at a perpetual vanishing point, disappearing even as it is occurring. With no fixed points, movement is devilishly difficult to observe, let alone to pin down and analyze.
Thank goodness for video recording. The rewind button makes it possible for students to see the same event repeated exactly as many times as they need. Live observation, of course, is richer. It is life size, genuinely three-dimensional, and many fine details blurred on a video recording are clearer in the flesh.
However, even simple repetitive working actions or choreographed sequences vary with each performance. I have found these subtle variations to be very frustrating for beginning observers. I still use live observation. But I supplement it with video examples. And this has never been easier, because there is so much visual movement material available now via the internet.
Tip #2 – Use video wisely and don’t be afraid to hit the rewind button. For more about using video wisely, see the next blog.
