{"id":4100,"date":"2017-08-08T21:06:25","date_gmt":"2017-08-08T21:06:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/?p=4100"},"modified":"2018-12-12T19:07:53","modified_gmt":"2018-12-12T19:07:53","slug":"how-to-bow-and-what-your-bow-says-about-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/how-to-bow-and-what-your-bow-says-about-you\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Bow (And What Your Bow Says About You)"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to Bow (And What Your Bow Says About You)<\/h3>\n \"\"<\/a><\/span>

Written by Pandora Scooter<\/p>\n

August 3, 2017<\/p>\n<\/font>

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Recently, I’ve noticed that a lot of young actors and dancers could use some help bowing. As a performer, bowing is a necessity after every show, and it’s a tradition that actors and dancers take a bow or a curtsey, so why not learn? Bowing is the way that the performer has to acknowledge the support, validation, love, adoration, celebration, and\/or praise from the audience with humility and grace!<\/p>\n

Bowing is essentially accepting the applause and whatever else the audience is offering to you as praise (flowers, gift cards to Cracker Barrel) — and you are responding by bowing.\u00a0 It\u2019s a conversation with the audience, and you must be present for it. Don’t know how to bow? Here’s how!<\/p>\n

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Simple bow.<\/h4>\n
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Stand in neutral, hands at your sides, feet shoulder width apart, then take in the audience\u2019s applause for a few beats and as if saying in response, \u201cThank YOU!\u201d bend at the hips til your back is parallel with the stage and your arms are at your sides.\u00a0 Hold for a beat or two and then stand back up.\u00a0 If warranted, go to another part of the stage and repeat.<\/p>\n

Alternative:\u00a0 Some people like to bow at the hips until their hands fall onto their feet.\u00a0 I think this looks more like a stretching exercise than a bow, but it is some people\u2019s preference.<\/p>\n

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Dip Curtsey<\/h4>\n
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Curtsies are hardly used these days, but <\/span>it\u2019s<\/span> good to know how to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>do them <\/span>\u2013<\/span> either for fun or for serious. To do a dip curtsey, f<\/span><\/span>rom a standing position, place your feet at a 90 degree angle with one foot\u2019s heel meeting the other foot\u2019s arch.\u00a0 Lower your head and bend your knees while holding your skirt (or pants) out for the bow.\u00a0 This is usually done as a quick dip.<\/p>\n

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Full Court Curtsey<\/h4>\n
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From a standing position, place one foot at a 90 degree angle behind the front foot, (the heel of the front foot should be touching the arch of the back foot).\u00a0 Then, lift the gown (or pants, if you\u2019re making a joke) and bring the back foot forward to a point directly in front of you.\u00a0 Swing the pointed foot around in a full circle and bend your knee until your shin is behind you on the ground.\u00a0 Lower your torso and bow your head.\u00a0 Do the movements in opposite order to stand up.<\/p>\n

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Embellishments.<\/h4>\n
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Some performers wave, throw kisses, make the thumbs-up sign, stand and smile, say \u201cthank you.\u201d\u00a0 All of these are acceptable embellishments to bowing, but I strongly urge performers to make sure to bow, at least once or twice.\u00a0 Throwing kisses or saying \u201cthanks\u201d shouldn\u2019t be a replacement for bowing.<\/p>\n
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Need some advice? We\u2019ve got you covered.<\/h3>\n