"This people have I formed for myself, they shall show forth my praise." — Isaiah 43:21
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The Importance of Facial Expression
compiled by Marci Salem
Question #1:
How important is the use of facial expression when presenting dance, drama or mime?
Question #2:
Can a person use "too much" expression or over do it, in their piece?
How do you know when it is too much?
Editor’s Note: Please keep in mind that these responses are merely personal opinions based on the individual’s observations, experience, and training. They are not Gospel or meant to be accusatory. On the contrary they help us to understand and appreciate each other’s talents and gifting. I pray that they may bring clarification, insight and learning to each of us.
Question #1:
How important is the use of facial expression when presenting dance, drama or mime?
I believe it is vitally important. In the performing arts, we are striving to communicate verbally (in drama) as well as non-verbally. We communicate through our body language, every part of the body. To render the face with a flat expression is just as bad as performing with a stiff arm or leg. The face communicates a greater variety of emotions and feelings than an appendage can. The face comes with the body let’s use it as a communication tool.
Another way to ask this question would be, When do you want to avoid facial expression in a performance? When do we see people devoid of facial expression in life? Usually when they are depressed or consciously trying to appear emotionally flat. If we want to portray that situation in our presentation, let's do it. Otherwise, examine what your face is communicating, and have it say the same thing as you are communicating with the rest of your body.
Wes Marsh
First let me make a sweeping statement then I'll explain it. The use of facial expression is of no importance at all. What is important is the expression of the heart. I don't mean to say that we shouldn't use the face, simply that we should be concerned more with the origin of the expression. The face is simply a reflector of the heart, if we perform thinking about our dinner or what we'll be doing after the show it doesn't matter what facial expression we use, it will be a lie. People can always tell if you’re lying. If your heart is right, your face (if you allow it to express fully) will be right.
Darren Stevenson
Our faces are potentially, one of the most readable books in our presentation, I believe. But, how do they come to reflect the love of Christ or the agony of some human emotion? I don't think it's done by the director saying "smile." [That really doesn't work, in my opinion.] If you agree that liturgical/praise/sacred dance/mime/drama is usually about a message, hopefully a very important message that the artist hopes to communicate, then consider that the messenger can possibly do more than carry the message...he/she might (and I've certainly seen this) embody or live the message for the viewer--packs a lot of power that way.
How can we do that? Be in prayer. Learn the material and "own" it. For me, one of the joys of dancing for the Lord, as compared with dancing for a secular company, is that I can own (personalize) what I'm presenting. With much of the secular material that I've tried to dance, I had to disconnect myself from the movements or I felt personally compromised. [Possibly I have no skill for acting.] It is a true joy for me to dance in and about something that I personally believe. Feeling joy, my face responds.
I think that the face is very important. The most important thing is not to hinder it from responding as our heart does to whatever we're presenting... whether song or dance or drama. If we can "get into" the message and sing along, as it were, with our whole being, our faces will be right there, participating and reflecting the meaning of the piece.
Different people experience things differently, so why should our faces be all the same? I think it's an awesome privilege to watch a group of actors or dancers or singers each taking in the message and swishing it around in their very own soul and then sending it back to the gathered watchers with the personalization of their own response to the message all swirled into the assigned/choreographed movements.
I feel that in most situations it is crucial for the artist to allow their facial expression to come through as a part of their own emotional response. This means that not all artists will respond in the same level of dynamic. In a really large setting where the audience is far removed from the individual artist it is still equally important because our ultimate audience is the trinity and not only do they see the outward expression but the inward heart attitude of the worshiper.
Joan O’Connell
As a performing artist and choreographer, I would tell anyone asking me this question that your face, neck, and head positioning and expression are part of technique. Like the muscles in your legs, arms, torso, etc., the face too has muscles that must also be communicating what the rest of the body is. As far as worship dance is concerned, I have seen a great deal of facial expression, in general, and I would actually advise people to allow their whole body to express what their face wants to say. Even the Martha Graham and Alvin Ailey technique instructors teach their students to express through every fiber of their bodies--face and all, so that the audience base gets a fully developed statement that is delivered with clarity and passion.
Bill Wade
I believe it is very important. I have seen videos of myself dancing with and without facial expression and "without" is definitely less effective. In the "without" videos, I look like I'm delivering a message I don't believe! God forbid!! The Bible says we are to reflect the Lord's glory. We are to be radiant; filled with His light. We are to shine like stars in the universe as we hold out the word of life. To me, this means using my face as well as my body.
Ruth Ann Mayer
I feel that in most situations it is crucial for the artist to allow their facial expression to come through as a part of their own emotional response. This means that not all artists will respond in the same of dynamic. In a really large setting where the audience is far removed from the individual artist, it is still equally important because our ultimate audience is the Trinity, and not only do they see the outward expression but the inward heart attitude of the worshiper.
Michael Cadle
I think facial expression is vital in worship dance, I do not know much about mime yet. Yes, I think it can be overdone, then it becomes funny and distracts from the purpose of worshiping God.
Frances West
Facial expression is a part of the overall dance, drama, or mime, and is VERY important. To be excellent in every area and yet have no, or bad, facial expression voids the whole presentation in my opinion.
Donna Martelli
I think that it is very important. The face is the part of the body that will be looked at the most. Michael Murnane always says, “If there's joy in your heart, notify your face!” I love that! Your face communicates the emotion of the dance, and I think if you have a face which doesn't express what you feel inside, then you have to work on it because dance, drama and mime are visual arts. I equally feel it's important for women to use make-up, so that their faces can be seen clearly while they dance (depending on the setting - theater, obviously requires more than just a regular church performance).
Janine Myers
Question #2:
Can a person use "too much" expression or over do it, in their piece?
How do you know when it is too much?
In theory, there is probably a point where too much expression is used. Though I can't remember seeing it, accept at the beauty pageants! They have the tendency to plaster this plastic "happy" expression on their faces that seems devoid of sincerity. In our performance, we can have that anger as well. If the facial expression appears "caricatured" or plastic, where it seems to have a personality other than our own, we have gone too far. The same goes for too little expression, see my response to the first question.
Wes Marsh
For dance, too much, to me, would be putting onto your face something you don't really experience about whatever you're presenting. That's not to say you can't have a bad day, or feel lousy and still dance meaningfully. But, if you've rehearsed, your body and your face know what the song/passage is about and if you take your current personal situation to the Lord in prayer, I believe that you can proceed with confidence that the Lord will communicate through your presentation. By the way, it seems that with acting and mime, one must put on other faces! That's part of the routine, right?
Joan O’Connell
So long as the response is real and not just a trained movement. Occasionally an inexperienced artist will act the part without out it being a genuine expression and quite often those looking on can tell.
Michael Cadle
Yes - a person can overdo it. I strive for sincerity and a genuine expression of worship that comes from the heart. Sometimes dancers try to force expression with disastrous results. (Flared nostrils is a personal favorite! God help the student in one of my classes who flares their nostrils!)
Ruth Ann Maye
Of course, "too much" expression can be used. I think that's as bad as not enough expression. Dance (including drama and mime, but I'll just refer to the arts as "dance" from here on) is a language and how it is communicated is extremely important. In verbal communication, your expression says as much, or more, than the words used. It is the same thing with dance. We must think about how to COMMUNICATE the message of the piece. Use of mirrors and feedback from other artists is helpful in this area also.
Donna Martelli
Yes, I know that in mime you can certainly 'overdo' facial expression making the emotion seem unnatural. This again has to be worked on using mirrors. If you are just dancing a joyful dance, it is easy enough to just show the joy on your face. In mime and drama you are acting a part which may not be how you feel, and therefore it's important to work on different facial expressions using a mirror to be sure you are communicating your message correctly.
Janine Myers
I think it is difficult to know. If in doubt, rehearse looking in a mirror. Or even better - show the piece to people you respect and ask for input.
Frances West
Absolutely. Over use of the face can read as being melo-dramatic and "acted," rather than real. If what is being expressed in the face is equal to, what the body as an entire unit is expressing, then the balance will work. Too much emphasis on the face will throw the image out of whack. Balance is everything; particularly in an imagistic art form such as dance. Let's not mistake exaggerated facial expression as "really feeling it." The audience often sees it as affectation. We must strive to communicate truth, not "drama."
Bill Wade
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