There are a handful of YouTube channels that highlight the videos taken of performances at dance competitions around the world. Young dancers can send in their competition videos – usually if they win a prize of some sort or place in the top 3 – for everyone to see. “Carmodance” and “competitiondance” are two of the bigger channels.
Just over a week ago, competitiondance posted a solo from a 14-year-old named Naomi Bowen who placed 2nd overall in the “Teen Open Solo” category at the Hall Of Fame competition in Macomb, Michigan in 2019.
The song she chose for her beautiful modern dance performance is “Above, Below” (Alex Somers Remix) by Jónsi. A dance/electronica song from the 2018 album Liminal.
Bowen attends the Joanne Chapman School Of Dance and has placed highly in many competitions, even winning dance scholarships in the process. She has multiple videos on YouTube from her award-winning performances.
She generally competes in the “open” category, in which there are fewer restrictions on how one can and cannot earn points. According to DanceEvolution: “It incorporates the technical elements of classical ballet with the freedom, fluidity, expressiveness and airier aspects of jazz, as well as contemporary and modern dance. This style is based on choreography and self-interpretation of the music.”
All of that is on display in her 2019 performance.
Beginning in a standing position, back turned to the audience, she immediately tips herself back to the floor before showing off more of the kind of strength and flexibility most of us will never know (or at least be willing to train for).
For anyone who doesn’t appreciate dance as a highly athletic activity, this is a great video to watch because between her body control, grace, and ab and arm strength, there’s no denying that she’s just as – if not more – athletic than anyone playing high school sports.
Bowen in a phenomenal dancer whose fast and sharp movements followed by slow stretches and holds shake the viewer out of their complacency and force them to watch more closely to see what might be next.
And the choreography is so well-matched with the music that it’s almost as if it’s being transmitted through her body.
It’s hard to imagine how many years (and hours a day) it takes to become this good but the grace she exudes throughout suggests that part of her talent is innate.
In just brown pants and a black sports bra and with none of the shine and sparkle that comes with so many other dance routines we’ve seen, the focus is on her and her choreography alone. And there’s no room for mistakes here. Each step requires precision and control and stepping out of line would be glaringly obvious.
Some of Bowen’s performance borders on the gymnastic and her costume shows off the muscle tone of someone who does more than just dance training.
As she lowers herself to the floor backward once again to finish off her performance, we hear more of the cheering that is audible throughout the performance – it’s clear that she has a few fans in the crowd. And we can see why – Naomi Bowen strikes us as a seriously promising dancer – hopefully one with a long career ahead of her.
Be sure to scroll down below to see her mesmerizing performance.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
