Charlotte Plehn Dance Analysis Paper Singing in the Rain Upon viewing the performance here at UWL titled, “Singing in the Rain,” I was shown a variety of different styles of dance that were discussed during class. This production consisted of many different performers and movements. These movements ranged from tap dancing to line dancing. While there was a variety of different dancing styles, they all had the same common elements of dance. These elements were shown through body, energy, action, time and space. For instance, the dancers in the beginning were using their bodies to show that they were confident. The character’s head was up, chest out and back arched, as they moved to show their feelings. Likewise, the energy aspect of the dancing was shown through the explosiveness of the movements. The dancers were observed to be full of energy which showed through their movements and dancing. Every movement was sharp and clean. Furthermore, the action portion of the basic dance elements was seen through the dancer’s basic movements that turned into dancing. For example, in one scene, the actor jumped off the table and broke into a little skip-glide dancing movement. The time aspect of dancing was shown through their …show more content…
They danced back and forth and then came together at the end to wrap it all up. I noticed that this was an aspect of good dance technique, partnering. They used each other as partners to create a story and build off of each other’s last movements. While it was apparent that one dancer clearly had better personal tap dance technique, what made it work as a whole was their joint ability to come together and trust each other to dance the same level as the other. This created a performance that was easy for the audience to watch, despite clearly having one dancer be better at tap dancing than the
When the second quarter ended, they waited while technicians set up the stage and sound props. This soon ended and Cassi and the other performers stepped onto the field in front of thousands. Cassi’s nerves switched into excitement as she looked at the crowd. It was sunny and beautiful and she loved to perform. This kind of performance, dancing, was what she was good at.
When you are dancing, there are many things you can channel; emotions, memories, people, experiences, stories, the list goes on and on. These properties can be portrayed through movements, facial expressions, and music. Dancing can also portray conflict; such as the conflict between Ponyboy Curtis and Darry Curtis in S.E. Hinton’s beloved novel, The Outsiders. In our dance piece, titled, Hard to See, both the music and movements work in harmony to illustrate Darry and Ponyboy’s maturing relationship.
This was in line with the societal idea of “playing” and finding ways to experiment with norms or popular beliefs. To prevent conforming to the pre-established rules of dance, Tharp tested the limitations and experimented with a range of new possibilities such as combining genres and creating pieces with diverse sets of
The Alvin Ailey modern dance company is known internationally for their works and dancers but how they began is a very interesting story. The company formed in 1958 and just two years later one of the most memorable and notable performances of the company was created, “.Revelations”. Although Alvin Ailey was the creator and director of this company, Ailey’s style and the technique he used and that the company still uses stems from Lester Horton. Horton was a pivotal teacher for Ailey and inspired him to create a company and carry on this technique from Horton. This paper will illustrate the beginning influence Horton had on Ailey and how the company has grown overtime.
The dance movements such as turning, jumping across large distances, muscle contraction and relaxation, and expressive hand movements all indicated the passion he has for dance. The Moreover, the way he staged the theater was proficient and beautiful that caught the eyes of audiences. The animal quality of movements in Blue Suite drew an instant success in Ailey’s
Through hours of rehearsals and performances, I repeatedly noticed the similarities between dance styles. As a result, when I dance, I am able to merge my two cultures. I no longer feel torn. Today, I am confident in my identity as a Sri Lankan-American dancer, who is often mistaken for an
Tap dance is a genre of dance when metal plates are fitted to the bottom of heels and when hit on a hard surface, a loud or soft sound, depending on the strength, can be made; these shoes are made to produce audible beats by rhythmically striking the floor. (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2018) Tap dance originated in the United States dating back to the 1800’s- 20th century, this style of dance was inspired from the African and Scottish dances; ever since then tap dance has been evolving into a more intricate and individual style of dance. Tap dance has now become a popular expression of dance; it is performed live and is also aired on TV and the internet. Tap Dogs and Hot Shoe Shuffle are a popular example of tap dance due to their distinct style.
In her article, Embodying Difference, Jane Desmond argues that dance offers important insights into the ways moving bodies articulate cultural meanings and social identities. In other words, she explains the importance of studying the body’s movement as a way of understanding culture and society. She has two main arguments. First, she argues for the importance of the continually changing relational constitutions of cultural forms. Desmond further explains that the key to shedding light on the unequal distribution of power and goods that shape social relations are the concepts of cultural resistance, appropriation, and cultural imperialism (49).
A local Northwest Coast dance company, Dancers of Damelahamid, will facilitate day three (Dancers of Damelahamid, 2012). It will take place inside the school’s gym, where they will demonstrate the one of their dances and song for the students. After the performance, the members of Dancers of Damelahamid will educate the students on what the importance of dance is for them, the history of specific dances, as well as the symbolism behind the specific moves they had performed. Indigenous cultures use their varieties of dance to convey different emotions and stories, they use them to connect themselves to their community, nature and spirituality. These dances are more than just movements, they are an expression of their culture, a projection of their hardships and what they have been through in their
To dance is to be knowledgeable about the stories of the ancestral heroes. Dancing, unlike painting and singing, is learnt at an early age. This allows large groups of people to demonstrate their clan rights in front of an audience. Dance is also seen as an occasion to entertain and to be entertained and through the work of dance to show their love for families and kin. It is for this reason that dance may be performed at the end of every day in some communities.
Mambo Girl (1957), a movie musical, follows Kailing, a talented young woman widely admired for her singing and dancing capabilities, as she searches for acceptance after learning the truth about her background. Shall We Dansu? (1996) follows Mr. Sugiyama, a Japanese accountant who goes on a secretive and intimate journey into the world of ballroom dance. Both Mambo Girl and Shall We Dansu? emphasize the close relationship between intimacy and Latin dance by linking Kailing and Mr. Sugiyama’s manners of dancing Latin to the emotional connection each has with other characters.
Within this dance report I will discuss and evaluate the changes of jazz Dance from when it first originated to how and what the style has changed to in current day. I will then discuss three different practitioners and include reference to the musical accompaniment which they then used for their work/choreography; how their approaches to jazz dance varied, and why it has now influenced jazz dance today. The three practitioners I will discuss will be: Bob Fosse, Mia Michaels and Jack Cole. These three practitioners all have different approaches and ideas as to what jazz dance means/meant to them. Jazz dance first originated in the late 1800s to the mid-1900s, it was influenced by African American vernacular dance and has adapted and changed
5. How has Australian Dance Theatre changed as a company since its foundation in 1965? Australian Dance Theatre, established in 1965 by Elizabeth Cameron Dalman, is the longest standing contemporary dance company in Australia, recently celebrating 50 years. Whilst the company has created a remarkable 50 years of innovative and original work, many state that the concepts and ideas have vastly changed from the company Dalman established. Over the last five decades, Australian Dance Theatre has continued to develop, with the evolution of six individual artistic directors, who produced work in their distinct style, developing unique aesthetics.
Choreographer Alvin Ailey expresses the story of the labored, broken, yet courageous black woman, though lengthy arm extensions and torso contractions that are combined with his signature style of ballet, modern dance, and African technique. Alvin Ailey trained dancers have a way of dancing bigger than the audience could ever imagine by embodying the real life struggles Alvin himself witnessed This type of character outpouring births a spiritual intimacy or soul connection between dancer and choreography and finally audience and dancer. A dance genius in his own right, Alvin Ailey was born on January 5, 1931 in a small town in Texas. His 17-year-old mother would soon know the struggles of being a single mother in the segregated south just months after Alvin was born.
The word “ballet” brings to mind words such as “grace” or “beauty” when heard by many people. The definition itself states that it is a form of dance that uses precise steps and light, graceful motions. This definition was in the minds of those who attended the Théâtre des Champs-Élysèes in May 1913, but rather they were greeted with the complete opposite. When Igor Stravinsky’s ballet Rite of Spring opened, the audience was greeted with swift, chaotic music that quickly became a whirlwind of sound. The music softened and the curtains opened to a primitive dance, causing mass hysteria throughout the theatre.