Introduction It is surprising for an individual to meet a famous person in the neighborhood or in a vacation resort, but how much more surprising it is for a person to get a job with a notable individual. I was shocked when as a new immigrant I got a job at The Anna Wyman School of Dance Arts and I was privileged to work with a Canadian choreographer, dancer and the Artistic Director, Anna Wyman. Through my work with her, I was able to explore the history of Canadian modern dance and to learn about my employer’s significant offerings to it. Wyman has made a great contribution to Canadian modern dance in the 70’s and 80’s with her dance company that was called- Anna Wyman Dance Theatre. Although, nowadays, we cannot admire her dance theatre anymore, the legacy resounds in her work as an artistic director, choreographer and teacher at The Anna Wyman School of Dance Arts. Dance Company History Since “dance in Canada has reflected the traditions of its immigrant cultures”, Anna Wyman with her Austrian dance roots has fit perfectly into the growing modern dance community when she immigrated to Canada in 1968 and soon settled in Vancouver (Wyman and Crabb). The mid- 1960’s was the a great time for Canadian modern dance according to The Canadian Encyclopedia when classical ballet and modern dance “contributed to a remarkable flowering of dance in Canada” (Wyman and Crabb). Wyman, with her strong roots in classical ballet and great interest in modern dance, began her dance troupe- Anna Wyman Dancers in 1971. In 1973, after ample performances at The Vancouver Art Gallery, the troupe was granted federal financial support which led Wyman to establish her dance company- Anna Wyman Dance Theatre (AWDT). AWDT performances were mostly b... ... middle of paper ... ...rk Inc.. Web. 1 June 2012. “Megan Nadain. Student Success Stories 2010” Anna Wyman. Ubertor. 22 Nov.2010. Web. 20 June 2012. Pepper, Kaija. “Anna Wyman.” The News Dance Collection Danse No.41, 1995: 5-7. Print. Scott, Michael. “Wyman dance troupe suspends performances: Sharp reduction in support from government cited.” Vancouver Sun 18 Oct. 1990, 4th ed.: B.8 Canadian Newsstand. Web. 7 June 2012. Stainsby, Mia. “Women of distinction.” Vancouver Sun 20 May 2000, final ed.: B.1. Canadian Newsstand. Web. 7 June 2012. “Star Walk. Dance.” BC Entertainment Hall of Fame. ArtistManager.Net. Web. 1 June 2012. Wyman, Max. “Anna Wyman Dance Theatre.” Canadian Encyclopedia Online. Historica Foundation of Canada, 2012. Web. 1 June 2012. Wyman, Max, and Crabb, Michael. “Dance History.” Canadian Encyclopedia Online. Historica Foundation of Canada, 2012. Web. 20 June 2012.
Ballet has been an art form since the late fifteenth century, but society did not truly see the impact of ballet until the nineteenth century. Modern day thinkers possess the idea that ballet began with tutus and pointe shoes, but it wasn’t until the nineteenth century that this opinion was observed. Ballet has come a long way. It has survived the turmoil of many wars and has changed itself by accepting new ideas and impressing the audience with its unique stylistic views.
After watching the videos most made me feel same as in our book Bill T. Jones says, “Make something beautiful…Make something that comes honestly from you. Dare to fail.” That is exactly ho I felt after watching most of the videos. They were full of emotions and contact. The movements were very touchy feely and emotional with a story to tell; especially, the one called “What is contact improvisation?” I did reminded me of some of the previous choreographies we watched. I most of the videos there was a lots of ballet movements except the “Rennie Harris Puremovement │ Jacob 's Pillow Dance Festival 2009," which I actually enjoyed the most. I also did see some jazz, and musical, but not tap. If I look at previous video from Bob Fosse and his “Sweet Charity”, I don’t really see any connection between the videos we have see in this chapter.
Katherine Dunham died on May 21, 2006. (Katherine) “As artist, educator, anthropologist, and activist, Katherine Dunham transformed the field of the twentieth-century dance” (Das
Dance is an ever evolving form of art; in much the same way that one can categorize and differentiate between eras and styles of architecture one can also do so with dance. These eras at times have sharp delineations separating them from their antecedents, other times the distinction is far more subtle. Traditional forms of dance were challenged by choreographers attempting to expand the breadth and increase the depth of performance; preeminent among such visionaries was Seattle born dancer and choreographer Mark Morris. Mark Morris' began as one of the millions of hopeful individuals attempting to simply make a career in dance; he not only succeeded but managed to have a lasting effect on the entire landscape of dance.
In the dance world a staggering number of choreographers have made a lasting impact on the way dance is seen to its audience. Alonzo King’s exceptional oeuvre of work includes him in this great history of significant choreographers. He not only created the link between modern and ballet in the twentieth century, but he bridged the ...
As the first African-American to create a multicultural, international concert dance company, Alvin Ailey’s dance company has been dubbed the “cultural ambassador of the world” (Gorman 36). Through his Alvin Ailey Dance Company, he addressed the racism and injustice faced by ethnic minorities across the globe. Ailey clearly revolutionized African American participation in 20th century concert dance as well as revived interest in modern dance. As an extremely talented dancer and choreographer, Ailey’s success is attributed to his dedication and passion for expression through dance, but what is often overlooked is his resilience to the hardships he faced, the mentors he had, and the opportunities
Throughout the years, America has pursued the performing arts in a large variety of ways. Theatre plays a dramatic and major role in the arts of our society today, and it takes great effort in all aspects. Musical Theatre, specifically, involves a concentration and strength in dance, acting, and singing. This is the base that Musical Theatre is built upon. For my Senior Project, I helped choreograph multiple scenes in a community musical “Thoroughly Modern Millie”. Choreography is a way of expressing oneself, but it has not always been thought of for that purpose. Agnes de Mille’s expressive talent has drastically affected how people see choreography today. Agnes de Mille’s influence in the world of dance has left a lasting impact in the Performing Arts Department, and her revolutionary works are still known today for their wit, lyricism, emotion, and charm.
Ramsay, B. (2000). Dance theory, sociology, and aesthetics. Dance Research Journal, 32(1), 125-131. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/1478286
Li’s passion for ballet shows on and off stage through his arabesques, flexibility, fouettés, grande jeté and pirouettes that were nothing less than perfection. I understood that becoming a dancer requires commitment, passion and having a great memory as there’s many moves, routines and ballet terms that you need to learn. When I was performing on stage, I felt free and that I could own the stage as it felt like it was my second home. I also felt complete within myself just as Li felt. To perform on stage, you need to be light and graceful along with connecting to the music using precise steps, poses and formal gestures. The film used dance, music, scenery, and costumes to portray a story characterised by Li’s dance. Classical ballet dancers require the utmost grace and I’ve found that you also need a tremendous level of concentration and memory. This portrays when his choreographer Ben Stevenson asked Li Cunxin to replace the main male role due to an injury on the day of the performance to memorise new dances and perform them in front of an enormous crowd. Many of my performances have been in a group where we all need to be in sync and work together. This film highlighted that in order to become a professional ballet dancer, you have to prepare to work extremely hard no matter how gruelling the schedule is in order to
At the time, ballet was only gaining a general Canadian audience until the 1930’s, where it truly embarked (Crabb, Ballet). Due to Karen Kain’s success, it raised the awareness of the National Ballet of Canada, and gave others a new perspective of dance being that of a lifestyle and a serious career path. In her autobiography, A Movement Never Lies, she states; “For Michelangelo, the human body was an instrument for the soul, the noble means by which we reach towards God... To understand the ancient belief that the true artist is possessed by some power, some spirit.” (Kain) Now as an admirable icon among many has used this to her advantage, she is the founder of the Dancer Transition Resource Centre, helping aspiring dancers transition into their careers more smoothly.
Ostlere, Hilary. “Taming The Musical.” Dance Magazine 73.12 (1999): 84. Expanded Academic ASAP. Westfield State College Library, MA. 15 April 2005.
... social dance. Many people in today’s society enjoy social; dancing. Chapter eleven dance concert, properly planning and establishing a dance concert is of the utmost importance. The partnership with the lighting designer usually takes priority over all other factors. One of the most important issues concerning customers has to do with mobility. The dancer must be able to move comfortably in the costume. The task of producing a dance concert is an overwhelming and tiring one. Chapter twelve dance in education and career in dance, many dance educators present the argument that teaching and learning dance as an art form is obviously absent from the American student education. There has always been and always will be people who have a love, desire, and passion to instruct and learn the art of dance, will ensure an important place for dance in higher education.
Ballroom dancing in New York gives underprivileged children the opportunity to be exposed to the arts, which is usually a program that is cut from low-income schools. This program is a part of a fine arts curriculum with a focus on movement/dancing. A fine art curriculum approach integrates the different aspect of the arts to enhance the learning experiences of the students (Agrelo, 2005; “Dancing Classrooms- Mission”, 2015; Gorski
The fine art of modern dance is like many other fields in that it is based on the actions and deeds of those who were pioneers in the field. These pioneers helped to mold modern dance into what it is today. Of the many people who are partially responsible for this accomplishment is Isadora Duncan. Duncan, often referred to as the “mother of modern dance,” inspired many other dancers to the extent that the art of dance would not be the same today without her many contributions.
Steve Paxton: Speaking of Dance – Conversations with Contemporary Masters of American Modern Dance. Academic Internet Video. Directed by Douglas Rosenberg. Oregon: Alexander Street Press, 1996.