Chicago Dance Critique I attended the Chicago musical performance on September 13th at 2pm at the Toland Theatre. My initial expectations for this particular performance were relatively low as this was not a professional musical performed by professional actors and dancers. However, the opening scene and first musical number tremendously exceeded by low expectations. The quick rhythm of the majority of the dance numbers, unique choreography, and excellent execution of all dance numbers with immense precision truly impressed me. Overall, the choreography of each dance number incorporated acting, dancing, and singing as the choreography enhanced each scene by making the story more understandable and created an outlet to express the feelings …show more content…
The highlight of this number was Billy, the layer, impersonating a puppet master while Roxie impersonated the puppet. Billy held Roxie as a puppet, by the back of Roxie’s shirt, and Roxie was settled on his lap continuingly thrashing around her head, arms, and legs. In this scene, Roxie seemed rather inhuman as she continued to shake and thrash along the entire song. While Billy and Roxie performed their routine at the center of the stage, the remainder of the dancers performed a routine in the background in complete unison. These movements were very slight and settle; therefore they were much easier to complete in perfect sync. The choreography of this song was very well thought out as it displayed the entire situation of the scene: Billy was completely in control of Roxie. Additionally, the choreography of this dance was unique because it was unusual. Roxie’s strange movements and rather uncontrollable movements displayed that the key to this particular choreography was within its …show more content…
This number was very upbeat and included some jazz music. The full cast of Chicago performed this dance number and the stage was full and lively with much to watch and analyze. A small portion of this dance was a tap dance. The tap dance was incorporated into the overall dance effortlessly and took part in only a small portion of the overall dance number. In the dance, Billy is the star while the rest of the cast is his backup dancers. During one portion of the dance, a circle was formed around Billy and the dancers in the circle rotated slowly around the circle moving their hands and feet in complete sync. This specific dance truly highlighted Billy and his confidence as well as his star-like qualities. The dance number had a quick rhythm; therefore the difficulty of this dance was high as the actors had to swiftly perform the dance steps. The quicker the rhythm of the dance, the more difficult it is for the dancers to complete the steps with precision and in complete sync. Additionally, within the circle surrounding Billy, the dancers turned right and continually moved in that direction. This type of turn performed in a circle is much more difficult to execute compared to a turn executed in a straight
University of Northern Iowa Dance Marathon is an organization that raises money for the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital and the Children’s Miracle Network. The organization aims to provide emotional and financial support for families with children facing life threatening illnesses by raising money for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and organizing events that increase student and community awareness. This money then is put towards things like research, education, equipment and pediatric ward enhancements so the children and families can feel a little more comfortable during their stay at the hospital. The big event was on March 1, 2014, but the organization completes events throughout the year to fundraise as much money as possible for the Miracle Network kiddos, like a 5k color run on campus, trick-or-treating for kids who can’t, and selling grilled cheese at midnight during homecoming celebrations.
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.
The theatres in Chicago have a very vast and interesting history. Starting in the 1920’s, it has been around for a long time. Stephen Schwartz once said “I've heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason bringing something we must learn and we are led to those who help us most to grow if we let them and we help them in return”(goodreads.com). Broadway can help teach people morales. Broadway is one of the most exciting parts of downtown Chicago. Broadway in Chicago is undoubtedly less recognized then what it should be due to its talent and national status.
On Saturday, December 21 at 8:00 p.m., I saw the play Wicked in Chicago at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts with my family. I had always heard how spectacular the play was. My parents even saw it on Broadway in New York years ago and absolutely loved it and wouldn’t stop talking about it. Well let me tell you, describing Wicked as being a spectacular show is dead on, maybe even an understatement. Wicked was by far one of the best plays I’ve ever seen! Between the actors, lighting, scenery, and music, it was an amazing show and grabbed your attention at all times. I would highly recommend seeing this phenomenal production to all ages!
...y conveyed a story based on the musical components. Through, pitch, duration, tempo, timbre, dynamics, tecture, rests, structure and mood at different parts, Harlem Shake conveyed a desensitized depiction of gang warfare in the rough Harlem district of New York during the 1920s. Perhaps the lack of emotion tries to convey a darker message. Indeed, an emotion that accepts tragedy and evil as reality because it has always been present. Yet, instead of ignoring the evil, acknowledging it and finding the positive out of it may help deal with the issue: Dancing.
The choreography kept things interesting and the dances in a musical can make or break the performance. Overall, Cherie and Abby did an amazing job directing each person to have a place among a crowded stage. Last but not least, the costumes! This play was set in the 1890s, meaning it is very important to have correlating costumes so the audience can be aware of what time period they are in.
The dancers begin in unison in a large clump. They dance together with slow movements; reaching up with their arms straight and palms open. It is to be noted that when they stretch their arms up, they tilt their head and look up as well. Throughout the piece the dancers repeat this movement, which represents reaching and praying to God. The dancers are constantly reaching up, embodying their despair and their yearning for help. As the dance progresses, the dancers repeatedly break out of the clump in the center and do different movements and their own sequences. After this, they always go back to their clump and do synchronized movement. Their constant breaking away from the group symbolizes their continual want to be free, as well as their persistency. On the other hand, their constant going back to the group shows how African-Americans will always be joined together by their culture, prayer, and hardships. Additionally during the piece, multiple dancers will run up to another dancer and jump or hold onto them, and then they do a couple of movements together. This shows how they are reliant and dependent on each other, and how they need each other throughout their suffering. Lastly, Much of the movement in this section possesses the downward energy characteristic of African dance, which symbolizes a connection to the earth. The choices Ailey made choreographically communicates all
The production had many elements which for the most part formed a coalition to further the plot. The characters, the three part scenery and costumes represented well the period of time these people were going through. As far as the performers entering and exiting the stage, it could have been more organized. There were a few times when the performers exited at the wrong times or it seemed so due to the echo of the music. At certain moments the music was slightly loud and drowned the performers. Many of the songs dragged on, so the pacing could have been more effectively executed. Though the music was off at times, the director's decision to have most of the songs performed center sage was a wise one. Also the implementation of actual white characters that were competent in their roles came as a great surprise to the audience and heightened the realism.
As in all genres, the musicals have had its share of failures. Some worthy dramas have been pressed into service and musicalized and sometimes butchered in the process, and audiences have had to watch a fine play diluted into a mediocre musical. But the successes have been many and spectacular and they have left a long lasting effect on the American art and culture.
Martha Graham said, “Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are great because of their passion.” No matter what one’s color is or what one looks like, anyone can dance. When people hear their favorite songs on the radio, they like to get up and dance to it. Dance is a form of art that involves movement and music. With a group of people, different patterns and techniques can be formed, that one person cannot perform alone. As a group, it can make each dance step look precise and uniform and there are ways to make an individual stand out. By forming a dance crew, one can build strong friendships and it can feel as if their crew is a second family. MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew creates a cultural impact on society because it proves that people of different race, different region, and different gender can all compete for the same prize.
fun part of Ghost Dances as we are shown to the male’s situation as he
to make the dance seem real and magical, at the same time. It had a
Dance is a part of every culture. Whether it is the fire dances of the native Hawaiians, or the Tango from Spain, dance is a part of every culture. This event is not an event I would usually attend. I am not into art of any kind except music. At first, there were two reasons I went to this performance.
“Dance, the art of precise, expressive, and graceful human movement, traditionally, but not necessarily, performed in accord with musical accompaniment. Dancing developed as a natural expression of united feeling and action.”
On the night of the DancePlus performance, I saw numerous little performances. There were six of them in total and the one I had most reactions and favors to is the last one of the first half, which is called Swampin. It was choreographed by John Evans with additional material by Oluwadamilare Ayoride, Jennifer Payan and surprisingly, the dancers. Usually what I would expect from a piece of dance performance is choreographers dominating the process of being creative on the grounds o f coming up dance moves. However, this time, it is nice to see how the dancer actually participating first hand in the creating process of the whole performance which would definitely benefit the quality of the dance, since the dancers would their own choreography