I have always been interested in dance and I find the different techniques that come with each style fascinating. One thing I have learned that amazes me about tap is that artist created their own style and they find a niche that allows them to stand out from the rest. Paul Draper was definitely one of a kind and he thought outside of the box to create a style of his own. His style was unique because usually tap music is jazzy and upbeat, he took two different types of dance and merged them together. Using classical music and ballet techniques he changed the way people viewed tap, he also changed the mood and the sound. By this I mean when you usually watch a tap performance, you listen to the rhythm of the taps and music, but because Draper …show more content…
Draper’s personality was kind, determined, curious and creative. As an artist his journey was similar to many other dancers because most of them picked up steps from their friends and built on that. Draper’s journey different because he went to School of American Ballet , which most tap dancers did not do but he was also blacklisted which stunted not only his personal career but also his career with his partner Larry Adler. I think that the dance that he choreography was very interesting, it was graceful yet rhythmic at the sametime. I liked how each section of the dance was different, there was ballet, jazz, swing, a part that was without music and one that focused on speed. The Speed part is something I one day want to be able to do. Paul Draper made a comment about believing that “people should not be praised for doing something in spite of your age and if you are going to do it, then do it”. This stood out to me because in our society we put a lot of age restrictions on things,whether it's a job or activity as a society we have the tendency to say someone is too young or too old to do something. Personally I believe restrictions should be based off of capability and not age. This advice is also important to me because I stopped going to dance school at a young age and as I got older I always wanted to start back up
“I did lead an emotional and even a spiritual life and dancing I learned how to rid myself of my demons as a performer and find ecstasy.” (Page, 142, dance masters) Grossman loved Pauls work and he felt as if he was born to do them. Paul and Grossman were very close as Grossman said in an interview that he became family in a sense when he was in the company. The experience of the 10 years with Paul Taylor greatly influenced Grossman’s profession development to the extent that he left it as a seasoned performer.
Abstract: Comparing the tap dancing of tap stars Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson and Savion Glover in the two Hollywood films Stormy Weather (1943) by Andrew Stone and Bamboozled (2000) by Spike Lee, calls for the analysis of each film’s historical context. There are race issues deeply embedded either in the political and social situation at the time the film was made, as is the case with Stormy Weather, or in the narrative of the film, as with Bamboozled. This article pro- poses that the markers for the evolution of tap have been closely aligned with the progress of African Americans in this country.
In “Stop Worrying About Guns in the Classroom. They’re Already here.” the author, Erik Gilbert, argues in favor of the law allowing the concealed carry of firearms in college campuses. Gilbert claims that it’s futile to be “worried by the prospect of having guns in [the] classroom” because he believes that even before the bill was passed, some students and faculty were already carrying firearms to campus (Gilbert). Furthermore, he insinuates that despite the presence of firearms, there were no incidents of student or faculty causing harm. To support his argument, the author provides incidents which have occurred over the last decade at his campus, such as accidental discharge of guns in dorms, firearms in student’s vehicles, and one faculty member who was discovered to be in possession of a gun in an on-campus facility. Considering these incidents and previous knowledge of “prevailing regional attitudes towards guns”, the author assumes that significant numbers of students, and possibly faculty, bring guns on campus regularly (Gilbert). As for those who are afraid due to the new law, he declares to them that firearm permit-holders are not dangerous by comparing the rate of their crimes to that of police officers. He also reasons that permit holders need to be at least 21 to qualify—claiming that the more mature students qualify—and have background checks performed.
Renowned choreographer Alonzo King is the Balanchine of a new style of dance, his style of dance, a style shying away from the expected and catapulting its audience into a state of wonderment. Alonzo King uses sharp lines intertwined with severe movements, all engaging a classical technique in order to create movements, unseen in the dance world. King’s impressive résumé includes having trained with a number of world-renowned ballet companies, and setting works on an even more substantial number of companies, along with establishing his own celebrated company: Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet in San Francisco, California. Alonzo King began dancing at a young age in Santa Barbara, California. He continued his training in New York at the Harkness School of Ballet, Alvin Ailey Dance School, and then the American Ballet Theatre School and School of American Ballet as a scholarship student.
Martha Graham following Mary Wigman choreographed to the “essentialized” body through using the breath, contractions, human emotion, and so on. Martha Graham believed the pulsation of life came from the breath (6). This breath represented the soul. Graham’s breath is controlled by the contraction and release upon which her choreography was based. Graham also went on to state, “Art is eternal for it reveals the inner landscape of a man” (4). Dancing from the inside of your soul out is what Graham wanted her dancers to do. In own opinion e access our soul through surrendering to the divine power of God, which starts by connecting to our breath. Isadora Duncan danced with a connectedness of her body and soul completely inspired by nature. Graham
Bob Fosse was born June 23, 1927, and died September 23, 1987. Born in Chicago USA. (Wikipedia, 2016, para.1) He grew up he had six siblings and had Norwegian and Irish parents. He was an American choreographer in musical theatre as well as a director, film director, screen writer, and actor. He has won the most Tonys ever for his choreography with eight Tony awards. Fosse's choreography changed how society saw dancing on film and stage with his style being nothing like anything anyone had ever seen before. His style was unique and edgy with unusual arm movements, poses, and gesture. "I thank god that I wasn't born perfect." Said Fosse. (Brainy Quote,
Analyzing each personal dancer I am detailing the differences of each artist dance styles first starting with, Maud Allen, dance style used impressionism emotions through her movement at the time of her performance telling the story based on her movements and own emotions (Aloff). Based on feelings within that depicted the way she moved within the performance and displayed to the audience watching. Maud Allen was famous for the dance of Salome a story told in biblical text about the beheading of john the Baptist a prophet, captured by Herod because he denounced the right to marry his wife’s name Herodias due to being his half-brothers
Merce Cunningham was known as a “leader of the American avant-garde whose constant innovation and artistic collaborations expanded the frontiers not only of dance, but also of contemporary visual and performing arts”. His passion and drive to succeed and push boundaries of dance and technology helped him throughout his career and in the building of his own dance establishment, the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. He also worked closely with the composer John Cage, where together they created different, new music. He was one of the most daring choreographers of his time regarding the exploration of technology in dance. He had begun to look into dance film in the 70’s, and further started to choreograph new dances using a computer program named ‘Dance Forms’. He also further created a webcast series where the public were able to view his teaching in the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, and could essentially sit in on the rehearsals
First of all, Gene Kelly was perseverant. Kelly was bullied by other students when he was growing up about dancing, but he kept dancing and became a professional dancer. He also choreographed a dance number in the 40's that integrated black and white dancers. In the 40's, African-American people were not at all treated with equality. Even though the number was cut out in many Southern
In the 1920s, many grand events were experienced by the population. A short time before the start of the Great Depression, this decade was one of prohibition, lavish parties, flappers; and also of the Great Migration. The Great Migration was a time period from 1917 to 1970, during which much of the African American population moved from the southern states, to more urbanized northern communities (Great Migration). While many relocated to the Detroit area because of the booming automotive industries like Ford, some moved to other metropolitan areas such as Chicago, Illinois, and New York City. The surge of the Great Migration helped to initiate what is now known as the Harlem Renaissance. The Harlem Renaissance was a period of great accomplishments for the African American community; from music, to art and poetry, and even to dance. This era was also a time during which the birth of racial equality happened. The Savoy Ballroom, located in the heart of the Harlem district, was the birth place of the lindy-hop and the quintessential swing movement, thus making it a crucial part of the Harlem Renaissance, as well as the progression of dance even to this day (Swinging at the Savoy). This
Famous choreographer George Balanchine once said, “He is the most interesting, the most inventive, the most elegant dancer of our times” and noted dancer Rudolph Nureyev also said, “He was not just the best ballroom dancer, or tap dancer, he was simply the greatest, most imaginative, dancer of our time.” These famous dancers were referring to Fred Astaire, who has been known as one of the greatest dancers of all time. His light, artistic joyful style of dancing has impacted dance in an extremely unique way. Astaire used techniques in films as well as in dance that have shaped society. Astaire was mostly prominent throughout the 1930s during the Great Depression. Everywhere, Americans were looking for some joy in their lives, and Astaire was able to give them hope in a period of history that lacked optimism. Fred Astaire’s carefree dance movement style and techniques, specifically in the films Swing Time and The Gay Divorcee, help America through the Great Depression and signifies the importance of art in this time period.
I had the pleasure of being in Western Kentucky University Dance Department’s concert, An Evening of Dance. The performance took place on April 29th through May 2nd in Russel Miller Theatre. It consisted of many works from faculty and guest artists. I felt like the concert was a success and that the choreography was all unique in its own way. I enjoyed the pieces that I performed, and the ones that my fellow company members were in. Through the analysis of “Petrichor”, I found that each production and chorographic element plays a large part in the successful outcome of a dance and emotional responses can be evoked by the simplest ideas.
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.
The intricate and delicate choreography of Slip was daunting, yet relatable. Phillip Chbeeb and Renee Kester created the concept and the choreography and performed the dance beautifully. Everything about the setting, the music of choice and the moves blended ever so perfectly. From the beginning when they made contact with each other through their hands to the very end when he caressed her face very lightly and their eyes met, each part of the choreography was felt through the viewer.
Even though dance first originated back in the 20th century when dancer Isadora Duncan broke away from the strict rules of ballet to create her own more natural form of dance. Through time and experimentation, many genres of dance has surfaced - whether from oppression or for theatrical purposes, each one has captured the eyes of it 's audience. From flashy, sequined clothes to light and flowy dresses; each form of dance has it 's own representation. As well as representation, each genre of dance has powerful emotion in it. These popular forms of dance can be classified into three categories: the pounding and rhythmic beats of Hip-hop, the powerful meanings of modern dance, and the wonderful elegance of ballet, the most thought-out.Everyone has watched in amazement as their high school dance