I decided to write this paper on the documentary film by director Marilyn Agrelo titled Mad Hot Ballroom. This film is about a ballroom dance program in the New York City public school system for fifth grade students and pays particular attention to three schools in the neighborhoods of Tribeca, Bensonhurst, and Washington Heights. In this program the students are taught several dance styles that include: tango, foxtrot, swing, rumba, and merengue over a ten week period to prepare for an opportunity to compete in a citywide competition. Over the ten weeks we not only see that their dancing is culminated, but also their personal growth.
One of the most endearing aspects of this film is that the bulk of it is told from the participants perspectives. The director takes us through the competition showing classroom footage interspersed with the children’s musing on life that never cease to amuse and warm the hearts of the audience. While the children are transformed from shy and sometimes awkward kids into dancers, learning the intricacies of ballroom dancing, they also learn a lot of other life lessons. Most importantly learn respect. It is stated in the film that this program has shifted several kids who were once “troublemakers” into better students and rule followers. Through this
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program, they are transformed into “ladies and gentlemen” by learning to not only respect themselves, but others as well. The most important lesson this documentary gives, in my opinion, is that it provides an eye-opening view of the cultural diversity in the New York City schools.
It’s so important that we realize that no matter how different we look or what country we may have come from, that we are really all very similar. These kids, and at times their parents, tell us what it is like to grow up in NYC and they do so with an unexpected maturity and grace. In their candid conversations amongst themselves and/or towards the camera they reveal their true selves with both innocence and wisdom. It’s amazing to see the transformation and almost impossible not to fall in love with each one of the
kids. My favorite part of the film is the section when the director parallels the teachers and students dancing. This section shows a summation of what was learned: eye contact, smiling, being on time with the music, the steps and an undeniable sense of community. The audience gets to see the results of the process and how the children have become, in a sense, miniature pros. More importantly, it shows the educators loving what they do and how they take that love and share it with their students. As both a parent and a student, it is very important to have educators involved that love what they do. If you don’t love what you do, it shows. No one feels that more than a child. Mad Hot Ballroom is a great display of the magic of dance. It brings us together, it breaks down walls, and it makes us happy. This movie did all that and more.
Every dance that is created by a choreographer has a meaning and or purpose behind it. The dance choreographed could be used to send a political, emotional, or a social message. Regardless of the message being sent, each dance created possesses a unique cultural and human significance. This essay will examine and analyze two dance works from history and give an insight into what each dance work provided to the society of its time.
To Dance at the Palais Royale written by Janet McNaughton, is an exciting historical fiction novel that follows Agnes Maxwell on her adventures in the big city of Toronto. McNaughton’s novel is an accurate description of the technology available and fashion trends of the late 1920s. She includes many details in her novel such as the refrigerator, which was accurately described. McNaughton incorporates the use of the Victrola, a popular phonograph used in the 1920s and Agnes Maxwell has the chance to wear a beautiful dancing dress typical of the time period. To Dance at the Palais Royale is a historically accurate novel that authentically describes technology and fashion typical of the late 1920s.
... 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.
However, New York Public Schools offered ballroom dancing classes to low-income students of color, which allowed the arts to be included in their curriculum. Watching the film, I observed the positive reaction the children had to the dance classes. Overall, they were exposed to different cultures, made new friendships, became more confident, and aware of different career options such as professional dancers or singers (Agrelo, 2005).
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.
1. The title "Strictly Ballroom" gives us the idea & impression of very stern & rules in a very rigid & strict environment with many expectations & restrictions. It also implies the concept of very orthodox textbook ballroom dancing which is very stiff & done exactly in a specific way which it's expected to be done.
Men in particular responded to José’s dancing because they saw in it freedom, a male passion and strength, that ventured because the partnering role that was found in ballet and had a depth that was conspicuously absent from most Broadway show dancing. Limón’s choreography sought a complete range of expression for both the male and the female body - from strength and sheer physicality to tenderness and gentleness.
While a student in the dance program at Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing A...
For Maria Tallchief, moving to California brought struggles and hardships, but some things really helped her grow as a dancer. For example, at public schools in Beverly Hills, no one respected her background. The children would make fun of her last name. Also, the kids made war whoops at her and asked why sh...
The freedom of the American life and culture of the 1970’s overflowed to make a major impact on music and dance during this period. American culture flourished. The events of the times were reflected in and became the inspiration for much of the music, literature, entertainment, and even fashion of the decade. Choreographers wanted to motivate the dancers to leap into the unknown and experience the contact of dance in their own way.
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
[6] Cohen, Selma Jeanne. International Encyclopedia of Dance: A Project of Dance Perspectives Foundation, Inc. New York: Oxford UP, 1998. Print.
The typical idea of a dancer is that they are tall, slender, full of energy, and lucky because they dance with all of the “stars”. Much of this is true, however, what many people do not think of are the many hardships that a dancer goes through in order to achieve their high status in the dance world. It takes much hard work and determination along with good direction to become a dancer. However, nothing good comes without a price. Dancers often times have many pressures put on them which can lead to physical and emotional damages. These damages occur through the pressures from the media, parents, teammates, and the stereotype that society has placed on dancers.
Jonas, Gerald. Dancing: The Pleasure, Power, and Art of Movement. New York: Abrams, 1992. Print.
Dancing is a form of art that allows many children to express themselves through body motion while developing many skills. Children throughout the world have been dancing since the day they began walking. When a child to take their first steps and puts together the simplest combination of movements, that would be considered as dancing. Music also plays a major role in the development of children understanding dance, because it is can be used as an accompaniment, and can help children get a better feel for the rhythm in dances. Over the past century educators have come to the conclusion that dance serves as a form of art, and should be taught in public schools and colleges to help the growth in children of all ages both physically, mentally, and academically.