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An introduction to evolution of dance
An introduction to evolution of dance
An introduction to evolution of dance
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Ginger Rodgers and Fred Astaire are two of many breakthrough dancers, actors, performers, of their time. They are considered to be a couple of the many pioneers of dance in Hollywood. While Astaire received most of the recognition for dance in this era, both Rodgers and Astaire contributed equally a great amount to dance and the dance world especially when they came together in partnership. The book, Fred & Ginger -The Astaire Rodgers Partnership, written by Hannah Hyam, provides background information on both Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers leading up to their iconic partnership that would forever influence partner dance. This book also describes each film the pare appeared on screen together as well as their individual successes and the mark they left on dance. Author Hannah Hyam is a freelance copy-editor and proofreader focusing on academic and educational views of texts. Her book Fred & Ginger was her …show more content…
Prior to this partnership, Astaire had a very successful career on Broadway and London stages. He grew up dancing partnered with his sister at a young age and they began performing together and made their debut in New York 1917. The book also explains how Astaire got into choreographing for he and his sister in the early 1920s revealing his unique characteristic dancing style that was heavily influenced by tap and ballet as well as the ballroom dancers of his time. The brother-sister partnership came to an end when his sister married and Astaire appeared in his final stage show, The Gay Divorce. Astaire then began to express his interest in film as it was beginning to progress in Hollywood. He participated in screen tests for RKO radio pictures, one of the most well-known studios of Hollywood’s Golden Age, and immediately signed a contract for Flying Down to Rio where he and Ginger Rodgers would be paired together for the first
...’s work. Although dancing Taylor’s choreography, Grossman was allowed the freedom to experiment and this factor allowed him to develop as a performer. Grossman has admitted that he had some fear in dancing in Taylor’s Company; however he has further added that in doing so his fears were gradually diffused and he in fact reached “a sense of peace or calm”.
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.
The partnership of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein was made possible by Richard Rodgers’ partner, Hart, becoming increasingly difficult to get back to work. Rodgers wished to adapt the play Green Grow the Lilacs into a musical, but Hart wasn’t interested in the show. So, Rodgers took Oscar Hammerstein up on his offer to collaborate on a project. That project turned out to be the successful musical Oklahoma!
Alvin was born during the Great Depression to two working class parents in Rogers, Texas. His father abandoned the family when Alvin was a mere six months old, leaving him and his mother with the struggle of fending for themselves. The inability for Alvin’s mother to find work led to their move to California in 1942, where Alvin was introduced by a classmate to the most influential person that would be the foundation for his future successful career in modern dance, Lester Horton (DeFrantz 1). Alvin was captivated by Lester’s work, which focuses on building a strong body, and made the executive decision to start his dance training in 1949 when he was eighteen years old. Because Lester Horton’s dance company embraced diversity, and accepted dancers of all ethnicities and backgrounds, Alvin was given the opportunity to do something great with his
Not great at sports, Alvin excelled in the less common athletics of gymnastics, especially the floor exercise (36). Being an African-American male, this was hard for Ailey and he struggled fitting in with his peers. Alvin Ailey had little experience with dance or the theater and it wasn’t until he moved to Los Angeles that his eyes were opened to the world of theatrics by the Ballet Russe de Monte Carolos and the performance of Katherine Dunham’s black dance company (DeFrantz 43). Ailey pursued 1940s dancing styles such as tap, but experimented and settled on modern dance when a school friend, Carmen de Lavallade, convinced him to join Lester Horton’s lively theatrical, Hollywood Studio in 1949 (43). As Ailey’s mentor, Horton proved to be a major role model and helped mold Alvin’s technique and
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.
Throughout the ages, dance has played an important role in society. It symbolizes tradition, family, bonding, and entertainment. In almost every decade of the twentieth century, a different style of dance prevailed. In the 1970s, John Travolta brought disco dancing into the spotlight with his portrayal of Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever. Through his depiction of this character, John Travolta shows the monumental effects of dancing. Literature can also artfully explore the effect of dance on people. Theodore Roethke's "My Papa's Waltz" dramatizes a special and positive moment in a boy's life. The author's word choice reflects the significance of this moment of bonding between a father and his son. Some critics have seen this boy's memories as a recollection of a time of abuse. This poem does not reflect an instance of abuse, but rather a dance of life.
Throughout Graham’s career that lasted well over fifty years, she created over 180 works from ranging from solos to large-scale works. Soon after audiences and critics became accustomed to Graham’s innovative style of movement she developed a following among serious dance patrons, scholars, and critics. Graham’s famous solo, “Lamentation,” was a portrait of a grieving woman sitting alone on a bench and moving to an anguished Kodaly piano score. In this dance Graham is simply wearing a giant tube-like cloth, which represents stretching in one’s own skin.
Our task was to compare the documentary ‘Absolutely Ballroom’, and the movie ‘Strictly Ballroom’. To properly undertake our task we were compelled to lose ourselves in the plots, music and techniques used in both films.
Ostlere, Hilary. “Taming The Musical.” Dance Magazine 73.12 (1999): 84. Expanded Academic ASAP. Westfield State College Library, MA. 15 April 2005.
Bergeron, Victoria, and Sara Luzuriaga. "Artist or Athlete? The Reality of Dance at Andover." . N.p., 21 Feb. 2014. Web. 19 May 2014. .
Born on April 16, 1919 in Centralia, Washington, Mercier Philip Cunningham was the second of three sons. His father, Clifford D. Cunningham, was an attorney in their small town and his mother, Mayme Joach Cunningham, an adventurous mother, who loved traveling the world, and Merce described to have, “an enormous energy and quite independent spirit (Merce Cunningham: A Lifetime of Dance).” At the beginning of his journey, Merce sparked his passion for dance under the study of Maude Barrett, a retired circus performer and vaudevillian (vaudeville was form of theatrical entertainment in the late 19th century and early 20th century, which utilizes pantomime, dance, dialog, and song, and is usually comical (Merriam-Webster)). Barrett was a fellow parishioner and neighbor of Cunningham’s, who ran the local Barrett School of Dance in Centralia. Here, he was paired up with Barrett’s daughter and learned the basics: tap dance. Eventually ballroom dancing would be added to his repertoire. Looking back in time, Merce would note that Barrett’s energy and passion shaped his outlook on dance stating, “It was a kind of theater energy and devotion
There are many elements of film musicals, which are present in typical Hollywood, and Broadway musicals. For example the synchronized dancing can be seen in many musicals such as 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers' and 'Cabaret'. The musical films are a development from the dance halls and silent movies and became very popular in the 1930's. This popularity remained until the television boom in the 70's and 80's, and also due to the fact that more realistic films were being released and people saw the films as unrealistic and fantastical.
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
Kassing, Gayle. History of Dance: An Interactive Arts Approach . United States: Human Kinetics, 2007.