Dance Unit Notes

Classical Ballet The term ballet means “complete work,” a story that has a beginning, a development and an ending. Themes of the early ballets were based on legends and myths. Ballet was developed in the royal courts of Europe, classical ballet features the turned out leg, pointed foot, lifted torso and regal movement.

In the early form of ballet, men assumed the major roles, as the costumes, jewelry and headpieces women wore impeded agile movement. Today the ballet shoe is made form layers of canvas glued together to allow the dancer to execute much more difficult turns, steps, and balances “on Pointe.”

A professional dancer in a ballet company may need pairs of pointe shoes per year, while a ballerina in a major role may wear out two pairs in one evening’s performance.

Modern Dance Modern dance, as a style, developed in the twentieth century out of the performer’s desire to communicate feelings and express ideas. The modern dancers wanted dances about real life, about life and death matters. They wanted their movements alone to convey their meaning.

They discarded the ballet shoes and danced barefoot so they could “feel the earth.” Isadora Duncan – is called the “mother of modern dance” because she is credited with being the first to break away form ballet. When attending a modern dance concert, one will see dancers dancing barefoot and performing very creative and expressive movements.

While at a classical ballet, we admire the dancers’ technique and the entire spectacle; at a modern concert, we are more likely to question the choreographer’s intent. There are many different styles of modern dance, each with a distinct techniques. In general, you will see the use of gravity, a weightiness not seen in ballet. Collapsing, falling, contracting and flexing may all be seen along with lifting, extending, and pointing.

Jazz, Tap and Theatrical Dance Jazz dance evolved along lines parallel to jazz music and, like jazz music, is a blend of European and African traditions in an American environment. In the 1950’s as rock’n’roll superseded jazz as the most popular music, movements to this new contemporary music form changed but continued to be called jazz.

Today dances performed to rap and other contemporary music forms continue to be called jazz dance. Jazz dance has no single, simple definition. It is an approach, rather than a style of movement. There is improvisation, great variety and constant vitality. It is always changing

Tap Dancing – is a blend of the syncopated rhythms and tribal dances of the African slaves with step dances brought to America in the forms of the Irish jig, reel and hornpipe, and English clog. Tap dancing concentrates on intricate, rhythmical footwork accented by metal “taps” attached to the bottoms of the dancers’ shoes.

Theatrical dance – refers to dance used in musical theatre productions. Its style will vary depending on the style of the music. Most musicals incorporate several styles of dance in one production.

The Dancer It is usually said that it take 8-10 years of training to become a dancer. Ballet dancers begin their careers as young as 17 or 18, while modern dancers often complete college majoring in modern dance and then begin dancing professionally. Becoming a dancer requires not just learning to dance but also molding and shaping the body into the desired instrument.

A dancer’s pursuit of a professional career is a full-time occupation and often leaves little time for family and recreational activities The dancer will take daily class, then rehearse for up to six hours.

Modern Dance Class The style of movement taught in the modern class may take many different forms. However, several well-known styles predominate. Graham Technique – named for Martha Graham, a modern dance pioneer who is known for an angular, disjointed and highly expressive style using the contraction, a tightening of the stomach muscles to express powerful emotion and angst.

Limon technique – named for Jose’ Limon, a second-generation modern dancer who created powerfully dramatic works. His technique is more lyrical and flowing that Graham’s but still uses gravity and the feeling of weight along with the concept of fall and recovery

Horton technique – named for Lester Horton, who developed a highly energetic style often seen on the West Coast. In general, modern techniques train the back and chest to bend, curve, twist and contract, while ballet keeps the back straight and the chest held high.

Textures in Dance Textures in dance are the relationships of dancers and their movements to other dancers onstage at the same time. In unison – all dancers performing the same movements in exactly the same way. In opposition – two or more groups opposing each other, In succession – groups performing the sam movement phrase one after the other as in a round or a canon.

In response – one group responds to another group’s movements