4dancers – Page 120

Andros On Ballet

October 27, 2009 by 4dancers

andros Andros on Ballet is a wonderful resource for dancers and teachers alike. The author, Dick Andros has been involved with dance for over 50 years and he has a wealth of experience to share with readers. Here you will find pieces on history, vocabulary and an extensive biography area that features dancers such as Cynthia Gregory and Anna Pavlova.

(Just a little warning–you could spend a lot of time browsing on this site, so you may want to save it for when you have a little bit of time to sift through all of the information that is there.)

Getting The Most Out Of Dance Class

October 25, 2009 by 4dancers

1-26-2009 11;56;44 AM Taking class is a big part of every dancer’s life. Here are some tips for getting the most out of every hour you spend in the studio:

+ Listen to all the corrections. Just because the teacher didn’t direct a correction to you specifically doesn’t mean that you can’t benefit from it.

+ Don’t get mirror-dependent. It can be easy to rely on the mirror too much for your dancing. Practice not looking too.

+ Change things up. Don’t stand at the same place at the barre every time (I know it’s hard!). Go in the first group if you usually wait until last. Do things differently and challenge yourself–it will pay off in the long run.

+ Warm up properly. Don’t get to class and expect plies to do the trick for you. Go early. Warm up well. You’ll be glad you did and your body will thank you. Plus, this is just a good habit to get into… [Read more…]

Remembering Rebecca Wright

October 22, 2009 by 4dancers

wright When I was a young girl I was cast as an angel in the Ruth Page production of The Nutcracker in Chicago. It was a small part, and after I danced I had to sit on stage–on a hard wooden stool–all the way through the second act. There was only one thing I looked forward to during these perfomances…seeing Rebecca Wright dance the Sugar Plum.

Ms. Wright was the picture of femininity as she floated across the stage. She made me hold my breath when she danced, and she could turn faster than anyone I had ever seen. I still remember the beads of sweat flying off of her as she spun madly around the stage–the lights catching each drop and lighting it up for those of us who were close enough to see… [Read more…]

Lois Greenfield

October 21, 2009 by 4dancers

lois_greenfieldt If you haven’t seen the photography of Lois Greenfield, then take five minutes today to drink it in. And if you haven’t seen her work recently, refresh yourself.

Greenfield has been around for a long time in the dance world–and with good reason. Her crisp photos show dancers moving. They show the interesting shapes that the body can make. They are beautiful.

It is very hard to do this type of work well. Dance, by its very nature is hard to capture when you are trying to do it in one frame. Greenfield does it masterfully.

Check out her screensavers while you are on the site. There are several available.

Michael Jackson: Reflections

October 20, 2009 by 4dancers

This post is a bit different. I watched Michael Jackson dance again today and was struck (as always) by how easy he looked as he moved. The body did what came naturally and it flowed. Every time I see it I am in awe. I went out in search of some of the things that have been written about his dancing and would like to share these links with you here. No matter what you think of the man, Michael Jackson, the dancer, was without peer in his genre. There are precious few people I have seen move like that in my lifetime. Maria Tallchief. Fred Astaire. Suzanne Farrell. A handful at best.

Enjoy this reading. Each of these pieces has something to say or show about the artistry of dance:

The New Yorker – A thought-provoking piece about Jackson’s dance moves.

NY Daily News – An interesting reflection on how Jackson’s dancing impacted today’s dance world.

Dance.com – This shows several clips of Jackson dancing, along with a brief commentary on his life.

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