Dance History – Page 4

From PBS: Lesson Plan Help For The Dance Classroom

December 13, 2009 by 4dancers

I found this while searching for lesson plan help…figured that classroom teachers could use another resource, and this one is a good one, depending on the age group you teach. PBS has put together a comprehensive plan for introducing students to the roots of Modern Dance in America.

There is a radio story to listen to as well as plenty of ideas for discussion, and you will even find activity sheets that you can print out. Use everything they have provided–or customize your own lesson plan based on some of the ideas from here.

The Arangetram

November 23, 2009 by 4dancers

NTPray — Copyright 2005, Catherine L. Tully

If you have never heard of an Arangetram, get ready to be amazed…

(I am going to break it down here into only the very basics, but there are many layers that I won’t cover, so know that there is a good deal more to this than meets the eye.)

Basically an Arangetram is a sort of “graduation” performance that is undertaken by a student of Bharata Natyam. This classical Indian dance form is a combination of complex movements that are expressive, along with a spiritual component. Dancers prepare for this for a long time, and the final performance is typically a large-scale event. Some families even have musicians flown in from India to play for the dancer. Many times an auditorium or stage is rented out for the performance, and friends and family attend to watch the graduation dance.

I have attended several Arangetram performances, and they are actually quite an emotional experience. The dancers (and their family) put their entire soul into this one day, and it is a very long series of demanding movements that they must undertake. Most Arangetram will last between two and three hours, and it is almost continuous dancing. The teacher is called the “Guru” and they are also present for the performance. If you ever have the chance to experience an Arangetram, I would highly recommend it. You will get to see something truly unique.

The Ballerina Gallery

November 8, 2009 by 4dancers

ballerinag The Ballerina Gallery is a really interesting site that features a great collection of photos and information about famous ladies in dance. Names here range from Tanaquil Le Clercq to Patricia McBride, and there is a lot here to browse through.

The author of the site also has a section titled, “memorabilia” where she shares some of her collection with viewers. There are some great pieces here, including a signed photograph of Maya Plisetskaya and a signed copy of a Margot Fonteyn Autobiography.

I really enjoyed browsing around on this Website, and I hope you will too!

History Of Pointe Shoes

November 4, 2009 by 4dancers

Have you ever wondered about the history of pointe shoes?

It is interesting to see how they evolved into what we use today. Modern pointe shoes are a very far cry from what they were many years ago. It’s fascinating to think about what they will be like in the future…

When I was actively dancing, I used lamb’s wool to wrap my toes when I first started out on pointe. I found it to be miserable–it shifted around like mad, and wadded up in all the wrong places inside my shoe. As soon as my feet toughened up I switched to paper towel. A rather unorthodox substance, but it worked well for me. Some dancers I know used nothing, or toe pads… [Read more…]

Nijinsky: Men In Ballet

October 30, 2009 by 4dancers

Nijinsky. Even the name has a sort of mystical, dramatic feel to it. He is one of a handful of men who have received the spotlight in ballet. I think that more should share in that honor. Men are as vital to ballet as an art form as women are–yet women get the bulk of the attention. George Balanchine once remarked, “Ballet is woman,” and although I totally get where he is coming from, it should not negate the value of men.

Where there is no man…no ballerina floats. For the yin of the delicate solos of women in pointe shoes and pink tutus, there really needs to be the yang of men leaping powerfully across the stage without reserve. It is in the contrast of these two that the magic of the danse really shines through. It represents the forces within us all. The softness and the hardness. The subtle and the forceful.

I’m sure this has been remarked on before, but today I just wanted to highlight it again and send out a thank you to all the men in ballet. Without you…it just wouldn’t be magical.

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