Editorial – Page 51

Technical Dancer Vs. Expressive Dancer

May 3, 2011 by 4dancers

So here’s one for you…

If you had to describe to someone what the visual difference was between a dancer who is technically excellent, but doesn’t express themselves, and someone who does–how would you do it?

What is it about someone dancing that connects with the audience/viewer? How can you make this type of distinction? It isn’t purely the facial expression, as you can’t always see that. Musicality perhaps? I tend to enjoy watching a dancer who can really phrase the music well…

I have certain theories on this…but I’d love to hear from readers. What do you think? How do you describe that elusive quality that makes one dancer amazing to watch, and another just “so-so”?

And do you think it can be taught–or is it innate? Do tell…

10 Questions With…Ben Dunlop

April 26, 2011 by 4dancers

Today on “10 Questions With…” we have dancer Ben Dunlop…

1. How did you become involved with dance?

I became involved with dance when my younger sister Ellie, starting taking classes at our local dance school with Kasey Carr in NSW, Australia. Kasey is one of the most amazing people you will ever meet, so very inspirational and without her guidance I would not be where I am today! I was observing her classes and was asked to participate in some classes and from that moment on I really have never turned back. It was something I instantly loved. Me and my sister use to dance around in our garage, making up dances and correcting each other for hours on end after dancing and weekends.

2. What are you currently doing in the field?

Within this point in time I am currently training in Australia with Kahlia Mehmet, Natarsha and Gloria Noble until I return to New York to participate in a Summer program and year round program at the Joffrey Ballet School as a trainee on full scholarship, which will hopefully lead into the touring company. Being in NYC itself will open many doors for me as it’s the heart of the dancing world. I cannot wait to return as previously I was with Washington Ballet School DC and the Ailey School in NYC.

3. Would you share a special moment from your career with readers?

The Youth America Grand Prix was an amazing experience for me and our audition tour, traveling throughout America. Being in New York city competing against amazing dancers, instantly I knew that is where I belong. All of the amazing guest teachers and dancers inspired me so much. In Australia there is only limited dancing opportunities, once you study abroad you will never return so many things will inspire you, especially in the city of New York. This was a special moment for me being able to share my talents with an audience coming from all different countries.

4. What is the best advice you have ever received from a teacher or mentor regarding dance?

“Everything happens for a reason.” I really believe in this quote so very much. Because when one door closes another will open.

This quote has gotten me through some very hard times. No matter how hard the challenge is, you can overcome it with determination, everything lays in the arms of fate.

5. What has been your greatest challenge?

The greatest challenge for me would have to be living away from my family. My mother and sister are the two people who keep me strong and striving for the best. Being away from them makes me push myself to the extremes so they can be prouder than what they already are. I love seeing my Mum after a performance when she has this boost of excitement and you know she is so proud, happy and overwhelmed. But the best part about it is when she does get to see me dance after so long, seeing me grow and reach new levels every time, it’s like a whole new level.

Also recently I participated in the Adidas All in Challenge, sixty hours of dancing straight located in Melbourne, Australia. We completed the sixty hours and came runners up to the AFL team. Was a great experience and was also by far the one of my greatest challenges.

6. Do you have any advice for dancers who want to go on to a professional career?

Keep pursuing what you love. Of course there are going to be people out there who are going to tell you things you don’t want to hear. But do it in spite of them. Prove them wrong, that is the best feeling when you can look back and say “I did it”. This has happened to me numerous times before and all I can say is “wow”, it’s such an achievement and drives you even more, it really does. Never lose hope!

7. Do you have a special routine that you go through prior to a performance?

I am a big fan of routine before performances. Three hours prior I have a bowl of rice to give me energy and maintain stamina, whilst warming up, I snack on carrot sticks, celery, fruit etc to give me sugar and for a boost when I do hit the stage. I like to get make up all done before anything so I can focus on my body and being ready. I would probably spend a good hour warming up and concentrating on certain things. A good way to get warm is doing a full barre. I always, always include that in my warm up.

8. Do you have a favorite dancer? If so, who are they and why? If not, why not?

Besides the obvious, Alina Cojacaru, Polina Seminova and Silvie. My little sister Ellie, I thank her for wanting to dance because otherwise I wouldn’t have found the real Ben. She is my little dancer and I cannot wait for her to be performing on stages across the world. She is my favorite dancer 🙂

9. What do you enjoy most about your life in dance?

The main thing I love about the dance life is being able to share your talents through the world of performing. Where ever you dance, you are inspiring someone. You tend to forget about performing when you’re in a school because you’re forever training but when you do, you realize what all the hard work is actually for and how worth it it actually is. Performing brings me a sense of flying. There is no other way to describe it. Definitely the closest thing to it. Not to mention the amazing sites you get to see and people you get to meet!

10. What is next for you?

My next move it to audition for companies throughout America whilst studying and training hard at the Joffrey Ballet School as a trainee. My dream company is Complexions in NYC. I love their stuff, I love their diversity and edge. I feel I’m very fitted to their company and just have to get them to see my gift. Fingers crossed.

See Ben dance:

YOUTUBE LINK – Ben Dunlop – Dance Reel

Mao’s Last Dancer: Choreography

April 23, 2011 by 4dancers

The behind the scenes work on any dance movie is pretty staggering. Besides the people who star (and dance) in the movie, there are many professionals that make the film possible–including the choreographer.

4dancers is pleased to share this exclusive clip from the DVD and Blu-ray extras of Mao’s Last Dancer.

This clip is from the ‘making of’ featurette, and discusses some aspects of the choreography that was used in the film. As someone in the field, I can say that it’s always nice to see what goes into making the movie.

Enjoy! Here it is…

On a separate note, I’ve been thrilled to see more interest in dance over the past few years. Between the dance movies that have come out and the television coverage, dance is as hot as ever. Although not everyone thinks the attention is a good thing, I tend to believe that (for the most part) getting dance out there in front of people is beneficial.

I would, however, like to see a bit more of an educational aspect to it here and there. I think it’s important to try and represent dance honestly. There are a lot of myths out there, and these can be perpetuated by film. I’ve heard some dancers that were upset about the way ballet dancers were depicted in Black Swan…

What do you think? Is dance becoming more mainstream? Is the attention a good thing–or a bad one? There are so many schools of thought on this–and I’d love to hear yours.

Hopera Proposal: CD Promotion

Uploads:

ReverbNation:

ReverbNation account creation, setup and modification Reverbnation account integration with Twitter and Facebook (passwords and usernames as provided/authorized by Hopera) Hopera Bio/Press Kit upload Hopera press reviews upload (five) Hopera video upload (two videos as authorized and provided by Hopera Hopera Music and images uploads ( four tracks as authorized/provided by Hopera) Connections with 30 other ReverbNation artists for cross-promotion and PR

Setup and initial uploads at Soundcloud.com with audio clips provided/authorized by Hopera Soundcloud.com account integration with Facebook Hopera audio upload (three tracks) as authorized/provided by Hopera

(What about submission to IndieMusic.com? Do you know if that would be a possibility? Have you ever?)

Social Media

CD promotion to national and Chicago-area hip hop/related blogs

Facebook and Twitter promotion, dependent on CD release date. Sample schedule:

4 weeks out:

One tweet for 5 days + 2 FB posts per week

3 weeks out:

Two tweets for 5 days + 3 FB posts per week and one FB blast

2 weeks out:

Three tweets for 5 days + 4 FB posts per week and one FB blast

1 week to release:

Three tweets for 7 days + 5 FB posts per week and one FB blast

Total of 51 tweets, 14 FB posts and 3 FB blasts

What we will need from you before we can begin:

Twitter and FB usernames/passwords

Any pertinent dates regarding release, pre-release parties/events, etc.

Copy of CD/track listings/artwork/press materials/reviews/etc.

URLs/links for FB, Twitter and any other relevant sites Video/photos for upload Deposit for equal 1/3 of payment

Back To Ballet: How To Re-Enter The Classroom

April 20, 2011 by 4dancers

As many of you already know, I teach a ballet class for adults. There are quite a few places out there that have classes for returning students–but they are not all created equal. Some are very serious, while others are more geared toward getting fit. (Mine is somewhere in the middle.)

As an adult, there are some things you’ll want to consider if you are going to take a ballet class. Finding the right match can be a bit challenging, but it pays off to do a little groundwork before signing up. Here are some tips that should help:

Observe a class if possible. Watching a class is the best way to see if you will enjoy it. If you can’t do that, see if you can try one class out before signing up for a session.
Talk to the instructor. Ask him/her about their philosophy regarding the class. What they tell you will help you evaluate whether or not you are on the same page.
Ask for recommendations. Do you know anyone who has taken an adult ballet class in the area? If so, inquire as to what their experience was. Would they go back? How difficult was it?
Check the dress code. At this stage of the game you may or may not be up for wearing tights and a leotard. In either case, you’ll want to know what people typically wear to class to see if you’ll be comfortable.
Ask about the flooring. A floor that is designed specifically for dance is crucial for protecting your body–and even more so as you age.

Once you find a good fit in terms of a studio, there are a few other things to keep in mind as well. If you haven’t taken class in some time, you may find your body uncooperative at first. In order to get back in the groove safely, take some of these suggestions into consideration–depending on your current fitness level:

Think about just doing the barre for a week or two. Ease back in and do it with the support of the barre. Just make sure to keep the teacher informed if you will be leaving prior to the end of class.
Stretch. Then stretch some more. You don’t have to wait for class to begin. Start now. You’ll thank yourself.
Brush up on terminology. Things may sound vaguely familiar, yet elude you for a bit at first. Refreshing yourself on the terms can be a confidence builder. Try ABT’s Dance Dictionary online to jump-start your memory.
Join with a friend. You can support and encourage each other through the tough times.
Talk with the instructor prior to class. Let them know where you are at in terms of your current fitness level and prior dance training. Also, be sure to communicate with them about any injuries you have.
Get to the studio early and warm up well. This can help prevent injuries.

Going back to ballet class after a long while away can be intimidating, but it can also be a lot of fun. Hopefully some of these suggestions will help you navigate your re-entry seamlessly.

If you are a teacher or someone who has returned to ballet class after a break–feel free to share any tips you might have!

Costuming For Black Swan – An Inside Look

April 18, 2011 by 4dancers

As many of you already know, Black Swan was released on DVD at the end of March. What you may not know is what type of work went into the costuming for this popular movie.

Amy Westcott was the designer for these pieces, and you can get the inside story on how she came up with the various looks for the characters in the movie in a series of webisodes on YouTube. Pretty interesting–thought you might want to take a look.

I have yet to see the movie myself (I know, I know, it’s terrible to say, seeing as that I’m a dance blogger), but the little bit I have seen of the costuming looks fabulous. I’m looking forward to checking out the webisodes myself.

If you happen to take a peek at them, let us know what you think…

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