Silent Dancing by Judith Ortiz Cofer Cofer feel that it is both comical and sad to watch silent dancing in a home movie because of the absurd movements of the persons included in the clip. It was funny watching their facial expressions get intense without sound. However, watching it also causes her sadness because she recalls the painful memories of her childhood. The voices from the home movie stir the memories of the author about growing up in two homes and in two cultures. They reveal the bitter part of her childhood in America.
The image depicts six tea cups and saucers bought from a local Woolworths store to use for her Studio Coffee breaks to replace older. The teacups and saucers are lit to form shadows that suggest the form of ballet dancers. The angular handles suggest the arms are akimbo (hands are on the hips and elbows are bowed outwards) which lead to the idea of ballerinas dancing. The strong backlighting creates dramatic tonal contrasts and shadows. The main focus of ‘Teacup Ballet’ is the arrangement of the 6 teacups and saucers on the table, which are illuminated by a lit backdrop.
For my final paper, I have decided to analyze the piece "Hoe Down" from Aaron Copland 's ballet, Rodeo. Rodeo is a upbeat piece that is a celebration of the American west and reflects a specific picture we have of ourselves. Rodeo originated from the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, with the music composed by Copland and the dance choreography by Agnes de Mille. The Ballet had it 's premiere at the Metropolitan Opera House on October 16, 1942. The ballet 's scene starts at Burnt Ranch where a cowgirl is competing with other visiting "city" girls for the attention of some local cowboys, like the Head Wrangler.
In the 1970's, Christopher Bruce, along with his followers, didn't agree with the military dictatorship of Pinochet's bloody coup. Pinochet's bloody coup, which occurred on September 11, 1973, was a military coup d'état, which resulted in the murder and torture of tens of thousands of people. Bruce conveys his attitude towards this coup throughout the video he directed called The Houston Ballet: Ghost Dancers. In this video, Bruce explicates the vicious coup and displays his opinions through the use of indigenous dance movements to represent to the oppression of the people. The ghost dancers' movement represents a larger meaning behind the tragedy the Chilean government and its people faced during the coup through the use of the symbolism
His idea of creating this company was unique because he combined the culture of African Americans within his new style of dance. Modern dance is based off of ballet positions, but it is more loose and expressive. Ailey wanted to create a modern dance company using his free style of movement. There were many modern companies and dancers, but very few that moved like Alvin or looked like him. Starting his own modern company gave Alvin the opportunity to tell his stories through dance, and he did this with his Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
In America, Martha Graham (The Queen of Modern), Rudolph von Laban ( Time Energy and Space), and Alvin Ailey (Gospel or Lyrical Spiritual dance) developed and are developing for human movement and methods of instruction that led to the development of modern and expressionist dance. The reason that modern dance is so popular is because it 's the ability to move your body in a way that is comfortable to you. Also people in that time were trying to get out of the strictness of ballet and wanted to be more free in there dancing. The society change during the 20th century changed in the dance style.
I attended a Nashville Irish Stepdancers performance at the Texas Troubadour Theater. The theater was in the middle of a strip mall in Orpy Mills. The inside was setup with pews and had a very medieval essence. The performance was to be a celebration of the Irish culture and include the vibrant spirit of the heritage. In the program, the choreographer and founder of the Nashville Irish Step Dancers, Mary Moran, said that the show not only highlights traditional pieces, such as the jig and treble reel, but also explores more progressive styles of Irish dance and music.
Unlike Eli, Lionel continues to struggle within the liminal space between the ‘white’ and ‘Native American’ worlds. His desire to return to university and educate himself to get a better job suggest his attempt of finding himself. However, before he takes that step, he remains in a conflicted position of being a Blackfoot and not a Blackfoot at the same time. He may look like one, but he does not feel like a Blackfoot. Lionel points out to the reader how he “[feels] completely out of place” due to his appearance while at the Sun Dance (365).
“Dance me Outside” by W. P. Kinsella tells the story of little Margaret Wolfchild, an eighteen year old Indigenous mother who is brutally murdered by Clarence Gaskell at the Blue Quills Dance Hall (21). The film by the same name attempts to convey a similar message, but there are key differences such as overlooking the Gaskell’s trial. The broader scope of film allows for the story to be told through multiple perspectives, aiding in rounding out the characters and providing them with a realistic dynamism. In her book “Iskwewak Kah Yaw Ni Wahkomakanak” Janice Acoose criticizes Kinsella’s portrayal of Indigenous women, particularly a character from a different story of Kinsella’s named Linda Starr (69). Acoose asserts that Kinsella “exhibits
Samantha Garcia Nile Hartline ENG 105 USE 12187 26 September 2015 Three Dancing Figures, Version C “I think public art (unless there is a specific political or ideological message) should make people feel comfortable, and brighten their environment.” As I walked through the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, there were a few sculptures that I found appealing but the one sculpture that caught my eye in particular was the Untitled Three Dancing Figures. The sculpture itself has an interesting design in which all of the Dancing Figures are touching each other and it seems as if the figures are marching and dancing in order. The sculpture was designed by Keith Haring in 1989, but was not assembled until 2009 when John and Mary Pappajohn commissioned
In her article, Embodying Difference, Jane Desmond argues that dance offers important insights into the ways moving bodies articulate cultural meanings and social identities. In other words, she explains the importance of studying the body’s movement as a way of understanding culture and society. She has two main arguments. First, she argues for the importance of the continually changing relational constitutions of cultural forms. Desmond further explains that the key to shedding light on the unequal distribution of power and goods that shape social relations are the concepts of cultural resistance, appropriation, and cultural imperialism (49).
Sampson Paquette Professor Edwards ENGL101C 9-13-2016 The Dance The essay: “Silent Dancing” By Judith Ortiz Cofer reflects on the transitional period in her life where herself and her immediate family made the move from Puerto Rico to the Big Apple, otherwise known as New York city. The timeline for the essay was set in the 1950’s where cultural fusion and blatant racism ran rampant in the streets.
5. How has Australian Dance Theatre changed as a company since its foundation in 1965? Australian Dance Theatre, established in 1965 by Elizabeth Cameron Dalman, is the longest standing contemporary dance company in Australia, recently celebrating 50 years. Whilst the company has created a remarkable 50 years of innovative and original work, many state that the concepts and ideas have vastly changed from the company Dalman established. Over the last five decades, Australian Dance Theatre has continued to develop, with the evolution of six individual artistic directors, who produced work in their distinct style, developing unique aesthetics.
Life is short. This statement is made by many but taken seriously by so few. The song “I Hope you Dance” by Lee Ann Womack , and more specifically the lyric “When you get the chance to sit it out or dance/I hope you dance” (8-9) describes the decision of living life to the fullest. Life will not stop for anyone or anything so why not live life with such caution. No one can make the rain stop so why does one choose to sit inside waiting for the storm to pass.
The word “ballet” brings to mind words such as “grace” or “beauty” when heard by many people. The definition itself states that it is a form of dance that uses precise steps and light, graceful motions. This definition was in the minds of those who attended the Théâtre des Champs-Élysèes in May 1913, but rather they were greeted with the complete opposite. When Igor Stravinsky’s ballet Rite of Spring opened, the audience was greeted with swift, chaotic music that quickly became a whirlwind of sound. The music softened and the curtains opened to a primitive dance, causing mass hysteria throughout the theatre.
