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Dancing
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Published: November 13, 2006
1957 marked a permanent change for the place of dancing in theater.
The first run of West Side Story on Broadway showed dance could tell the tale of a New York City gang war. In fact, no art form other than dance could possibly have expressed the heated battle between rival gangs—the Sharks and the Jets—with such passionate, physical energy. To this day, the sequence is one of the most famous pieces of choreography ever to shape American musicals and cement the importance of dancing in contemporary theater.
From West Side Story to the present day, dance remains a crucial skill for any performer in the entertainment industry. Whether one imagines an intimate ballroom scene or a boisterous cabaret act, dance skill can enhance a performer's presence in any sector of the industry.
There are numerous dance schools and styles. Whether someone’s dance of choice is swing, jazz, ballet or modern, there is a class to help him learn it. Beginners should not be intimidated by the fact that professional ballet dancers might begin training at the age of five; there are many ways to learn dancing as an adult.
Ballet often is the building block for other forms of dance, such as jazz and modern dance. All three forms are highly organized, complete with names for all steps and positions. However, both jazz and modern dance rebel against the strictness of ballet by using freer movements and more varied music.
One of the most interesting uses of jazz and modern dancing was in musicals such as Chicago. Lead choreographers Bob Fosse and Ann Reinking combined jazz dancing with a cabaret swagger in Chicago to evoke the underworld mystique of lead murderess Velma Kelly and her protégé, Roxie Hart.
Cabaret performance historically combined sultry dance moves with powerful singing, making it a multi-media art form. The often-controversial quality of cabaret dance still kept it popular and eye-catching appeal to audiences as it became integrated into American plays and musicals.
Today, dancing is a diverse and fascinating art form. From workout classes which use belly dancing to cutting-edge moves used in Broadway shows, dance continues to show audiences how truly awe-inspiring the human body can be.
Sources:
Artslynx International Dance Resources. Available at http://www.artslynx.org/dance/index.htm, last accessed November 12, 2006.
Chicago (musical). Available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_%28musical%29 , last accessed November 12, 2006.
Dance. Available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance, last accessed November 12, 2006.
Study Guide: Dance in Musicals. Available at http://www.musicals101.com/dance.htm, last accessed November 12, 2006.
Susan Chambers School of Theater Dance. Available at http://www.susanchambersdance.com/musical_theater. htm, last accessed November 12, 2006.
University of Florida School of Dance and Theater. Available at http://www.arts.ufl.edu/theateranddance/pages/what wedo/dance/dance.asp, last accessed November 12, 2006.
The first run of West Side Story on Broadway showed dance could tell the tale of a New York City gang war. In fact, no art form other than dance could possibly have expressed the heated battle between rival gangs—the Sharks and the Jets—with such passionate, physical energy. To this day, the sequence is one of the most famous pieces of choreography ever to shape American musicals and cement the importance of dancing in contemporary theater.
From West Side Story to the present day, dance remains a crucial skill for any performer in the entertainment industry. Whether one imagines an intimate ballroom scene or a boisterous cabaret act, dance skill can enhance a performer's presence in any sector of the industry.
There are numerous dance schools and styles. Whether someone’s dance of choice is swing, jazz, ballet or modern, there is a class to help him learn it. Beginners should not be intimidated by the fact that professional ballet dancers might begin training at the age of five; there are many ways to learn dancing as an adult.
Ballet often is the building block for other forms of dance, such as jazz and modern dance. All three forms are highly organized, complete with names for all steps and positions. However, both jazz and modern dance rebel against the strictness of ballet by using freer movements and more varied music.
One of the most interesting uses of jazz and modern dancing was in musicals such as Chicago. Lead choreographers Bob Fosse and Ann Reinking combined jazz dancing with a cabaret swagger in Chicago to evoke the underworld mystique of lead murderess Velma Kelly and her protégé, Roxie Hart.
Cabaret performance historically combined sultry dance moves with powerful singing, making it a multi-media art form. The often-controversial quality of cabaret dance still kept it popular and eye-catching appeal to audiences as it became integrated into American plays and musicals.
Today, dancing is a diverse and fascinating art form. From workout classes which use belly dancing to cutting-edge moves used in Broadway shows, dance continues to show audiences how truly awe-inspiring the human body can be.
Sources:
Artslynx International Dance Resources. Available at http://www.artslynx.org/dance/index.htm, last accessed November 12, 2006.
Chicago (musical). Available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_%28musical%29 , last accessed November 12, 2006.
Dance. Available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance, last accessed November 12, 2006.
Study Guide: Dance in Musicals. Available at http://www.musicals101.com/dance.htm, last accessed November 12, 2006.
Susan Chambers School of Theater Dance. Available at http://www.susanchambersdance.com/musical_theater. htm, last accessed November 12, 2006.
University of Florida School of Dance and Theater. Available at http://www.arts.ufl.edu/theateranddance/pages/what wedo/dance/dance.asp, last accessed November 12, 2006.
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