I took dance classes from the time I was three, until I was about sixteen years old. I did all different types of dancing, Jazz, Ballet, Cheer, and Irish Step dancing. I started doing dance because my mom thought it would be something fun for me to do, but I continued doing it because I really enjoyed every aspect of it. Although I don’t still take classes, I am always still dancing. Sometimes out in public, and other times in the comfort of my own home. Dancing is something that can almost always be done. While taking dance lessons, my favorite aspects of it were the learning of new skills, the renewing of old ones, the teamwork, and of course, the recitals. My favorite part of dance, however, is that there is not just one, universal, type of dance. There are elegant dances, athletic dances, and social dancing. Yes they all involve moving one’s body, but the way each moves for each dance is completely different. That’s what I love about it; not one dance is at all the same. I also really like how dance and music usually always go hand in hand. I’m a big fan of music and so being able to dance along to a song or artist that I really enjoy, makes dancing that much more fun for me. Dancing also has a lot in common with theatre. The dancing used in theatre, is emphasized by their costumes and lightings. Dance is not simply used just for dancing, it’s incorporated into all different aspects of art, which I find most interesting. In tons of different art types, you will find dance somehow lodged in there. After reading the types of dance that there are, I wondered if the categories listed are the only one’s used in the art world, or if they are just the most popular ones. Personally, I would also include the dances that people learn as kids, especially in classes, like hip-hop, tap, lyrical, etc., but maybe these just fall under an already listed category, such as social dance. This is definitely something I would have to look into, because I believe there are many more types of dances than those that are listed in the book. Overall, I would say that either this chapter or the music chapter have been favorite so far, mainly because I can relate to both of them so closely.
Abi Lisee Aesthetics Dance Personally, I have never taken a dance class before. I think part of me wanted to try a dance class but by the time I was really interested in dance I felt it was too late to really get into it. However, although I didn’t dance as a child I watched my two best friends dance. I went to their dance shows to show my support and because I enjoyed it. I think dance is so unbelievably important and for some people I think it is so underappreciated. I have really been interested in dance for a few years now. My mom has always been into the dance shows such as So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars so I began watching those with her and that sort of got me to really appreciate dancing. I think the fact that a person or people can take a song and transform it into a dance that sends a message that can either be entertaining or emotional and to me that is incredible. The dances I have always enjoyed the most were the ones that make me cry. They force emotion out of a person only by watching the way a person moves across a stage. Another aspect of dance that I think is honorable is that dance brings people together. It brings people from all different places and ways of life and it unites them. Dance gives people an opportunity to get of the streets and make a life of themselves and gives them opportunities that people may not otherwise have. I like that the chapter considered dance the “poetry of movement”. I think that is such a beautiful way to put it. I think poetry and dance could have the same effect on a person and they are both two of my forms of art. Other than that I thought the chapter could’ve been better.
The last thing I remember about dancing was running off the stage during a recital I was in over 12 years ago because I was scared of the music. Besides the fact that I am clearly not the type dance or perform in dance recitals, I do enjoy going to them, and performances based solely on dance. There is a variety of different kinds of dance I like ranging from ballet to hip hop. My favorite ballet is The Nutcracker, mostly because when I was younger I used to watch Barbie and the Nutcracker all the time and after seeing the actual performance live at the County Center in White Plains, I loved it. There are also lots of dance movies that I enjoy. One of the movies I enjoyed watching on Disney Channel was Another Cinderella Story. I liked this movie because of the style of dance and the vibe of a semi-dance competition within the show. Before reading this chapter, I did not realize that dance was a form of art. After reading this chapter, I learned that dance has existed for many years, dating back to the 1600’s and probably even before. I found it very interesting that ballet was very popular in the 1600’s and was a popular form of entertainment throughout Europe. I also found it interesting that all around the world, many cultures had their own interpretation and style of dancing including in Japan and Africa. Growing up near New York City, I never knew that hip-hop was originated in the Bronx. I find it very interesting how a style of dance from one borough can escalate and end up becoming such a popular style of dance throughout the world. After reading this chapter, I am curious to learn about dance. It would be interesting to learn more about dance especially how choreographers come up with the ideas for certain dances. I will also be paying more attention to dance in performances, whether they be on tv or at Broadway during a musical.
Nicole Marmo Dance Dance is definitely a form of art. Many different dance styles can be interpreted in many different ways. Dance is also an enjoyable way to express oneself. Dancing is also a great form of entertainment. I can honestly say that I do enjoy watching specific dancing styles. I’m not interested in dancing with the stars type dances like the tango and the waltz I’m more interested in hip hop dancing and breakdancing. It really interests me because I’ve always wanted to be able to dance like that, but I never could. I’m actually a huge Step Up fan, if you don’t know the Step Up movies they’re basically about how hip hop dancing isn’t for hoodlums and should also be considered a legitimate style of dance. In my world, dance is definitely considered art. People spend a lot of time to perfect a dance or a dance move and they put in a lot of effort. Another good thing about dance is that it is one of the art form that includes a good exercise. So if I were a good dancer, which I am not, instead of going to the gym for exercise I would probably just dance to work off some calories or to blow off some steam. There’s so much involved in dancing, but it’s so hard to fully define dance as an enjoyable art. Some people don’t enjoy dance at all or only like a specific type. There are so many different dance styles like: hip-hop, break dancing, ballet, tap dancing, etc. Whatever suits your fancy. I like how the book defined dance as the poetry of movement I thought that was very clever. Another fun thing about dance is that there are so many songs you could dance to in whatever style of dance you want to pursue. And today you can also make a mash up of a group of songs or alter songs so that they fit with your dance routine. There’s a lot of thinking involved in setting up a dance performance, but just randomly breaking into dance doesn’t require as much work. Another element of a dance performance is the clothing. And if you ask any performer the clothing and shoes are one of the biggest elements involved in a dance performance. You also have to make sure that whatever your dancing in is comfortable to dance in and realistic. I’m sure some people have done it, but in my opinion, dancing in jeans is uncomfortable as well as impossible, especially if they’re tight. Overall, dancing should definitely be considered art no matter what genre.
John Yusza Dance, not exactly my favorite form of art. I have been to a few dances in my life, my cousin used to dance when she was younger. So I was forced to go and watch sometimes. She did ballet I think. It was alright some of the dancing was better than others. I think the most exposure to dance I have had is with ballet. Dance also kind of ties into last week’s theater chapter, because in a lot of those shows they are singing but at the same time dancing. When I think of dance I do really just think ballet. That is the major one that just comes into my head as the main form or most known form of professional dancing. I think that is because it takes way more skill for ballet than other forms of dancing. The other forms are more natural like when people are at a party and dance to music you don’t really think about it. It is more of a form of expressing yourself. More people express themselves through dance than through say painting. Dancing is unique because it does not require anything, just your body. I think I don’t really like dance because I was never good at it. So as an art form it does not really interest me. I will watch some videos of dancing and be like wow that was good and I respect the effort people put into it. However it still isn’t my thing. I like it a little bit more when there is an added layer to dance. Like in those videos where people are dancing in light suits and it looks really awesome. It is more of a visually does it look cool or hard to do for me to appreciate it. I don’t enjoy sitting through dance shows but I think I can bear like a ten minute performance. An hour or two performances is just too much for me to bear. I feel like it has to be a really captivating performance. Dance is unique because it is hard to recreate a painting can more or less be redone. But a dance is unique to a specific dancer. Maybe that is why some people like dance more than the visual arts.
When I was younger, I participated in a many different dance classes ranging from hip hop to ballet. I joined and participated in these classes for just a few years as many young girls do. I often went to my friends dance recitals as I grew up, watching the different dancers enrolled in different dance class styles. Although I never have attended a professional dance show I have seen many dance styles. I honestly wish I knew how to dance well and be able to perform different styles of dance.
The hip-hop dances always seem very interesting to me, I find myself enjoying those dance types the most. I can relate to the dances more, usually knowing the songs before the show and being able to enjoy them while the show is in progress. All the dance types take a lot of talent and work to perfect I agree with the book that the ballet and slower dances often have more meaning behind them than the more modern day dances.
Dance is very difficult and takes a lot of effort and thought to create an entire dance performance. A ballet is numerous sets of different dances combined in one long show. The entire ballet usually has a lot of meaning and reasoning behind it making it not only meaningful for the dancers and the writers but also for the people in the audience watching. The dance could represent different emotional things for the different people yet they could all feel connected to the dance.
There are a lot of different parts that go into dance; I think taking just one element out would change the way people look at dance. The music gives the general theme for the entire show and without it the dance would not be as interesting. The costumes and the lighting also add to the presentation, the costumes are so important and vary so much from different styles. Many hip-hop and break-dancers wear baggy clothing wear others wear leotards and simpler costumes. Putting all of these elements together and choreographing a performance makes it art.
I agree with the book that there is no specific way to enjoy the art of dance other than going to see it live. Being seen in person much like other types of art makes the experience so much more enjoyable and interesting. The dancers are able to intensify movements, whether they are everyday movements or complicated dance moves, in order to show emotion. I find is so interesting that certain people can move their body in ways that others (like me) cannot after a little rehearsing.
I think dance is the one art form that unites the most people. There are minimal moments in dance that are lost in translation. The static art forms like drawings, paintings, and sculptures can be translated so many different ways. We saw in class last week when we were critiquing one girl’s Art I Make project that you can see so many different themes in one art piece, and not everyone can relate with a static art piece. With dance, more people can relate and see the theme. I think that dance is more straightforward. Everyone can understand and it is more relatable to everyone.
There are so many different kinds of dance and elements of dance. I really like that they called dance the poetry of movement. There is always a story and so much emotion inside a dance performance. And it has a rhythm like poetry does. And it is balanced with the music. I really like watching freestyle dance. I like how they translate music on the spot. The musicality of the dancers is amazing. They can hear the music and translate that into movement.
My sister and I grew up dancing. Ever since I was three up until I was 16 or 17. I took all different types of classes like tap, jazz, and ballet. My favorite was tap. I really like that you could create rhythm without having music. You can create your own music. One year on So You Think You Can Dance, there was one tap performance that really inspired me. It was one of the first tappers that made it far in the competition. The choreography was amazing. There was so much emotion in character in the dance. They really portrayed the story so well. There were no words in the music and you could still tell what they story was about. They also reinforced the storyline with their tap shoes. When they were mad they would tap faster and with more force. When they were sad their taps were lighter and softer. It was really amazing.
I think it’s really cool how so many different dance types there are and how they relate and how different aspects of different types of dance align. I also really like the evolution of dance and how the modern dance that is happening today was inspired by decades before us. That is another thing that related dance as an art form. That is has evolved through history.
Shannon Smith Chapter 7 reflection 10/22/15 Since I was a young girl I have been involved in dancing. I have been affected by dance not only through my years of dance classes when I was a young girl, but even now I find myself in love with the art of dance. This chapter highlighted many important aspects of dancing while also acknowledging the modern versions of dance that some may considered “trashier” than classic ballet. This chapter outlined the importance of how to interpret a dance performance, what to acknowledge (besides the dancing itself) and how to successfully critique a performance. From a very young age I (along with many other toddlers) enrolled in a ballet class. My parents believed this would be a fun pass time for me, hopefully become a skill or hobby of mine and eventually lead to the blossoming of new friendships. Through dance I did meet many friends who I still keep in contact with today, however I have not continued this “hobby” due to a lack of interest in ballet. Ballet is a very uniform and classic style of dancing, something I never really became fond of. Although I have never been a fan of actually performing ballet I find the style of dance intriguing. There are so many aspects to this style, not only the intricate positions one must perform, but the costumes, and even the set up of the performance has always amazed me. I can recall viewing the nutcracker ballet performance and being astounded by the amount of effort required to bring this story to life. The various costumes, characters, and settings made this performance rather amazing. This chapter also talks about the often neglected style of hip hop dancing. This style of dancing is the only international art form that has originated from the Bronx. I was completely unaware that this style of dance originated from the Bronx and was surprised to learn this. I have always had a great admiration for hip hop dancers because of the amazing choreography and soul that goes into this type of dance. I believe being born during this millennium has also fueled my appreciation for this style of art.
Kristin Portsmouth Aesthetics Response 8 October 26, 2015
Dance is an art form like no other; you use your body movements to represent emotion or a story. Dance can be done with any type of music or with no music at all. There are so many different styles of dance that its possible that every dance you’ve seen is completely unique to any other dance ever performed. Dancing today, also, is completely different to dancing 100 years ago. The progression of dance shows how over time we have learned new techniques for dance and new styles and new movements that can create a whole different meaning to the dance being performed. This evolution shows that dance is an art like any other form; it’s subject to change.
I myself am not a dancer at all; I have no rhythm and can rarely stay with the beat. However, I am a huge fan of watching other people dance. One of my favorite shows throughout middle and high school was America’s Best Dance Crew. This show was all about different dance crews performing dances based on a certain theme. It was so interesting seeing how each crew came up with a unique dance based off the same theme. This show showcased so many different styles of hip-hop dancing such as breaking, locking, popping, and tutting. These styles of dancing are much different compared to the typical ballroom dancing style or any other style like ballet, tap, or jazz. Since there are so many different styles dancing can please anyone.
You may think dancing just happens as you go along, but music takes lots of practice and you have to consider all the elements of dance. That is something I learned from this chapter. There are four major elements that go into creating a dance: the movements, the music, the story or theme and finally the staging. Each of these elements is important to create a good dance performance. Being a choreographer must be very difficult having to come up with moves that match a certain type of music and making sure your story or theme is presented in a way that the audience can clearly see it. I respect people who can do this and especially those that can actually perform the dances created. Dancers should be given a lot more credit because what they do is actually really difficult; not everyone can do it so they should be appreciated.
I do believe that dance is a form of expression but I'm fairly back and forth as to whether or not I feel it is art. This might just be because I never took dance as a kid or really cared much about it growing up. I have friends who have been dancing for years and I know they, as well as many others, will argue that dance is in fact art. I am not saying that they are wrong necessarily, I just do not really think that I see it in the same way as they do. I suppose the practice of choreographing dance is kind of art, however just doing it... I don't know.
As the chapter mentions, there are different pieces to dance. This is why I can see the act of creating a dance is more of art that actually doing it. Choreographers have to account for the music, the story, etcetera.
I am not saying that dance is easy by any means - I just do not see it to be art.
I have been to a number of dance recitals to watch and support my friends over the years. I have also been to a number of broadway shows. I truly admire what these people can do, however I do not see the act of dancing to be art. As I mentioned before, I do however, consider the act of choreography to be art.
In the chapter the author expresses that dance shows the body’s poetic movement in space. The reason I like dance as a form of art because not only is it a representation of body movement but most of the time it directly correlates to music. Another reason I like dance as a form of art because there are so many ways to dance. The book also describes that dance began to tell there own stories. Many dancers perform in costumes and take hours to perfect their movement. I think this is why I think dance is so intriguing, because I’m not skilled enough and I don’t have the patience to learn each step to all there routines, I respect those who are good at it. Also dance can have outside effects with its surrounds. For example, most dances performed on stages have certain lighting that adds to the story and movement of the dancer.
Real dancing takes enormous skill, but another aspect of dance is that you can throw on music in your room and dance your heart out, which I often do. Some say that my dance moves are trendy and that I have great flow. In high school me and my friend Cole were in a male pageant show, reenacting the dance scene from Dirty Dancing. It only took a day to get our routine down and it was kind of fun performing it too. To me the hardest part was not actually learning the dance moves but facing my fear and coming out on stage. Oh and P.S. I was the girl from the scene. Although it was a lot for me to get on stage dressed like a girl it was still a blast and we stole the show from the other contestants.
If I were to study the progression of dance I would probably enjoy it. Dance from today’s era has changed enormously from when it first started. Today there are street performs, tap dancers, ballet, and such more then I probably don’t even know. Dance is seen all around us. Music videos were made to advertise the writer’s work with a creative video revolving around their dance moves. Music videos and the way the writer dances in the video better shows the message that they are trying to get across to there audience. Dance is hard work and can take a lot of time to perfect the skill of dance, it’s not for me but it is for a wide percentage of people.
Dance is explained in the chapter as movement emotionally through space . I think dance is absolutely beautiful. Dances like ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary are familiar to me. As a kid I took dance classes, but then again, who didn’t. I was a very emotional kid and my mom though that dance would be a great way for me to portray those emotions. Not going to lie, I was a very anger ridden child. So when I would dance in my ballet class, if I couldn’t do a move I would angrily run out of class crying. It is safe to say I quit dance after that.
Years later my friends mom had a dance studio and I decided it would be fun to join. I did a hip hop class but didn’t like the fact that I had to follow what everyone else was doing. I had crazy cool ideas but, I was not the instructor. Again, I liked being in control of things. So then again, I quit because “it was too much of a time commitment.”
I have now found that I actually can dance, just not in proper form. I guess I do by best work when I am hanging out on a Friday or Saturday night. Yes I know twerking isn’t the new ballet, but it can be considered hip hop.
The chapter explains the beauty in ballet and interpretive dance, but it also acknowledges hip hop which originated from NYC. Any means of dance is a form of art, whether its booty poppin with your girls on the weekend or on broadway, it is a beautiful talent to have.
Anna Strang The next chapter is all about dance. I think dance is a beautiful expression of emotions, well only certain types of dancing. For example, I do not believe twerking or nae naeing is an art form. But I do know that there are many different types of dance. There is the street dancing you see on the streets of New York, the type of dancing you would see on Broadway, and many more different types of dances. I love dance because it is so diverse and beautiful. I think dance is so passionate and emotional. You could have a dance like ballet that can bring up sad emotions. While hip hop can bring excitement to someone.
This chapter talks about all the elements that are involved with dance. Dancing has a theme or story behind it. For someone to fully understand that story or theme does not only depend on how a person moves their body, but there has to be other elements involved. The dance will include music and depending on this music the emotions will be different. The setting of the dance will also help express the theme or story behind that dance. Whether the dance is on the street or if it is on Broadway. The lighting of the stage also invokes emotions. Another part of the dance is the costumes that are used. While watching a dancing performance I thought of all the elements that went into the performance. All I thought about was how good the dance was. After reading this chapter I feel that I will now have a full understanding of dancing and how everything works together to create the performers story or theme come alive.
Dance is such a beautiful art form and only certain people have the talent to pull off this type of art. I wish I was fortunate enough to have the talent to pull off any type of dancing art performance.
Dance is a form of art that a lot of people have a relationship with whether they realize it or not. Everyone has watched a movie with a dance scene in it or been to watch a loved ones recital, or been a dancer. Dance is an art form that more people nowadays appreciate because there are so many different types and so many different aspects or ways people can get involved. You can watch them in movies, you can take dance lessons, you can find teenagers dancing at parties and in clubs, you can watch music videos that have dancing in them, you can go to a high school dance, everyone dances at weddings, you can see it walking down the streets of a city. Everyone comes across dance. When I think of dance I think of little girls going to ballet classes and tap classes. Personally I never took a dance class but when I was in preschool we put on recitals twice a year. Our recitals tended to be simpler so that everyone could participate even if they weren’t dancers. The one dance that I remember mostly is a tap number. We dressed as elephants because the recital was a jungle theme. I’m not a good dancer, but that doesn’t mean I don’t wish I could be one. When I think of dance I tend to think more of the hip-hop and modern dance than I do of ballet. To me ballet is extremely old fashioned, but it is still a form of dance. Dance is an extremely easy way to let loose and express yourself. You don’t have to have a planned routine you can just hear the music feel the beat and do whatever you want (you don’t even necessarily have to be good at it) which to me is what makes dance such an easy art form to relate to.
Dance was a big part of my childhood. I took ballet and tap when I was very young but it wasn't a serious class. I was probably five at the time and had to dress like a rainbow bird for my recital. When I moved, I started taking Irish step with my sister and we continued to do that for four years. It was such an interesting and energetic dance to learn. I tried to quit two years into it and started taking a jazz class instead. I realized thirty minutes through the first class that it wasn't for me, so I switched back over to Irish step.
The author made a good point in the "A Real Encounter" section. Dancing cannot be taught by reading instructions off of a page or reading about experiences of other professionals. They need a coach to show them moves and train them. I believe that certain dances require some extent of natural talent. For example, a ballet dancer needs to be graceful. Ballet when you're five years old is one thing but no matter how hard I practiced, I have zero confidence that I would be able to look as smooth as professional ballerinas do while they are performing.
I learned from this chapter that hip-hop originates from the Bronx. I envy people who can be so quick on their feet and create something that energizes the entire crowd. The music is also a large part of the performance. Without music, the dance would still be beautiful but I believe that most of the emotion when watching this sort of performance comes from the music. I thought it was interesting how different composers wrote the music for the dance performances. One composer, the Russian Peter Tchaikovsky, wrote music that "easily translated into the dancer's movements. John Cage wrote his pieces without ever seeing the dance.
I appreciate all forms of dance but I especially respect dances that tell a story. It creates an entirely different aspect. I've seen movies on Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet, but during the Romantic Age, these were performed as "narrative ballets". I looked up narrative ballets and read that they have characters and plot lines, just like a play. Not only are these performers dancing, they are acting as well. Some popular examples are the Sleeping Beauty and the Nutcracker.
Dance is definitely art and I have always known that. I do not consider myself a dancer nor do I performance however I find that dance itself is amazing. I find that dance is a type of art that consist of a lot of emotion, actually maybe the most emotions. Even though I d o not performance dance, I love to dance. Dance also relates to my art I make project of culture tradition. Dance is very common in my culture. I grew up seeing everyone dancing and whenever I visit Dominican Republic there does not go a day by that I don’t see someone dancing. There exists dance with music and dance without either one involves so much emotion into the dance. The chapter states that dance is the poetry of music and indeed it is. A dance performance can tell an entire story. There so many types of dance styles and all tell a specific story and show a specific emotion. One can just express so much with dance. There is also such a uniqueness to dance. Dance is also very complicated. It takes time, practice, and dedication to learn a specific dance. Definitely a lot of effort. I love every kind of dance. Dance that is just for fun and dance that is specifically for a performance or even in a play. I myself plan MSU’s Multicultural Dance Conference. I carefully pick out and arrange the kind of dances that will be taught in the workshops. This year we will have four different kind of dance being taught: Hip-Hop, Bhangra, Belly dance and African.
If there's one art form that I can say that I both do not enjoy doing nor watching, it's the art of Dance. It may be because I'm absolutely horrible at it, but it's also because I never really felt inspired to get up and dance for any song ever, even if it's one of my favorites. It's bothersome for me especially at parties when I'm asked to dance, because when I say "Oh I can't dance," I really mean it. I've seen people do crazy stuff with the form of dance, for example the group that performed at the RWU pep rally a few days ago, but I never was really crazy like everyone else was when they were out and dancing.
Dance is the art of movement. Over the years there have been many different forms of dance that appeared such as hip hop, swing, tap, ballet, and many others. I believe however that the art of dance can not be done without the art of music present. It would be difficult to dance or watch someone dance with the form of ballet while a song by Eminem is playing. It's for this reason that there seems to be a direct relationship with the change of music having an impact on the change in dance. However dance can also be used for theatrical means, usually to tell a story or a describe a theme. I didn't really know a lot about dance and famous performances besides swan lake. But because I didn't know much about dance, after reading the chapter, it really helped me understand things such as different types of dances as well as different techniques. However, it really didn't change my opinion or my view on the art form of dance in the end. It's definitely a form of art, just one that I don't enjoy.
Dance is always something I have loved, I like to think it goes with my personality. When I think of dance I think of good times, I think of peace, and I think of continuity. These are things that I think about, so when reading this chapter I wanted to take something out of it, whether it be history, how dance is art, or anything that I did not know prior to the chapter. I immediately enjoy the comparison of a writer to a dancer, when I see a good dancer it really is like watching art in motion, the fluent motions are something that I have always found amazing. I also enjoy the statement the author made about how dance can be performed just about anywhere. It was also very interesting to learn that King Louis XIV loved to dance, I would have thought that a man of his stature would almost think of dance as something silly. Also interesting to see how large the dance world is, and how quickly it expanded to different regions of the world. The elements of dance are definitely something that I could have guessed, but it is pretty interesting how they tie together to show a story. I was surprised by how many types of dance there were though, I personally enjoy the popular, social, and jazz dance the most, but find the folk and ethnic dance types somewhat of a bore. Also the amount of techniques in dance threw me for a whirl, I was also intrigued at the fact that many of them were from different origins. As a whole, it was a good chapter in my opinion. I learned a lot about how large of an impact dance has in the world, but in the long run you do not need anything but yourself to dance and enjoy it.
I took dance classes from the time I was three, until I was about sixteen years old. I did all different types of dancing, Jazz, Ballet, Cheer, and Irish Step dancing. I started doing dance because my mom thought it would be something fun for me to do, but I continued doing it because I really enjoyed every aspect of it. Although I don’t still take classes, I am always still dancing. Sometimes out in public, and other times in the comfort of my own home. Dancing is something that can almost always be done.
ReplyDeleteWhile taking dance lessons, my favorite aspects of it were the learning of new skills, the renewing of old ones, the teamwork, and of course, the recitals. My favorite part of dance, however, is that there is not just one, universal, type of dance. There are elegant dances, athletic dances, and social dancing. Yes they all involve moving one’s body, but the way each moves for each dance is completely different. That’s what I love about it; not one dance is at all the same.
I also really like how dance and music usually always go hand in hand. I’m a big fan of music and so being able to dance along to a song or artist that I really enjoy, makes dancing that much more fun for me. Dancing also has a lot in common with theatre. The dancing used in theatre, is emphasized by their costumes and lightings. Dance is not simply used just for dancing, it’s incorporated into all different aspects of art, which I find most interesting. In tons of different art types, you will find dance somehow lodged in there.
After reading the types of dance that there are, I wondered if the categories listed are the only one’s used in the art world, or if they are just the most popular ones. Personally, I would also include the dances that people learn as kids, especially in classes, like hip-hop, tap, lyrical, etc., but maybe these just fall under an already listed category, such as social dance. This is definitely something I would have to look into, because I believe there are many more types of dances than those that are listed in the book. Overall, I would say that either this chapter or the music chapter have been favorite so far, mainly because I can relate to both of them so closely.
Abi Lisee
ReplyDeleteAesthetics
Dance
Personally, I have never taken a dance class before. I think part of me wanted to try a dance class but by the time I was really interested in dance I felt it was too late to really get into it. However, although I didn’t dance as a child I watched my two best friends dance. I went to their dance shows to show my support and because I enjoyed it. I think dance is so unbelievably important and for some people I think it is so underappreciated.
I have really been interested in dance for a few years now. My mom has always been into the dance shows such as So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars so I began watching those with her and that sort of got me to really appreciate dancing. I think the fact that a person or people can take a song and transform it into a dance that sends a message that can either be entertaining or emotional and to me that is incredible. The dances I have always enjoyed the most were the ones that make me cry. They force emotion out of a person only by watching the way a person moves across a stage.
Another aspect of dance that I think is honorable is that dance brings people together. It brings people from all different places and ways of life and it unites them. Dance gives people an opportunity to get of the streets and make a life of themselves and gives them opportunities that people may not otherwise have.
I like that the chapter considered dance the “poetry of movement”. I think that is such a beautiful way to put it. I think poetry and dance could have the same effect on a person and they are both two of my forms of art. Other than that I thought the chapter could’ve been better.
The last thing I remember about dancing was running off the stage during a recital I was in over 12 years ago because I was scared of the music. Besides the fact that I am clearly not the type dance or perform in dance recitals, I do enjoy going to them, and performances based solely on dance. There is a variety of different kinds of dance I like ranging from ballet to hip hop. My favorite ballet is The Nutcracker, mostly because when I was younger I used to watch Barbie and the Nutcracker all the time and after seeing the actual performance live at the County Center in White Plains, I loved it. There are also lots of dance movies that I enjoy. One of the movies I enjoyed watching on Disney Channel was Another Cinderella Story. I liked this movie because of the style of dance and the vibe of a semi-dance competition within the show.
ReplyDeleteBefore reading this chapter, I did not realize that dance was a form of art. After reading this chapter, I learned that dance has existed for many years, dating back to the 1600’s and probably even before. I found it very interesting that ballet was very popular in the 1600’s and was a popular form of entertainment throughout Europe. I also found it interesting that all around the world, many cultures had their own interpretation and style of dancing including in Japan and Africa. Growing up near New York City, I never knew that hip-hop was originated in the Bronx. I find it very interesting how a style of dance from one borough can escalate and end up becoming such a popular style of dance throughout the world.
After reading this chapter, I am curious to learn about dance. It would be interesting to learn more about dance especially how choreographers come up with the ideas for certain dances. I will also be paying more attention to dance in performances, whether they be on tv or at Broadway during a musical.
Nicole Marmo
ReplyDeleteDance
Dance is definitely a form of art. Many different dance styles can be interpreted in many different ways. Dance is also an enjoyable way to express oneself. Dancing is also a great form of entertainment. I can honestly say that I do enjoy watching specific dancing styles. I’m not interested in dancing with the stars type dances like the tango and the waltz I’m more interested in hip hop dancing and breakdancing. It really interests me because I’ve always wanted to be able to dance like that, but I never could. I’m actually a huge Step Up fan, if you don’t know the Step Up movies they’re basically about how hip hop dancing isn’t for hoodlums and should also be considered a legitimate style of dance.
In my world, dance is definitely considered art. People spend a lot of time to perfect a dance or a dance move and they put in a lot of effort. Another good thing about dance is that it is one of the art form that includes a good exercise. So if I were a good dancer, which I am not, instead of going to the gym for exercise I would probably just dance to work off some calories or to blow off some steam.
There’s so much involved in dancing, but it’s so hard to fully define dance as an enjoyable art. Some people don’t enjoy dance at all or only like a specific type. There are so many different dance styles like: hip-hop, break dancing, ballet, tap dancing, etc. Whatever suits your fancy. I like how the book defined dance as the poetry of movement I thought that was very clever.
Another fun thing about dance is that there are so many songs you could dance to in whatever style of dance you want to pursue. And today you can also make a mash up of a group of songs or alter songs so that they fit with your dance routine. There’s a lot of thinking involved in setting up a dance performance, but just randomly breaking into dance doesn’t require as much work. Another element of a dance performance is the clothing. And if you ask any performer the clothing and shoes are one of the biggest elements involved in a dance performance. You also have to make sure that whatever your dancing in is comfortable to dance in and realistic. I’m sure some people have done it, but in my opinion, dancing in jeans is uncomfortable as well as impossible, especially if they’re tight. Overall, dancing should definitely be considered art no matter what genre.
John Yusza
ReplyDeleteDance, not exactly my favorite form of art. I have been to a few dances in my life, my cousin used to dance when she was younger. So I was forced to go and watch sometimes. She did ballet I think. It was alright some of the dancing was better than others. I think the most exposure to dance I have had is with ballet. Dance also kind of ties into last week’s theater chapter, because in a lot of those shows they are singing but at the same time dancing.
When I think of dance I do really just think ballet. That is the major one that just comes into my head as the main form or most known form of professional dancing. I think that is because it takes way more skill for ballet than other forms of dancing. The other forms are more natural like when people are at a party and dance to music you don’t really think about it. It is more of a form of expressing yourself. More people express themselves through dance than through say painting. Dancing is unique because it does not require anything, just your body.
I think I don’t really like dance because I was never good at it. So as an art form it does not really interest me. I will watch some videos of dancing and be like wow that was good and I respect the effort people put into it. However it still isn’t my thing. I like it a little bit more when there is an added layer to dance. Like in those videos where people are dancing in light suits and it looks really awesome. It is more of a visually does it look cool or hard to do for me to appreciate it.
I don’t enjoy sitting through dance shows but I think I can bear like a ten minute performance. An hour or two performances is just too much for me to bear. I feel like it has to be a really captivating performance. Dance is unique because it is hard to recreate a painting can more or less be redone. But a dance is unique to a specific dancer. Maybe that is why some people like dance more than the visual arts.
When I was younger, I participated in a many different dance classes ranging from hip hop to ballet. I joined and participated in these classes for just a few years as many young girls do. I often went to my friends dance recitals as I grew up, watching the different dancers enrolled in different dance class styles. Although I never have attended a professional dance show I have seen many dance styles. I honestly wish I knew how to dance well and be able to perform different styles of dance.
ReplyDeleteThe hip-hop dances always seem very interesting to me, I find myself enjoying those dance types the most. I can relate to the dances more, usually knowing the songs before the show and being able to enjoy them while the show is in progress. All the dance types take a lot of talent and work to perfect I agree with the book that the ballet and slower dances often have more meaning behind them than the more modern day dances.
Dance is very difficult and takes a lot of effort and thought to create an entire dance performance. A ballet is numerous sets of different dances combined in one long show. The entire ballet usually has a lot of meaning and reasoning behind it making it not only meaningful for the dancers and the writers but also for the people in the audience watching. The dance could represent different emotional things for the different people yet they could all feel connected to the dance.
There are a lot of different parts that go into dance; I think taking just one element out would change the way people look at dance. The music gives the general theme for the entire show and without it the dance would not be as interesting. The costumes and the lighting also add to the presentation, the costumes are so important and vary so much from different styles. Many hip-hop and break-dancers wear baggy clothing wear others wear leotards and simpler costumes. Putting all of these elements together and choreographing a performance makes it art.
I agree with the book that there is no specific way to enjoy the art of dance other than going to see it live. Being seen in person much like other types of art makes the experience so much more enjoyable and interesting. The dancers are able to intensify movements, whether they are everyday movements or complicated dance moves, in order to show emotion. I find is so interesting that certain people can move their body in ways that others (like me) cannot after a little rehearsing.
I think dance is the one art form that unites the most people. There are minimal moments in dance that are lost in translation. The static art forms like drawings, paintings, and sculptures can be translated so many different ways. We saw in class last week when we were critiquing one girl’s Art I Make project that you can see so many different themes in one art piece, and not everyone can relate with a static art piece. With dance, more people can relate and see the theme. I think that dance is more straightforward. Everyone can understand and it is more relatable to everyone.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many different kinds of dance and elements of dance. I really like that they called dance the poetry of movement. There is always a story and so much emotion inside a dance performance. And it has a rhythm like poetry does. And it is balanced with the music. I really like watching freestyle dance. I like how they translate music on the spot. The musicality of the dancers is amazing. They can hear the music and translate that into movement.
My sister and I grew up dancing. Ever since I was three up until I was 16 or 17. I took all different types of classes like tap, jazz, and ballet. My favorite was tap. I really like that you could create rhythm without having music. You can create your own music. One year on So You Think You Can Dance, there was one tap performance that really inspired me. It was one of the first tappers that made it far in the competition. The choreography was amazing. There was so much emotion in character in the dance. They really portrayed the story so well. There were no words in the music and you could still tell what they story was about. They also reinforced the storyline with their tap shoes. When they were mad they would tap faster and with more force. When they were sad their taps were lighter and softer. It was really amazing.
I think it’s really cool how so many different dance types there are and how they relate and how different aspects of different types of dance align. I also really like the evolution of dance and how the modern dance that is happening today was inspired by decades before us. That is another thing that related dance as an art form. That is has evolved through history.
Shannon Smith
ReplyDeleteChapter 7 reflection
10/22/15
Since I was a young girl I have been involved in dancing. I have been affected by dance not only through my years of dance classes when I was a young girl, but even now I find myself in love with the art of dance. This chapter highlighted many important aspects of dancing while also acknowledging the modern versions of dance that some may considered “trashier” than classic ballet. This chapter outlined the importance of how to interpret a dance performance, what to acknowledge (besides the dancing itself) and how to successfully critique a performance.
From a very young age I (along with many other toddlers) enrolled in a ballet class. My parents believed this would be a fun pass time for me, hopefully become a skill or hobby of mine and eventually lead to the blossoming of new friendships. Through dance I did meet many friends who I still keep in contact with today, however I have not continued this “hobby” due to a lack of interest in ballet. Ballet is a very uniform and classic style of dancing, something I never really became fond of. Although I have never been a fan of actually performing ballet I find the style of dance intriguing. There are so many aspects to this style, not only the intricate positions one must perform, but the costumes, and even the set up of the performance has always amazed me. I can recall viewing the nutcracker ballet performance and being astounded by the amount of effort required to bring this story to life. The various costumes, characters, and settings made this performance rather amazing.
This chapter also talks about the often neglected style of hip hop dancing. This style of dancing is the only international art form that has originated from the Bronx. I was completely unaware that this style of dance originated from the Bronx and was surprised to learn this. I have always had a great admiration for hip hop dancers because of the amazing choreography and soul that goes into this type of dance. I believe being born during this millennium has also fueled my appreciation for this style of art.
Kristin Portsmouth
ReplyDeleteAesthetics Response 8
October 26, 2015
Dance is an art form like no other; you use your body movements to represent emotion or a story. Dance can be done with any type of music or with no music at all. There are so many different styles of dance that its possible that every dance you’ve seen is completely unique to any other dance ever performed. Dancing today, also, is completely different to dancing 100 years ago. The progression of dance shows how over time we have learned new techniques for dance and new styles and new movements that can create a whole different meaning to the dance being performed. This evolution shows that dance is an art like any other form; it’s subject to change.
I myself am not a dancer at all; I have no rhythm and can rarely stay with the beat. However, I am a huge fan of watching other people dance. One of my favorite shows throughout middle and high school was America’s Best Dance Crew. This show was all about different dance crews performing dances based on a certain theme. It was so interesting seeing how each crew came up with a unique dance based off the same theme. This show showcased so many different styles of hip-hop dancing such as breaking, locking, popping, and tutting. These styles of dancing are much different compared to the typical ballroom dancing style or any other style like ballet, tap, or jazz. Since there are so many different styles dancing can please anyone.
You may think dancing just happens as you go along, but music takes lots of practice and you have to consider all the elements of dance. That is something I learned from this chapter. There are four major elements that go into creating a dance: the movements, the music, the story or theme and finally the staging. Each of these elements is important to create a good dance performance. Being a choreographer must be very difficult having to come up with moves that match a certain type of music and making sure your story or theme is presented in a way that the audience can clearly see it. I respect people who can do this and especially those that can actually perform the dances created. Dancers should be given a lot more credit because what they do is actually really difficult; not everyone can do it so they should be appreciated.
Kirsten Hansen
ReplyDeleteI do believe that dance is a form of expression but I'm fairly back and forth as to whether or not I feel it is art. This might just be because I never took dance as a kid or really cared much about it growing up. I have friends who have been dancing for years and I know they, as well as many others, will argue that dance is in fact art. I am not saying that they are wrong necessarily, I just do not really think that I see it in the same way as they do.
I suppose the practice of choreographing dance is kind of art, however just doing it... I don't know.
As the chapter mentions, there are different pieces to dance. This is why I can see the act of creating a dance is more of art that actually doing it. Choreographers have to account for the music, the story, etcetera.
I am not saying that dance is easy by any means - I just do not see it to be art.
I have been to a number of dance recitals to watch and support my friends over the years. I have also been to a number of broadway shows. I truly admire what these people can do, however I do not see the act of dancing to be art. As I mentioned before, I do however, consider the act of choreography to be art.
Max Kraimer
ReplyDeleteDance
In the chapter the author expresses that dance shows the body’s poetic movement in space. The reason I like dance as a form of art because not only is it a representation of body movement but most of the time it directly correlates to music. Another reason I like dance as a form of art because there are so many ways to dance. The book also describes that dance began to tell there own stories. Many dancers perform in costumes and take hours to perfect their movement. I think this is why I think dance is so intriguing, because I’m not skilled enough and I don’t have the patience to learn each step to all there routines, I respect those who are good at it. Also dance can have outside effects with its surrounds. For example, most dances performed on stages have certain lighting that adds to the story and movement of the dancer.
Real dancing takes enormous skill, but another aspect of dance is that you can throw on music in your room and dance your heart out, which I often do. Some say that my dance moves are trendy and that I have great flow. In high school me and my friend Cole were in a male pageant show, reenacting the dance scene from Dirty Dancing. It only took a day to get our routine down and it was kind of fun performing it too. To me the hardest part was not actually learning the dance moves but facing my fear and coming out on stage. Oh and P.S. I was the girl from the scene. Although it was a lot for me to get on stage dressed like a girl it was still a blast and we stole the show from the other contestants.
If I were to study the progression of dance I would probably enjoy it. Dance from today’s era has changed enormously from when it first started. Today there are street performs, tap dancers, ballet, and such more then I probably don’t even know. Dance is seen all around us. Music videos were made to advertise the writer’s work with a creative video revolving around their dance moves. Music videos and the way the writer dances in the video better shows the message that they are trying to get across to there audience. Dance is hard work and can take a lot of time to perfect the skill of dance, it’s not for me but it is for a wide percentage of people.
Dance is explained in the chapter as movement emotionally through space . I think dance is absolutely beautiful. Dances like ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary are familiar to me. As a kid I took dance classes, but then again, who didn’t. I was a very emotional kid and my mom though that dance would be a great way for me to portray those emotions. Not going to lie, I was a very anger ridden child. So when I would dance in my ballet class, if I couldn’t do a move I would angrily run out of class crying. It is safe to say I quit dance after that.
ReplyDeleteYears later my friends mom had a dance studio and I decided it would be fun to join. I did a hip hop class but didn’t like the fact that I had to follow what everyone else was doing. I had crazy cool ideas but, I was not the instructor. Again, I liked being in control of things. So then again, I quit because “it was too much of a time commitment.”
I have now found that I actually can dance, just not in proper form. I guess I do by best work when I am hanging out on a Friday or Saturday night. Yes I know twerking isn’t the new ballet, but it can be considered hip hop.
The chapter explains the beauty in ballet and interpretive dance, but it also acknowledges hip hop which originated from NYC. Any means of dance is a form of art, whether its booty poppin with your girls on the weekend or on broadway, it is a beautiful talent to have.
Anna Strang
ReplyDeleteThe next chapter is all about dance. I think dance is a beautiful expression of emotions, well only certain types of dancing. For example, I do not believe twerking or nae naeing is an art form. But I do know that there are many different types of dance. There is the street dancing you see on the streets of New York, the type of dancing you would see on Broadway, and many more different types of dances. I love dance because it is so diverse and beautiful. I think dance is so passionate and emotional. You could have a dance like ballet that can bring up sad emotions. While hip hop can bring excitement to someone.
This chapter talks about all the elements that are involved with dance. Dancing has a theme or story behind it. For someone to fully understand that story or theme does not only depend on how a person moves their body, but there has to be other elements involved. The dance will include music and depending on this music the emotions will be different. The setting of the dance will also help express the theme or story behind that dance. Whether the dance is on the street or if it is on Broadway. The lighting of the stage also invokes emotions. Another part of the dance is the costumes that are used. While watching a dancing performance I thought of all the elements that went into the performance. All I thought about was how good the dance was. After reading this chapter I feel that I will now have a full understanding of dancing and how everything works together to create the performers story or theme come alive.
Dance is such a beautiful art form and only certain people have the talent to pull off this type of art. I wish I was fortunate enough to have the talent to pull off any type of dancing art performance.
Dance is a form of art that a lot of people have a relationship with whether they realize it or not. Everyone has watched a movie with a dance scene in it or been to watch a loved ones recital, or been a dancer. Dance is an art form that more people nowadays appreciate because there are so many different types and so many different aspects or ways people can get involved. You can watch them in movies, you can take dance lessons, you can find teenagers dancing at parties and in clubs, you can watch music videos that have dancing in them, you can go to a high school dance, everyone dances at weddings, you can see it walking down the streets of a city. Everyone comes across dance.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of dance I think of little girls going to ballet classes and tap classes. Personally I never took a dance class but when I was in preschool we put on recitals twice a year. Our recitals tended to be simpler so that everyone could participate even if they weren’t dancers. The one dance that I remember mostly is a tap number. We dressed as elephants because the recital was a jungle theme.
I’m not a good dancer, but that doesn’t mean I don’t wish I could be one. When I think of dance I tend to think more of the hip-hop and modern dance than I do of ballet. To me ballet is extremely old fashioned, but it is still a form of dance.
Dance is an extremely easy way to let loose and express yourself. You don’t have to have a planned routine you can just hear the music feel the beat and do whatever you want (you don’t even necessarily have to be good at it) which to me is what makes dance such an easy art form to relate to.
Dance was a big part of my childhood. I took ballet and tap when I was very young but it wasn't a serious class. I was probably five at the time and had to dress like a rainbow bird for my recital. When I moved, I started taking Irish step with my sister and we continued to do that for four years. It was such an interesting and energetic dance to learn. I tried to quit two years into it and started taking a jazz class instead. I realized thirty minutes through the first class that it wasn't for me, so I switched back over to Irish step.
ReplyDeleteThe author made a good point in the "A Real Encounter" section. Dancing cannot be taught by reading instructions off of a page or reading about experiences of other professionals. They need a coach to show them moves and train them. I believe that certain dances require some extent of natural talent. For example, a ballet dancer needs to be graceful. Ballet when you're five years old is one thing but no matter how hard I practiced, I have zero confidence that I would be able to look as smooth as professional ballerinas do while they are performing.
I learned from this chapter that hip-hop originates from the Bronx. I envy people who can be so quick on their feet and create something that energizes the entire crowd. The music is also a large part of the performance. Without music, the dance would still be beautiful but I believe that most of the emotion when watching this sort of performance comes from the music. I thought it was interesting how different composers wrote the music for the dance performances. One composer, the Russian Peter Tchaikovsky, wrote music that "easily translated into the dancer's movements. John Cage wrote his pieces without ever seeing the dance.
I appreciate all forms of dance but I especially respect dances that tell a story. It creates an entirely different aspect. I've seen movies on Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet, but during the Romantic Age, these were performed as "narrative ballets". I looked up narrative ballets and read that they have characters and plot lines, just like a play. Not only are these performers dancing, they are acting as well. Some popular examples are the Sleeping Beauty and the Nutcracker.
Dance is definitely art and I have always known that. I do not consider myself a dancer nor do I performance however I find that dance itself is amazing. I find that dance is a type of art that consist of a lot of emotion, actually maybe the most emotions. Even though I d o not performance dance, I love to dance. Dance also relates to my art I make project of culture tradition. Dance is very common in my culture. I grew up seeing everyone dancing and whenever I visit Dominican Republic there does not go a day by that I don’t see someone dancing. There exists dance with music and dance without either one involves so much emotion into the dance. The chapter states that dance is the poetry of music and indeed it is. A dance performance can tell an entire story. There so many types of dance styles and all tell a specific story and show a specific emotion. One can just express so much with dance. There is also such a uniqueness to dance. Dance is also very complicated. It takes time, practice, and dedication to learn a specific dance. Definitely a lot of effort. I love every kind of dance. Dance that is just for fun and dance that is specifically for a performance or even in a play. I myself plan MSU’s Multicultural Dance Conference. I carefully pick out and arrange the kind of dances that will be taught in the workshops. This year we will have four different kind of dance being taught: Hip-Hop, Bhangra, Belly dance and African.
ReplyDeleteIf there's one art form that I can say that I both do not enjoy doing nor watching, it's the art of Dance. It may be because I'm absolutely horrible at it, but it's also because I never really felt inspired to get up and dance for any song ever, even if it's one of my favorites. It's bothersome for me especially at parties when I'm asked to dance, because when I say "Oh I can't dance," I really mean it. I've seen people do crazy stuff with the form of dance, for example the group that performed at the RWU pep rally a few days ago, but I never was really crazy like everyone else was when they were out and dancing.
ReplyDeleteDance is the art of movement. Over the years there have been many different forms of dance that appeared such as hip hop, swing, tap, ballet, and many others. I believe however that the art of dance can not be done without the art of music present. It would be difficult to dance or watch someone dance with the form of ballet while a song by Eminem is playing. It's for this reason that there seems to be a direct relationship with the change of music having an impact on the change in dance. However dance can also be used for theatrical means, usually to tell a story or a describe a theme. I didn't really know a lot about dance and famous performances besides swan lake. But because I didn't know much about dance, after reading the chapter, it really helped me understand things such as different types of dances as well as different techniques. However, it really didn't change my opinion or my view on the art form of dance in the end. It's definitely a form of art, just one that I don't enjoy.
Dance is always something I have loved, I like to think it goes with my personality. When I think of dance I think of good times, I think of peace, and I think of continuity. These are things that I think about, so when reading this chapter I wanted to take something out of it, whether it be history, how dance is art, or anything that I did not know prior to the chapter.
ReplyDeleteI immediately enjoy the comparison of a writer to a dancer, when I see a good dancer it really is like watching art in motion, the fluent motions are something that I have always found amazing. I also enjoy the statement the author made about how dance can be performed just about anywhere. It was also very interesting to learn that King Louis XIV loved to dance, I would have thought that a man of his stature would almost think of dance as something silly. Also interesting to see how large the dance world is, and how quickly it expanded to different regions of the world.
The elements of dance are definitely something that I could have guessed, but it is pretty interesting how they tie together to show a story. I was surprised by how many types of dance there were though, I personally enjoy the popular, social, and jazz dance the most, but find the folk and ethnic dance types somewhat of a bore. Also the amount of techniques in dance threw me for a whirl, I was also intrigued at the fact that many of them were from different origins.
As a whole, it was a good chapter in my opinion. I learned a lot about how large of an impact dance has in the world, but in the long run you do not need anything but yourself to dance and enjoy it.