Madi's Blog

Dance History 2 

[madierber]

Peace out Tumblr it’s been real

The first reading began with the discussion of the circle of dance and how it is a mobile thing. Dancing in a circle and transitioning chaos into order through this shape that helps the dancer assert wholeness and create a new world within the space. The ring can be seen as either competitive or spiritual. It can be either a place of combat or a place of the spirits and holy dance. Through dance, people are able to develop their artistic means, claim their territories as well as negotiate the boundaries to fight for their status. 

1992 was the time of the Rodney King riots and was also the time where Thomas Johnson was behind bars. The founder and father of clown dance was looking for ways to make a positive impact on the community which led him to putting on his clown suit and performing at kids birthday parties. Clowning was a versatile form that combined many styles of dance like gangsta boogie and stripper dancing as well as some parts of popping and locking. One part of the clowning section that I found the most interesting was when they talked about the use of face paint as masks so that they could truly express themselves without people seeing that it was them. The painted face can be seen as a weapon but also present play and goofiness throughout the dancing. 

Krumping is danced to hardcore music that is very beat heavy and sometimes has vocals. Movement was classified as more masculine and there was a high speed behind it as well. In addition to the actual movement of Krumping there is such a strong aspect of support from the Krump community as well. The place of dance and the people that are surrounding the dancers is giving them a support system that they don't always have at home. Even though the battles in Krump might seem aggressive the dancers have said that fighting is the last thing on their mind. It's a way for these artists to take their anger and transform it into something positive and express this in a creative way. Rize showcased a lot of the information found within the article. I had done the reading first and looked up some krumping videos as I am not that familiar with this style and once I had the chance to see Krumping and everything that surrounds it in a visual form I found that I understood the reading way more after some outside research. 

I really enjoyed the house reading and learning more about the community of house dancing. I like the discussion of the music throughout the article. The music is nonstop and was created to be danced to not to be listened to. The music that is created is the DJ’s response to what is going on on the dance floor. There is a constant conversation between the DJ and dancer. The article mentions how the words are not as important as the sound of the voice and I found that interesting because I feel that I am so attached to the lyrics and what they are saying rather than how they are being said and what that makes me feel. The underground scene was a way of life that took place after dark and was out of sight. When dancing the dancers want the other people to focus on the dance itself and not them. They don’t want to get to know people on a personal level, just a strictly dance basis. I found this interesting because house dance and this scene is so social but the nature of the people is social in a different way. It was interesting to learn about the specific places such as the paradise garage and the Loft. These were the places to really be seen within these settings. There was a time when the clubs saw a downfall and closed due to the quality of life and the immoral ideas that were coming from these places. They then discussed the appropriation of characters to create these alternative “life” for the performer. where the line on what you appropriate is accepted or brought to attention that it's not okay?

[madierber]

i am woman hear me roar

Hip hops competitive nature has been around for forever. From the start it was a way for the dancers to take the violence from the streets out of their lives and express it in a new physical way. The power that they exert through their movement based off of past experiences is what gives hip hop such this masculine descriptor. The men have a desire to outperform their partner and one up them every chance that they get.  These ideas and the intensity that taunts and boast bring are the reasons that males discourage participation from the women and they will often just end up being an observer or the trophy for who wins. Sexuality evolved with hip hop. Sex is an aspect of life that they have control over and provides them with a feeling of control and domination. 

Throughout the article there were many connections back to Tony Silver’s documentary Wild Style. They talked about how this aimed to show the competitive layers that go along with hip hop. This documentary showed the progression of hip hop from the streets to the clubs and then to the media. When discussing the integration into the media the article also discussed the musical Wild Style and said how it was one of the first films to integrate dance and narrative. When hip hop transitioned to film there was a lot of negotiating to be done on how to showcase the battle setting with the circle and the group of people while still capturing the whole image on the screen. The use of the frame of the camera as the substitute of the circle which stills allows for the exit and entry nature of these performances. The dancers also wanted to keep that aspect of intimidation by staring straight at the camera to intimidate the audience while watching. 

I enjoyed how the Global Breakdancing and the Intercultural Body article went into depth on the culture of hip hop and what it puts on the table. I enjoyed the part where it talked about the field study in Hawaii through interviews done on the students. The questions were focused on the idea of appropriation in hip hop. It was discovered that because of the popularity of rap students more casually would use the N word because that was just assumed due to what they were listening to. This was just a point that goes to show how a culture can bring appropriation to the forefront. 

As for the Rennie Harris article I liked the point of incorporation of movement specific to West African culture. They then discuss how the novice observer would just see this as hip hop and not something specific to another culture. I feel that this is an important point because it goes to show the influence that the African culture has on  hip hop but also how people can't always see the difference. This will allow for people to gain more comfortability seeing a style that they don’t always see and will possibly encourage them to continue watching and learning about the cultures involved.

[madierber]

Taking suggestions for a cool hip- hop name

HIP HOP BABY! This week we finally got to move into hip-hop and explore everything that this culture has to offer. Hip-hop began in the 1970’s through the New York City ghettos. Each element of hip-hop played a huge role in the development of the culture. There are so many elements such as graffiti, Dj-ing, Mc, B-boy, fashion and dialect that fall under that culture of hip- hop. 

On Tuesday, we had the chance to read about popping and locking as well as watch videos to put that information into dance. Popping is a contraction of the muscles within the body to create strong hits. Locking was very similar in nature but was more loose and flowing through the movement while still having sharp precise movements. The Boogaloo looked like a mixture of both of these styles and was easy to see how styles and qualities can all live together in a style. There was a lot of interaction with one another in the videos and the community was present between all the members in the space. 

One of the things that really stuck out to me was the part where it talked about as long as dancers were representing the root form of dance the rest could be colored in by the artist. I think this is very true to hip-hop in the nature that there is a set format and structure to the dance but now all of it is so set in stone. There is so much room for personal interpretation within this style and that was very evident in the videos that we watched. Two of the videos were created more for entertainment purposes but the other one was very true to the battle nature discussed throughout the readings. Another thing that stuck out to me in the reading was when it talked about the severity level of the performance that they would have to explain to cops that they were just dancing and that it wasn’t what they thought. These dancers would go all out in the first round of the battle so that the people watching knew what they were capable of in that performance. There are so many ways to make yourself known in the hip-hop community as well as the city itself.

[madierber]

Hip Hop is a Lifestyle

Tuesday’s class we were able to practice dance notation by creating our own citation method. Going through the steps and creating our own figures and symbols to notate all movements, qualities, levels and many other aspects. This really helped put into perspective all of the things mentioned in the reading that were specific to the notation systems. I liked being able to practice this because I know have a better understanding on how I can notate my choreography but pieces that I am in as well. It was interesting to use our notation system to notate someone else's dance because we kind of created our dance with our system in mind knowing that we could notate it once it was done. This made it more difficult for us when doing the task at hand but also put into more perspective what really needs to go into a notation system to make it effective. When doing this my group discovered the amount of detail and thought that goes into something like this and how it needs to be so specific due to the fact that anyone can use this tool. It was difficult at first but we soon realized that the easier the better and then that really helped us to solidify our ideas  

Thursday’s class we finally got to watch the half time performance which was super refreshing in this really crazy time. This moment helps to show us all that in this time is when we truly need dance and art the most. Having the chance to talk about improv really helped me to gain more comfort with what’s going on. Right now we are at a time where everything we do is going to be improv because we aren’t quite sure what this entails for us. I do believe that improv is a technique even though there aren’t set steps that come along with it. I think of this technique more as skills that are accumulated through practice to help inform decisions that can be made within other styles. There are prompts and ideas that are given that the student then follows to create movement. Prompts in improv are similar to steps specific to a technique. Just like a tendu any score informs you as a move on what to do. Improvisation is such an important skill to have especially when we face situations where we may not have everything that we need.

[madierber]

please give me a 10 this time

Many of the American training programs had an emphasis on acrobatics and Broadway style dances. Ballet was never established as a serious art until the 20th century. There was little sustained development in the art due to the fact that there was a lack in permanent American companies. Ballet dancers were very popular in musical theatre dance but soon ballet was masked by tap and ballroom. Ballet was used on broadway to get what they wanted on the stage. It was a foundational element of that training. 

This topic of conversation had led into the question of “why do we view ballet as the end all be all?” I believe that it is seen this way based on where it began. Ballet was created for the nobles and the higher class and is held to such a  high and strict standard throughout the dance community. Ballet is so strict and is a place to learn the basic functions of movement that are seen in other styles of dance. 

Thursday's class was centered around the discussion of the two articles which were based on Hiplet and an instagram post by Misty Copeland. In a TED talk given by Misty Copeland she discusses many topics in relation to ballet. The first big one was the difficulty in the accessibility of ballet as well as how racism within ballet is more rooted within the stories of ballet. She goes on to discuss why people get so caught up in the characters that people play when they are so deeply rooted in a fairy tale and made up land. Her post on instagram was in response to the Bolshoi Ballet and the use of blackface. The fact that this is still going on in the world today is so crazy because the dance world is so diverse and large that it isn't necessary to do that anymore. There is a time where some of the original things seen with in performances will have to change so that things like this don't continue happening. There needs to be a higher level of education based around this topic so that we can eliminate it and make sure that it's not a common thing that is seen on stage. The second article that we read was centered around Homer Bryant and his creation of Hiplet. This is a style that combines ballet and hip hop and ballet together. Hiplet can be seen as awkward but at the same time these dancers are being seriously trained in ballet as well. Through Hiplet Homer was creating a style that is relevant but also gets kids excited to dance. This is also a way for ballet to branch out from ballet and is also another way into ballet.

[madierber]

Firebird wears the pants in her relationships...

Unlike other ballets that we discussed this week in discussion, Firebird shows the domination of the female throughout the work. The Firebird is a very unnatural and “inhuman” character as seen by the Russian society where as the prince and the princess are the most ideal version of who a person should be. The relationship between Ivan and the Firebird is that of a power struggle and the assertion of one's dominance over the other. The Firebird is a very unnatural being who is exotic and supernatural, whereas the princess, Tsarevna, is very natural and the ideal of Russian identity. The relationship of Ivan and both of the females differ greatly and this is seen a lot based on interactions of them. When both try to escape him he lets the princess go because she is human and he treats her with civility but he doesn't let the Firebird escape due to the unfamiliar ideas she presents.  The pas in this ballet is between Ivan and the Firebird and showcases a combat between the two equals and it doesn't end with a romantic interest and or outcome. Through this interaction it is very obvious the manipulation that goes on between the two of them. Ivan tries his best to assert his dominance and power over the Firebird but she creates a world where he believes that is true but she knows that she holds the power. The Firebird is the ultimate dominant figure and Ivan is just her support. 

There has been discussion of what exactly the Firebird represents as well as if she needs to be a female character. Nijinski originally had wanted to dance the role but didn't. The interpretation of the Firebird can be seen in three different aspects throughout the reading, that of simply a bird, one of “non-human” nature, and finally a being of consummate “other” woman- possessing sexual, seductive, powerful characteristics. The relationships that we as an audience see are that of power and not of love. The Firebird is an advance in representation of women's agency through a positive depiction of a woman with power who ultimately never lets the male figure gain any control over her in the end and she rules him with her power. 

I feel that all three ballets discussed this week stray from the very concrete style and flow of a typical ballet. Each of these stories shows the audience the darker sides of love and life and how it isn’t always sunshine, rainbows and a happy ending. The style of dance and music in Les Noces, Rite of Spring, and Firebird is very strong and aggressive and draws you in through intensity. Les Noces has the power to show the audience what life was really like for women in Russia during this time. Najinska, a female choreographer, and the brains behind this piece, she was able to use her views as a woman to tell the story exactly like it was. There was no male perspective controlling the storyline and what was on stage. In Les Noces it wasn't always females supported by males but a more male against female and the struggle of the new laws in Russia. Les Noces wasn't a quickly produced work either, taking 10 years to finally be complete the piece came out a time where these issues were the most prevalent in society which helped make it so relatable to society,

[madierber]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUT5rEU6pqM

This is damn true if you watched these two women slay the stage on Sunday. This week we continued our focus on ballet but also had a discussion about the Super Bowl and the performance from Jlo and Shakira. I chose to focus on this because the drama that surrounds this topic is pointless. So many people are saying that the show was too sexual and something that they don't want their children and families to watch. 

The standard of performance is so weird in society. People want these big extravagant acts to be put up on stage for the purpose of entertainment and when they see what they have been wanting all along there is always something wrong with it. Jlo and Shakira did just what people wanted and they made a set that showcased their talents and things specific to their cultures. Immediately people hopped onto social media to create a big deal about all of this. There is nothing wrong with people showing where they came from and the place that helped them get to where they are today. 

I related this back to ballet in the sense that for so long the audience had such a say in what was seen on stage and throughout so many points of the evolution of this art they changed that ideal image on stage. For a while women were performing alone and then one day they decided it would be better if a man was there to support her in all she does. Women were capable of living up to that standard that was set for them but at the end of the day it just had to be changed.

[madierber]

Pinky Promise

Ballet is consistently in development and throughout the progression of history there have been many changes made to this art. Many discussions throughout this week of class have been based around women and their representation throughout the dance community. Men dominated the stage for quite some time. A shift in this idea of male domination was seen when women showed their strength by dancing on their toes and the creation of pointe shoes. There was no longer a need for women to be harnessed and lifted up to create this illusion. Defying gravity these women were able to jump just as high as male dancers and encroach on the male specialty of being weightless. Through this men on stage suffered and women slowly came to dominate performances. Women slowly began dancing the male roles, one ballet in specific was Coppélia (1870). The male lead role was not performed by a male until 1952 at the Paris Opera. 

Throughout many of the ballets that we still know today, women are seen as these fantastical, ethereal being. Many of the characteristics that come along with these being just restate again what society believes women need to be like, even though women were to possess other traits within home life duties. Along with these ‘ideals’ of a woman, they could never truly find love until they die. In the reading it says “a perfect relationship is only perfect beyond the grave”. Like in class we discussed that this doesn’t always hit us right away when watching a ballet. It honestly is something that we've accepted to happen at the end of a performance. So much pressure is put on the relationship that it causes lovers to die just so that they can be happy. Ballet is one art form that exaggerates the gender roles and stereotypes of men and women. It is not only evident within costuming but within the movement as well. With other styles especially today there is a shift with more uniform costuming and movement but ballet is still strict in portraying these ideas through movement and story.

[madierber]

my second, not yours

This week we began by discussing the three functions and purposes of dances. These can be broken down into the categories of pleasing the dancer, pleasing the gods, pleasing others. Many of the dances that we have discussed have been for the purpose performance rather than observation. These dances are enjoyed by many and have come into existence through ritualistic purpose.  

The Greek culture is seen as the most influential of Western civilizations. Within this culture art played a huge part in religion, education and theatre. The art was watched over by Terpsichore, a goddess who protects the arts. Apollo and Dionysus are also two gods that are associated with dance. Apollonian dance art is notable for its majesty and formal and Dionysiac is art that is emotionally unrestrained and ecstatic. After learning more about the history of Greek dance, we were split into groups and tasked to research and learn more about a dance specific to Greece. My group was tasked with researching Pentazoli. This is a trademark folk dance from the island of Crete. It consists of 10 steps and these 10 steps are in memory of October 10, 1769 which is when this was dances for the first time in Anopolis. 

After Greek dance, we discussed dance in the Royal Courts. There were two things throughout this section that caught my attention the most, the creation of the barre as well as the development of the five positions. The development of the barre was seen throughout the Renaissance as steps grew more difficult and became more intricate. The dance masters were recommending that their students practice by using the backs of chairs or a taut rope. From this practice barres were introduced as a more stable option and are now seen in every classroom. The introduction of the five positions of the feet can be traced back to Beauchamps. These positions can be compared to the standard fencing stance. This allows for the dancers to increase flexibility and balance as well as be more outward towards the audience. From this the more turned in movements were seen as funny and comedic. 

This week I also found the discussion about what ethnic really is and how we can classify that to a dance that we don’t always see as cultural. Ethnic means that one common thing relates a subgroup together through a common tradition. I see all dance as this then since there is a common language and set of movements that connect all of us together no matter where we are from. Take the Shanghai Ballet for example, members of this department were able to take class with them yesterday even though there is a strong language barrier between us two groups of people. After hearing people's experience with how it was actually easy to understand based on these commonalities is why I feel that all dance can be considered ethnic. 

[madierber]

Blog #1

With the many dances that we have discussed over the past couple of classes, many of the discussions have been based around the idea of why bring them to a stage and to the very public eye, weather that be through video or stage performance. These dances are specific to the culture that they originated within and are a very integral part of that community. Dance is a universal form of communication that allows others to portray ideas and concepts when words can't. These stories that have been passed down throughout generations of people will continue to spread throughout their lineage as a way to tell stories and unify the community. 

Noh, otherwise known as the art of walking was originally enjoyed by the lower class. Men and women participated in this art but soon women were banned and men took on the role of women on the stage. Noh plays are classified into five categories that depict specific topics such as god, warrior, women, madness and demon. Unlike Kabuki, which plays are titled like young mens kabuki or pleasure women's kabuki, Noh focuses on the specific object/topic throughout the play rather than the plays being sectioned off based on gender. The Noh stage is also a pivotal aspect of the performance. The stage set up helps to connect the spirits (backstage) to the world (stage) through the bridges/hallways that connect these two. 

Kabuki is a cultural treasure of Japan that is known as “song, dance, skill”. Founded by a woman named Okuni, she drew from temple dances but also incorporated seductive humor and pantomime. Kabuki is known to have offbeat and unconventional movement to make up this art. The intensity that this brought to the performance lead to strict policies being formed to control the levels of society.The “pleasure women's kabuki” was seen as a rampant vehicle for prostitution, which then lead to the ban in of women perfromers. With this shift in performers the members of Kabuki, men began to shift their appearance with the use of makeup and wigs rather than just masks. 

These performances have been shifted from their natural form into a stage/performance setting. This poses the question of whether or not these dances are in their most natural and authentic state they could be in. Being on a stage or in front of a camera has the power to change your performance quality and the authenticity of what you are doing. I feel that at the end of the day though if these groups did not want their art to be seen in that setting they would not have done it. More conversation and give and take between cultures and finding a balance to allow both sides to be seen and heard is what will lead to the balance and the authenticity of these forms.

[madierber]

Welcome to the blog

Soooooo I’m already dying and its only day two. Shout out to my juicies who already decided to fail me hard core. Jenn get excited for all the time we get to spend together!! 

#hiphopislyfe