Ballet Technique Video

Here is a video that shows jumps, turns, lifts, and more that dancers would do in a ballet piece.  This is also done on point.

Amazing Ballet Video

Because watching a classical ballet piece may be boring to some people (unless you have interest in the art), I was happy to find an INCREDIBLE/AMAZING ballet piece that would keep your interest :) Notice how much flexibility and strength it takes to do certain techniques with control.  Also, she is dancing on the tips of her toes with special shoes called "point shoes".

Modern Technique

Martha Graham "Mother of Modern Dance"

Isadora Duncan

Partner Work

Modern also calls for some partner work and lifts: 

Partner Lift



 Because modern dancing is expressive, it calls for many abstract/interpretive poses.

This also requires strenght for many controlled falls and jumps (similar to ballet technique & flexability).

Falls, Jump, & Poses



Modern

Modern is a dance style that rejects many of the strict rules of classical ballet, focusing instead on the expression/emotion of the dancer's feelings.  It encourages the dancer to use their emotions and moods to design their own steps and routines.

Martha Graham and Isadora Duncan are two of the many influential choreographers who have helped in the development of modern dance from the past 150 years.  Martha Graham used releasing techniques where she rejected the primary importance of ballet positions, and did her own movements where the source of energy was the center of the body.  Isadora Duncan used ancient Greek for her inspiration of dancing where she learned to project vivid personalities through music, motion and stillness of self-expression and passion.

Modern dancers often use their body weight to enhance their movements, whereas classical ballet dancers strive to be light and airy of their feet.

Reference:
-Susan Cooper. Staging Dance. London: A & C Black Limited, 1998.
-http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-modern-dance.htm

Dance Fact

Did you know that there are over 48 different dance styles that exist?

Click this link to see a list and description of the different styles:

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/types-of-dances-and-different-dancing-styles.html

Ballet Technique

Here are the five ballet positions created by a well-known French ballet teacher and choreographer, Pierre Beauchamp

Ballet also calls for flexibility and strength to be able to do certain moves like:

Arabesque

Passé

Jete

Ballet

One of the most popular forms of dance that is still performed all over the world is ballet.  Ballet is a very strict form of dance where a person’s posture, arm movement, feet placement and focus have to be perfectly placed.  It originated in Italy, and was performed between acts of classical comedies, tragedies, and operas called intermezzos.  By the "18^th century the center of dance activity had moved from Italy to France.  This is where most of the ballet terms know to people is from.  In almost every ballet term used, there are meanings that describe the movement being done.  For example, releve which means to rise and the movement would be to rise to the balls of your feet."  It wasn’t until the 20^th century that the art form of ballet took root in the United States.  Lots of different styles emerged from ballet like religious dancing, folk dancing, (as well as the most popular form of dance today) modern, lyrical, contemporary, and hip hop.  Ballet is the foundation to all dance styles.

Reference:
Wendy Burke. (2010). "Dance History." Dance4it.com. 13 Feb. 2011.

Intro

Hello people!  Welcome to my blog.  An interesting fact about me is that I LOVE to dance.  I've been dancing for 16 years (since I was 3 yrs. old), and hope to continue to do it as long as I can.  The four styles of dance that I will be mentioning are Ballet, Modern, Jazz, and Hip Hop.  Hope you enjoy it :)