All Styles

Can you point out the different styles put into one "hip hop" routine?

Ballet, Modern, and Jazz

Ballet, modern, and jazz are all styles that are very similar.  The five ballet positions that I've mentioned earlier are the basic steps or feet positions for each of these styles.  Ballet and modern are very similar in style and flowing movements with controlled lifts.  Ballet and jazz are also very similar because of the same technique used, strict body placements, and sharpness of certain movements.  Modern and jazz is also similar because they both call for self-expression and creativity.  Both styles are open to creating new tricks through improvisation.  But mostly, each of these styles call for great flexibility, technique placement (to do multiple turns), stamina, and body control.

Emotion: Aggression

 

This video is also from "So You Think You Can Dance", choreographed by Travis Wall.  This dance shows a different emotion about anger and hurt.  Both of the dancers use great technique and lifts throughout this routine.  The emotion that they project to the audience is emphasized through their movements.

Emotion: Sorrow

This next video is also from "So You Think You Can Dance", and is a number that was choreographed by Travis Wall.  This piece meant a lot to Travis because it was a story about his mother who was really sick.  This is more of a modern dance compared to the other video "Hard To Love".  The movements done is more abstract, and the mood or expression is strongly shown throughout this video.  Hope you like it!

Emotion: Hard To Love

This video is from a show known as "So You Think You Can Dance".  This is a modern/contemporary dance choreographed by Travis Wall, a well-known dancer and choreographer.  The beginning of this video explains the story of the routine.  Throughout this dance piece, you can find proper ballet technique, as well as ballet technique that has been altered or thrown out of proportion, but with control.  But really notice the emotion used throughout their movements.

Emotion

As I've mentioned earlier, the style of modern dance focuses more on the emotions or mood the dancer wants to show.  This type of style usually tells a story with abstract movements and expressions.  It is best for dancers to use facial expressions to convey the story to the audience in a way that is believable.  Modern dance can tell stories of aggression, sorrow, and love.  The type of music that is used can either have lyrics, or just a melody that best fits the mood.  For a complete picture, it is important for the dancer to project their emotions through their movements, technique, and facial expression.

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