question archive Both dance cultures and/or traditions must be distinct and different from each other

Both dance cultures and/or traditions must be distinct and different from each other

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Both dance cultures and/or traditions must be distinct and different from each other. It is important that students in their choice of familiar and unfamiliar cultures and/or traditions do not choose ones that are too close for effective investigation. Hip-hop and break dance, for example, are both from the same dance tradition and/or culture.

The focus of this written investigation into the two dance cultures and/or traditions must include:

  • The historical context
  • The current context (present day social and cultural context, including social, religious, political, spiritual and/or intellectual significance) – in relation to the historical context
  • The elements in the dance – the particular use of the body (involving space, time and dynamics)
  • For the historical context and the elements in the dance, the similarities and differences between the two dance cultures and/or traditions
  • For the current context (in relation to the historical context), the similarities and differences within each selected dance culture and/or tradition.

The written report must be clearly organized and must include primary and secondary sources.

The written report must also refer to:

  • The intention
  • The dance structure/form
  • The choice of subject matter (whether narrative or abstract)
  • The choice of music or accompanying sound, or significant visual elements such as costumes and props (if used)

 

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Familiar and Unfamiliar Dance Genres

            Inarguably, our traditional and modern dance genres are primarily influenced by the underlying political, social, and economic structures. From a historical context, the various dance genres that emerged were associated with the different beliefs, constitutions, activities, obligations, and purposes in different societies. Courtesy of the different traditions and constitutions in our social systems, contemporary dancers, use various elements and dynamics. This paper delves into the historical and current contexts of classical ballet dance and folkloric dance. The paper investigates the similarities and differences of these dances in the historical and current economic and social contexts. The paper further investigates the intentions, dance structures, choice of subject matter, choice of music, and significant visual elements. Confirmed theories in the peer adequately back the arguments presented in this paper reviewed journal article. A brief conclusion will summarize the key areas that are discussed within the paper.

Historical Context

            Ballet was conceived during the Renaissance and was mainly practiced as a form of court entertainment. The dance was formalized in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries when Italian-born Catherine de Medici married Henry II of France (Winerock 168). The union led to the spread of ballet in Europe. Classical ballet was developed in the late 1800s (Kassing 254). According to the author, the dance genre was developed by Marius Petipa, who acted as the master of ballet. Between 1871 and 1903, Petipa acted as the principal choreographer of the imperial ballet genre. The scholar reveals that classical ballet was a combination of the French, Roman, and Russian ballet of the 19th century. Since the 19th century, classical ballet spread to other parts of Europe and the Americas.

            On the other hand, folkloric dance is traced back to the ceremonial and social dances by the traditional Aztec communities in Mexico (Nielsen 128). According to the scholar, the Folklorico dance genre derives most of its dance rhythms and acts from the American indigenous communities. Although the Folklorico originated before the entry of Mexico's conquistadors in the sixteenth century, the dance was formalized in 1952 by Amalia Hernandez (Whitford 64). The author affirms that Amalia and his crew danced the Folklorico in the 1959 Pan American Games. The Folklorico dance was created from a combination of traditional and indigenous Mexican folklore dances.

Current Context

Currently, classical ballet is frequently danced in modern theatres and concerts within Europe, the USA, and Australia. The dance genre has significantly developed, considering that it was only danced in Europe two centuries ago. Moreover, the current classical ballet incorporates other dance styles from folk, ethnic, religious, and social dance genres. The classic historical ballet only combined French, Italian, and Russian ballet moves. Therefore, modern classical ballet dancers have more dance moves at their disposal. Lastly, the current classical ballet dance genre is danced in halls, social places, concerts, and theatres. On the other hand, the historical classical ballet genre was only danced in the court. The historical classical ballet genre was meant to entertain aristocrats. Currently, classical ballet is meant to entertain the prospective audience members, whose social and economic status may vary based on their occupation and job statuses.

On the other hand, the current Folklorico dance has significantly transformed from a traditional folklore-like song by incorporating new and emerging issues in modern society. Whereas the historical Folklorico genre stressed the preservation of the Mexican culture through dance, our current Folklorico dancers emphasize emerging issues such as human rights activism and advocacy. For instance, a YouTube video titled “La Brunja Con Mexico De Colores" comprises male and female Folklorico dancers who anticipate advocating for equal rights for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) community. In the video, males t-shirts are captioned "Coro Gay." The Folklorico dance aims at provoking the mind towards considering the contemporary LGBTQ community to have existed even in our traditional settings. By incorporating the LGBTQ culture in an Aztec dance, the video suggests that the gay community was present even during the Aztec Kingdom era. The current Folklorico dance genre significantly differs from the traditional one, which aims to conserve and preserve the existing societal values. Whereas the traditional Folklorico was conservative of Mexican societal norms, the current Folklorico dance is radical and liberal.

Elements in the Dance

The classical ballet genre and Folklorico incorporated a variety of body movements by dancers. The genre requires dancers to train their bodies for the classical ballet and Folklorico wide dance vocabulary.  Professional choreographers must be taught how their body movements should reflect Folklorico and classical ballet’s key elements of dance. Understanding these keys allows a dancer to integrate the dance components in their classical ballet and Folklorico choreographies. For classical ballet, space exists as the most important compositional element. Professional classical ballet choreographers must consider how they interact with the physical world. The ballerina must emphasize the actual direction of her movements and envision the pattern when traveling through space (Jurgec 155). Moreover, the dancer must consider the relationship between her body and the floor.  Moreover, the ballerina should consider her interaction with time as a key element in her choreography. Both classical ballet and Folklorico dancers should consider the tempo, rhythm, and pitch. The dancers must ensure control between slow and quick movements to make sense of the rhythm and beats. Lastly, the dancers must adhere to the five dynamics of quality dance movements. When dancing, the dancers must ensure that their movements alternate from fast-slow, sudden-sustained, acceleration-deceleration, strong-light, direct-indirect, and flowing-abrupt (Leandro, Monteiro and Melo 77). Therefore, in both dance genres, space, time, and dynamics components lay the foundation for good choreographies.

Similarities and Differences in Historical Context

            Despite their different origins and backgrounds, the traditional classical ballet and Folklorico dance genres shared multiple similarities. Both the dance genres attempted to interpret the messages and themes through choreography dance moves. Secondly, both the genres covered a range of emotions as expressed in the faces and movements of the dancers. Classical ballet and Folklorico dancers transmitted the moods of joy, victory, tragedy, and profoundness. The two dance genres also involved dance patterns and turns that serve as technical gestures for the audiences. Lastly, both dance genres required intense preparation and rehearsal by the dancers and choreographers.

            On the other hand, the two dance genres also suffered characteristic differences. Whereas classical ballet has Roman and French roots, Folklorico was danced in Mexico only. The two dance genres danced to different audiences in their native countries. Secondly, in classical ballet, music was played off-stage, allowing the audience to sit further away from the dancers. On the other hand, music in Folklorico was set on stage. Folklorico dancers and singers sang and clapped on a single stage. Lastly, ballet dancers wore plain white costumes while Folklorico dancers wore colorful costumes.

Similarities and Differences in Current Context

The current classical ballet and Folklorico dance genres share numerous similarities. For instance, the two genres intend to entertain, educate, and inform specific messages to their prospective audiences. The dancers' body movements and patterns intend to communicate and send a message to the audience in both genres. Secondly, both dance forms are narrative as they attempt to tell a story to their audiences. Historically, classical ballet has been famous for narrating stories. Some known narrative ballets include Swan Lake, Giselle, The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, and L'histore de Manon. Lastly, in both dance genres, the dancers wear costumes and props. Traditional ballet and Folklorico dancers also wore costumes and props.

However, modern classical ballet and Folklorico suffer from some differences. For instance, unlike Folklorico dances which may vary from different dancers, classical ballet must adhere to strict forms and techniques. Secondly, modern classical ballet uses complex choreography to serve its narrative and storytelling, while Folklorico engages many forms of modern dance and art to serve their narrative roles.

Outline: Familiar and Unfamiliar Dance Genres

Thesis statement: Inarguably, our traditional and modern dance genres are primarily influenced by the underlying political, social, and economic structures.

  1. INTRODUCTION
  1. Thesis  statement
  2. Overview
  3. Plot
  1. HISTORICAL CONTEXT
  1. Classical  Ballet
  2. Folklorico
  1. CURRENR CONTEXT
  1. Classical  Ballet
  2. Folklorico
  1. ELEMENTS OF DANCE
  1. Space
  2. Time
  3. Dynamics
  1. SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT
  1. Classical  Ballet
  2. Folklorico
  1. Similarities and Differences in Current Context
  1. Classical  Ballet
  2. Folklorico
  1. WORKS CITED

 

 

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