Dance Appreciation- Mid Term

African Diasporic Dance

Dances and dance traditions that Africans brought to the Americas during the slave trade time period

Social Dances

Dances done socially for a purpose/context. Not a performance, done together. they can be social, competitive, spiritual/religious, ceremonial, and/or erotic

What is the proscenium stage?

the proscenium stage is a stage that has only one side facing the audience. the stage is framed by a proscenium arch and has an apron.

How does the proscenium stage frame the performance

The proscenium stage literally frames the performance. The arch acts as an imaginary “fourth wall” between the audience and the performers. This gives the performance the illusion of reality, as if you’re watching TV. The arch separates the audience and the performers, thus placing them on a pedestal, furthering the image of performative dance being a complex, sophisticated performance that the average person could never hope to achieve.

Why is the proscenium stage dominant in Western concert dance?

The proscenium stage is often connected to ballet, as ballet performances often use a proscenium. Because of the introduction of ballet in the West as a performative dance, most other performative dances are on proscenium stages

What is Yoruba Dance?

to the people of Yoruba, dance is a religious act. They have multiple different kinds of dances for multiple different kinds of things, but they all have an intent or purpose. Most dances are used to worship or interact with deities, celebrate something, or connect to spirituality

Yoruba dance characteristics

grounded- movements are grounded, close to the ground, lots of percussion.

polyrhythmic- rhythms? you got it. more than one rhythm in the music that accompanies the dance. quick and complex footwork and movements

Spiritual- Spiritual/religious purpose.

What is the influence of Yoruba dance on the African Diasporic Dance?

lots of references to yoruba dance can be seen in african diasporic dance. these are: footwork/circular formations/rhythms- drums/call and response

describe the roots that jazz has in african american vernacular dance

Jazz is the child of african dance and european social dances. most of its qualities come from african american vernacular dance. AAVD gave jazz its polyrythmic movements, bent knees and grounded posture, limb isolations, sharp and angular movements

What is Jazz dance?

Jazz is the dancification of America. It’s a mish-mash of different kinds of dances. It stems from racism and reflects common political problems from its most relevant time period.

What is the importance of jazz in American dance?

Jazz is a mishmash of other styles of dance. It borrows from many styles and impacts many more. Jazz brought traditional African drums back into the dance world. Jazz gave birth to Hip Hop. It became a studio-taught dance style, leading to the confusion on “what is real jazz”, as the studios would only teach the movements, and not the history or reasons behind the movements.

What is the maculele?

The maculele is both a martial art and a dance. it is an Afro-Brazilian dance with/ sticks and machetes. it was created by African slaves on plantations. The only way the slaves could practice martial arts or fighting was by disguising it as a dance.

What is the community context of the maculele?

The maculele was created and done by slaves to practice their martial art skills. It was a way to remember their culture and also prepare to defend themselves. The maculele is continued today, not as a form of defense/attack preparation, but because it is historical and an important part of the culture in the area. The martial art is taught in “schools” or “groups” similar to karate in America. The schools sometimes do demonstrations at festivals.

What are the origins of ballet?

Ballet originated in Renaissance Italy as a court dance. It was made popular once it moved to France via a marriage. The court dance evolved into a dance done by performers to entertain nobles in court and eventually was put on stage. Ballet was displayed as an elegant, sophisticated, high society dance form only professionals can do and has maintained that image to this day.

What is the codified technique of ballet?

Ballet was codified in 1820. The codified techniques are usually common (Pointed feet, vertical posture, etc)

What is the cultural role of ballet in europe and beyond?

Ballet kept its image of an upper-class, sophisticated dance style. It is seen throughout the world as a classic dance style. Ballet was introduced to the Americas and brought the proscenium stage with it.

What is a social Dance?

A social dance is a dance done for social purposes rather than performance purposes. “Meant to join, not watch”. Social dances always have a purpose or context. most commonly, they are: social, competitive, ceremonial, and/or erotic.

How do social dances function in community settings?

How a social dance functions in a community is based on the community itself. Within a community, social dances can be a form of socialization and entertainment. In other communities, social dances can be seen as a religious practice or tool.

How has social dance influenced concert performance?

Modern-day social dances can be seen via social media (insta tiktok). These social dances bring dancing back into the focus of the general population. These social dances are creating a growing interest in dance, which helps the dance world immensely as more people join or invest in dance.

Dance as an Art Form vs. Dance as a Culture

Dance as an art form is always focused outwards. As an art form, its purpose is to serve the audience. It has to look visually appealing, and usually it tells a story. Take ballet, for example. Ballet is smooth, graceful movements with classical music that tells a story. It is seen as the highest and most sophisticated of dance forms because all the attention is focused outward at the audience. 

Dance as a culture is focused inwards. The dances have intent and meaning to those performing them as well as those observing. Yoruba Dance is a great example of this. Yoruba dance is more of a social dance, one that most people in that community would know how to do and could join in. Yoruba dances are often religious. The religion is the inward focus, the intent or reason for the dance. These dances carry great meaning because the focus is inwards, towards the act of dancing itself and the meaning behind it.

While both dances seem very different, there is an overlap. Both dances bring people together. Using our examples, Ballet brings together those who appreciate dance as an art form. It brings together those who enjoy watching it and those who enjoy dancing it. Yoruba dance brings together the community that performs those dances. As religious dances and social dances, it is a welcoming environment where people join together to worship or celebrate.

Ballet vs. Modern- History

Ballet comes from performance. Ballet was a performative dance done for high-ranking nobles and the upper class in France.

Modern comes from the rebellion against the institution of ballet. They broke away from the rigidity and structure of ballet

Ballet vs Modern- Movement

Ballet has rigid and graceful movements. Their form is tall and stiff- aiming for wightlessness and a floating look. defying gravity (verticality) their movements are graceful and smooth. they turn their hips and feet out for a more elegant look onstage. Symmetry is important- visually appealing and enhances gracefulness. aim for perfection.

Modern dance prefers natural, organic movements. They reject the rigidity and instead want their movements to be expressive and abstract. Groundedness- embrace gravity, connection with the floor. weighted movements. their posture is parallel- movements are freer and less restricted. focus on Breath/Contraction/Release- mimics breathing and emotions. more natural. Aim for individuality.

Ballet vs. Modern- philosophy

ballet looks to achieve perfection through discipline and hard work. focus on technique, appearance, grace, weightlessness. discipline and endurance to achieve beauty and perfection.

modern dance focuses on authentic expression without the limitations and rigidity of ballet. Want more natural, organic dance. more down to earth. Natural expression through uninhibited movement

African Diasporic Influence

Hip Hop, Jazz, and Modern dance all draw from African diasporic dance, specifically their movements. its easy to see the percussive nature of African dance and limb isolations in jazz. All three styles have very grounded movements that are also from African dances. Jazz, Hip Hop, and modern are all very rhythmic in music and dancing, which can also be traced back African dances and music.

alvin ailey

american dancer, director, choreographer, activist. Founded Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater- goal of honoring black culture, expressing African American experience through dance, and nurturing black artists.

His ballet, Revelations, is one of the most popular and most performed ballets around the world. 

huge step forward for black dancers and black dance culture.

why do choreographers use stage direactions?

to be specific. Stage directions tell the actor where to go on the stage. The directions are tailored to be based on the actor (stage left is their left, stage right is their right) so that they can easily understand what the choreographer wants.