Styles of Dance

Styles of Dance

Art 100

Introduction to the Visual and Performing Arts

University of Phoenix

Styles of Dance

“The Dancer believes that his or her art has something to say which cannot be expressed in words or in any other way than by dancing... there are times when the simple dignity of movement can fulfill the function of a volume of words (Humphrey, 1937). Much can be understood when a person watching a dance, knows the message a dancer is trying to convey. Knowing the type of dance, and understanding that dance is the first step in getting the dancer’s message. This paper is going to examine the different forms of dance including Ballet, Modern, World/Ritual, Folk, and Jazz, with the goal of helping to gain a better understanding of each form of dance.

Ballet

The term ‘ballet’ has evolved from an Italian word ’ballare’ which simply means ‘to dance’. This type of dance began as court dancing during the 15th century in Italy. The country of France was first to see Ballet in 1581 with “La Ballet Domique de la Reine.” Louis XIV started the Royal Academy of Dance in 1661. Gradually Ballet performances debuted in England and other countries. Ballet has eight basic positions, used sequentially to express the rhythm and story line of the piece performed. Special footwear enabled the dancers to balance and swivel although on their toes. Two popular ballet performances are ‘The Nutcracker’ in which a child’s imagination turns her nutcracker into a live friend who in turn takes her into a wonderland of sweets such as ‘The Sugar Plum Fairy’, and ‘Swan Lake’ in which a young prince falls in love with a girl who then became a swan because of an evil spell.

Modern Dance

Modern dance is from the early 20th century and is a form of dance that relies on emotional use of the body. Modern and ballet dance have several major differences. The first different in modern dance is that the dancers relax, and the dancing style is free styling, and individualistic, whereas with ballet dance is more formal and restricting. With modern dance the dancers let gravity take control, there are turn ins and no emphasis used on the point, whereas ballet dance defies gravity; there are turn ins, points, ankles, knees, and posture that are important. Another different in modern dance is that the dancers stays closer to the ground, twisting and contorting their bodies, and hunch while flexing their feet.  With ballet, there are leaps and high kicks to accentuate the body form; the posture is straight with clean lines and movement from on place to another in distinct patterns. The music for modern dance favors emotional and long ballad songs, and popular music. With ballet, the music helps the dancers to tell a story and show off his or her techniques through choreographed steps. The costumes are revealing and the dancers sometimes perform in their bare feet, jazz shoes, or half sole shoes in modern dance. In ballet, the dancers wear leotards, tights, sometimes skirts, ballerina shoes, or pointe shoes. In addition, with modern dance the dancers’ hair are down and free flowing, and in ballet, the dancers pull the hair back into bun. Ruth St. Denis was a modern dancer who had an impressive body. Sporre (2009) stated, “She manipulated it and various draperies and veils into presentations of line and form in such a graceful manner that the fabric appeared an extension of the dancer’s body” (p. 241).

Some similarities between modern and ballet dance are that there are male and female dancers. Both dance performances use a stage, theme, and music when performing. In addition modern and ballet dance are art techniques, which express emotions, can tell a story, and require core strength. In addition, the dancers receive injuries. Both modern and ballet dance can be enjoyable for the audiences and the dancers.

World Concert/Ritual Dance

Ritual dances are often a form of worship or a system of movements that tell a story. World Concert dance is dances specific to a country. Most ritual dances are from African and Asian countries. Shen Yun is classical Chinese dancing and is a form of art, which draws from, ethnic, folk, and ballet to create performances representative of Chinese cultures. Shen Yun uses line dancing, form, and repetition when dozens of dancers move together in fluid motions as if they were floating together as one complete body (Shen Yun, 2010).  Shen Yun, according to Chinese tradition is so vibrant and exquisite that it could only be a gift from heaven, when China was Shen Zhou, The land of The Divine. Shen Yun is a performance of Chinese culture that has come from centuries of Chinese civilization (Shen Yun Performing Arts, 2010).

Classical Chinese dance has very impressive techniques that boast strong expressive diversity, along with the vibrant exotic colors of ethnic and folk dance. The basic skills take years of rigorous training to develop, there are many leaps, flips, and delicate gestures along with the knowledge of Chinese culture mastered to achieve the art in bringing ancient legends and heroic figures to life (Shen Yun, 2010).

Many cultures around the world use ritual dance as a form of prayer for rain or fertility. In Belize, it is tradition to jump instead of dance in a fertility ritual known as Sampai, where there is no form of line, but it is in repetition as many take turns performing his or her dance over a fire. The ritual begins with one man as he dedicates the ceremony, and followed by one person at a time (Zimmerns, 2010). Because Sampai, is a ritual held annually and is a cultural dance, many people of Belize participate in hopes that the ceremonies will create fertility for either themselves or another family member and bless the family with the birth of a child. Although there has never been any proof that this ritual works, the people of Belize still believe and continue to participate annually.

Folk Dance

Folk dancing has been around since the beginning of time. “Natural spontaneous behavior on festive occasions has been the source of song, music, and dance since time immemorial” (Smith, 2010, pg 1).   As far back as medieval times, people would join hands in a line or circle and sing and dance to provide their own entertainment. The Greeks are no exception concerning Folk Dancing. Greeks dance for many reasons. For example, they use dance as a means of celebrating, as a form of self-expression, and as a part of ritualistic drama. Still today, the ritual use of dance is in the traditional Byzantine form the same as performance in the Greek Orthodox wedding ceremony. “The bride and groom, the priest and the koubaros (the best man), perform a procession circling around a table three times to the song Isaia Horev” (Pappayiorgas, 2007, Greek Folk Dances, pg. 1).  The ritual procession is to represent a dance done in an open circle moving counter-clockwise, just as the majority of Greek dances.