Ballet
A classical dance technique born in Europe dating back to the fifteenth century
in the courts of Italian and French ruling nobility. Today ballet is still formal in its
approach to the dance world. Specific terminology, technique, and traditions set the foundation
in which ballet is based. Ballet is noted to be the most structured and disciplined of all dance
forms.
Modern Dance
Started at the close of the nineteenth century, it was born out of experimentation,
rebellion, expressiveness, and curiosity. The forerunners of modern wanted the freedom to dance
without the constraints of ballet technique. Often said to be abstract, modern is limitless in
its various forms.
Jazz
Ethnic in origin, Jazz dates back to primtive tribal Africa. Jazz is the melting pot
of dance, taking elements from ancient Africa, Spanish folk dance, as well as
upper-class European dances. Traditionally the isolated, throw-away
gestures of jazz express an attitude of mockery and sensual abandon.
Jazz has gained popularity with younger generatsions for its ability to push limits.
Tap
Generated around 1900, sources of tap dancing
include the Irish solo step dance, the English clog dance and African dance
movements. In the late 19th century, minstrel shows and showboat routines
appeared. Also two techniques were popularized: a fast style of movement
in wooden-soled shoes also called the buck-and-wing and soft-shoe, using a
smooth leather sole style of shoe. By the 1920's metal plates or taps had been added to leather-soled
shoes to hear the musical rhythms played out by the feet.
Joan Cass, Dancing Through History. Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1993
www.offjazz.com
Traditional Hula
The art of hula originated in the Hawaiian Islands and is
their oldest form of story telling. Hula did not start as a performing
art, but as a way to pass down storeis from generation to generation.
Typically the dancers sing a mele or song while they are dancing and
often accompany themselves with an ipu (gourd) or 'uli'uli
(split bamboo). This ancient from of dance is call hula
kahiko. Here at SWDC we teach hula auana, which is the
ancient style mixed in with the new. Movement is danced to musical accompaniment
and focuses on stories found in nature, with the dancers wearing a cloth
pa'u or sarong. In hula, the lower body, hips, feet and legs of
the dancer keep a constant rhythm while the upper body, shoulders, hands and face tell a story, make hula both powerful and graceful at the same
time.
Rhythmic Gymnastics
Originated as an organized sport in Europe in the 1930's,
it became an Olympic sport in 1984 and is one of the two Olympic sports for
women only. It combines music, body movement (dance and acrobatic) and
appartus handling. Dance elements are adapted from classical ballet,
modern, and jazz dance. Acrobatic elements include non-flight skills such as
rollw, cartwheels and walkovers. Gymnasts may perform routines without apparatus, as
well as with items such as rope, hoop, ball, clubs, and ribbon.
Creative Movement
"Creative dance combines the mastery of movement with the artistry of expression.
It is this combination, rather than a separation of the two, that makes creative dance
so powerful." Anne Green Gilbert, Creative Dance for All
Ages.
When children explore the concepts of space, time, and energy,
they come to understand the vocabulary of movement. When they practice
basic movement skills they develop body awareness. Concepts and movement
skills together lay a foundation for academic learning. It is assumed that
dance is natural and children are creative. Therefore, simply turning on
music should inspire creative dance. But without knowledge, children's
movement responses cannot develop and grow. in addition to opening new
worlds of creativity and self-expression, creative dance has the power to
enhance intellectural, social, emotional, and physical learning.
| Back to Class Schedule |
| Back to Main Index |
This page last updated on August 15, 2008