Introduction
There are various ways of expressing oneself. One of the ways includes dancing, which is considered a nonverbal form of communication in our daily lives. Dancing involves movement of various body parts, in most cases towards music. It is used as a method of expressing ideas or narrating a story in both social and spiritual setups. Moreover, many people use dance as a way of educating others about their cultural practises. Many people across the world consider dance as a principal form of entertainment. Dance has overtime been classed depending on the country of origin or ethnicity. As such, citizens or different countries are known to identify with particular types and genres of dancing.
There are various forms of dancing styles that mainly depend on the country of origin and its cultural practices. These include tango, ballroom, step, street, and ballet dance. Further, dances form part of competitions which are subject to monetary prizes. As such, talented individuals participate in dance competitions with an aim of making themselves economically independent. Additionally, with increased appreciation of dance throughout the world, many people have developed their careers out of their passion and love of dances. These include choreographer, dance therapist, dancer, dance sport coach, and dance teacher. Therefore, it can be asserted that dance has helped reduce the unemployment menace that continues to face various countries. This paper seeks to discuss about various concepts of ballet performance, ethnic dance performance, modern dance performance and American hip hop dance performance.
Ballet dance performance
Ballet dance performance originates from a Latin word ballare which simply means to dance. Ballet dance performance can be dated back to the fifteenth century having begun from the Italian renaissance courts. From the Italian renaissance courts, it spread towards French courts from which it developed further over time. This explains the reason why ballet dance performances consist of French terminologies. Ballet dance performance is technical in nature, hence requiring thorough training in order to learn and master the numerous movements. Additionally, there is a significant need to maintain proficiency that is required in the dancing industry. This has led to the establishment of ballet schools which offer exclusive training on ballet dance movements with a bid to evolve the art of ballet dancing.
There are various forms of ballet dance performances which include romantic ballet, classical ballet, Russian ballet, Italian ballet, French ballet, and contemporary and neoclassical ballets. Romantic ballet which is also referred to as ballet Blanc focuses on female dancers. Female dancers usually dress in French tutus while during performance. They feature acrobatic movements which are precise in nature. On the other hand, classical ballet is based on specific training methods. As such, most classical ballets are named after their developers. Further, neoclassical ballet is more or less like classical ballet in terms of its` vocabulary and technique. Nonetheless, it comprises of a few non-traditional feats and fast dance tempos. Lastly, contemporary ballet performance includes various aspects of both modern dance and classical ballet. Nevertheless, unlike classical ballet, it allows more body movements and does not restrict body lines. It is also often performed barefoot.
Ethnic dance performance
For sure, no visit with an aim of studying the cultural practises of any given country is complete without attending at least one of its ethnic dance performances. This is because people across the world subscribe to different cultural beliefs with which they like to be associated with. As such, in the course of one`s cultural studies, it is essential to determine the kind of ethnic dance performance. An ethnic group can be termed as a group of individuals that are bound by similar religion, origin, physical appearance and even dressing styles. There are numerous ceremonies which different ethnic groups consider significant throughout their lives. These include birth, naming initiation, harvest, war and death ceremonies. In most cases, people perform traditional songs which are usually accompanied by ethnic dance performances. These ethnic dance performances are employed as a means of expressing the overall emotional feeling within the air during various functions.
The principal criteria used to identify an ethnic dance performances is the culture of origin. With this background, ethnic dance performances cover various ethnicities such as African, Asian, American, and European. On many occasions, ethnic dance performances are accompanied by particular dressing styles. This can be related back to the country of origin. This is because people seek to educate others about their ethnicity during such performances. Ethnic dancing styles include tango, classical dance, and step dance. People regard their ethnical beliefs and practices dear to them. As such, as much as there have been changes in dressing and performance styles overtime, no huge change can be attributed to ethnic dance performance. This is simply due to the fact that ethnical practises do not change and people seem to be keen in maintaining their identification. Therefore, it can be asserted that ethnic dance performances are means of showing love and respect to ones cultures.
Modern dance
This is often referred to as the twentieth century concert dance. This is because modern dance performance emerged in the twentieth century with a significant focus of new movements. Moreover, it accompanied the abandonment of traditional attires that are worn while performing ethnic and folk dances. Unlike classical ballet, modern dance performance lays more emphasis on floor work and improvisation. It is also performed bear feet on many occasions. Some artists who are considered predecessors of modern dance include Isadora Duncan. Isadora Duncan found classical ballet rather boring since she found the numerous gymnastics meaningless. Additionally, she was inspired by the emerging American athleticism such as leaping, jumping and abrupt movements. She, therefore, combined various factors and came up with modern dance. Her version of modern dance incorporated humour and was performed bear feet with free flowing costumes and loose hair. Nonetheless, Martha Graham is considered to be the mother of modern dance performance. She established her own dancing styles and choreography. She is appreciated due to her immense contribution towards coordination between movement and breathing while dancing. Additionally, she contributed heavily towards educating people of how to relate to the floor while dancing. Modern dance performances can also be related to radical dance that emerged during the great depression. Radical dancers used their skills to show how agitated people were due to the socio-economic and political crisis experienced at that time. The main distinction between modern dance performance and other dance performances is the free style of dancing. This is because modern dance performance is essentially characterized by free dance. This is unlike other dance performances which are characterized by a specific dancing style.
American hip-hop dance
The emergence of hip hop dance can be traced back to 1970`s. Hip hop dance is not limited to dancing styles which include locking, popping and breaking. It is currently the most popular dance in the United States of America since it draws much support from the youth. Just like modern dance, hip hop is also distinct in nature sine it is significantly characterized by freestyle dance. Consequently, it is significantly present and famous among urban dwellers that tend to drift away from general traditions. American hip hop is currently considered a source of entertainment, professional course, hence a source of living.
The main styles of American hip hop dance include breaking, popping and locking. Breaking which is considered the first dance style in hip hop was developed in New York City. It involves footwork which is usually performed with both feet and hands on the floor. On the other hand, locking, originally known as campbellocking, includes moves such as locks, Scooby, skeeter, and points. Lastly, popping style is based on the technique of causing jerks on dancers` bodies. One is expected to contract and relax his or her body during performance. Additionally, it includes other techniques such as gliding, floating and sliding. American hip hop dancing has been significantly publicized in television shows and movies. Consequently, this has made it very popular.
Conclusion
Works Cited
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