(From the web site: http://dance.about.com/od/typesofdance/tp/Dance_Types.htm)
Dance is a group of different activities that
has fascinated me for a long, long time.
When I was a young girl, my mother enrolled me for at least 3 years of
ballet and tap dance classes. From
there, I went into gymnastics, specializing in free exercise, as well as,
modern dance and jazz. I liked most of
the other forms of dance too, but it wasn’t until just recently (June 2011) while
viewing a dance recital by a dance company called “A.M. Dance Force Inc.” that
I truly began to appreciate the intricacies and complexities of dance.
My roommate, Dale, and I had been invited by his
granddaughter’s mother, Delia, to come to a recital that would be presented by
this dance company of which his 3 year old granddaughter, Kara, was a
member. I thought that there was just
going to be some little kids dancing around on the stage, but it turned out to
be oh-so-much more than that! Young
women and a few young men, aged anywhere between 3 and 18, did dances of many
different types, all excellently choreographed to music of different types. These young people (women, mostly) wore elegant
dance costumes that must have cost a small fortune. They looked so professional in them, I was
positive that if any of these young people wanted to become professional
dancers in the future, they’d be hard-pressed to find a better dance company
from which to have obtained practical experience. And, that’s what dance takes – lots of
practice!
I was suitably impressed with the large variety
of dances, the choreography, the costumes, the music and, most of all, the raw
talent of these young dancers! They did
all kinds of dances: modern,
contemporary, hip-hop or “krump”, if you like, jazz, ballet, gymnastics free
exercise, and tap dancing. They also did
these dances in small groups of 2 to 9, and several were solo dances done by
the teenage girls. Some of the dances
were done by very young girls who were only about 3 like Kara and had to be
guided by their teacher who also did their routine along with them at the side
of the stage during their performance. These
little girls were so cute, lovable and beautiful, that their performances were
applauded loudly afterwards. Everyone
thought that they were the highlight of the afternoon!
These performances were something for which I
had not been prepared! The stage,
the lighting, and the sound were all superbly done. The only things I did not like were
the seats. They were built for little
people, not for people who are “bigger than average” (like me, so to speak!). I got fairly uncomfortable sitting in my seat
after a while. Since the performances
went on non-stop for about 2 hours before the intermission, it was a long time
to sit in one spot. You couldn’t move
around very easily in those seats. But,
other than that, I was riveted to the spot.
I just cannot imagine anything more profound than what I saw in this
small school’s auditorium that day. I
was truly impressed with the performances of all the dancers – mainly, the
sheer professionalism they all displayed.
The pool of talent was truly impressive, as well.
You might be interested in knowing more about
the types of dances that exist. Many of
them were performed that day, but there are many other types, as well. Contemporary dance is like a combination of
jazz and ballet, done to modern or classical music, and includes acrobatic
moves such as those you would normally see in a gymnastics free exercise
routine. It is one of my favourite forms
of dance. The best performers are those
whose repertoire of moves is large and whose execution is virtually flawless. Contemporary dance can be done in couples or
solo. Jazz is a type of dance that is
usually done in groups or solo. Jazz
incorporates styles of dance other than ballet, like salsa, waltz, tango, etc.
and, like contemporary dance, is very interpretative. The music used in jazz is usually upbeat and
modern and will add much flair to a person’s jazz routine. The important difference is that jazz does
not incorporate acrobatic moves like contemporary dance does.
If you’ve ever seen tap dancing on stage, you
will have learned to appreciate the intricacies of this style of dancing. The tap dancer must wear special “tap”
shoes. The taps are made of metal and
are part of the soles of the dancer’s shoes.
The dancer must tap a rhythm that goes with the music and there are many
different rhythms that dancers can do.
The premier example of this style of dance is the “Riverdance”
performance that is done by many different performers at the same time on the international
stage to music of many different tempos, constantly changing. From what I have learned about “Riverdance”,
it is extremely physically challenging to the dancers who participate on a
nightly basis. They must learn how to care
for their feet and legs, yet are still very prone to injury. But, for those who are involved in nightly
performances, their love for this style of dance cannot be denied. Both men and women have been known to get
involved in tap dancing. Those who perform
on stage are excellent performers.
Another style of dance that appeals to some
people is still rather new to me, that is, hip-hop or “krump”. This dance style does not resemble the ballet
or gymnastics moves with which I am most familiar. It, more or less, resembles a style of
“street dancing”. The toes of the dancer
aren’t pointed, the knees aren’t usually straight and the moves themselves
aren’t fluid - they are sort of jerky - unusual, to say the least. But, there is a tempo in the music to which
the dancers must adhere and a particular style of music (“hip-hop”) for which
this style of dance was created. I can’t
say that I really love this style, but it does look interesting at times,
especially when the dancer interprets the music well. It’s a style that can be done in groups, couples
or solo. I think young men like this
style more than young women do; it seems to suit them better for some reason
(or maybe it’s just my imagination!). If
you love hip-hop music, then you will probably love this “krump” style of
dancing. It takes some getting used to,
but when you do, you will have learned to appreciate what it takes to be a good
“krumper”!
All in all, “A.M. Dance Force Inc.” is like a
professional company made up of many young amateur dancers that, I believe, are
aspiring to be professional dancers. The
work ethic, the variety of dance types, the physical attributes of the dancers,
their performance levels and the very professional staging each contribute to
the huge success of this annual dance recital event, as well as, to the future
success of each participant in the world of dance.
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