Dance and Near Dance:

[MoonlightandRoses]

I enjoy dance as a spectator and for a time now I have been “collecting” varieties of dance. This entails finding videos from the internet showing these dances being performed and finding information on them. So after a time I thought of posting them somewhere and this is what I plan to do here. One thing is that I know much more about dances in the “Western” tradition and so that is where I started and I have more of those dances. As to “Near Dance” I think of dance in a broader way than most people do so if I post something that you do not feel is a dance then think of it as being “Near Dance.”

While I can enjoy all forms of dance, Ballet is my favorite. The following link goes to a video (approximately 2 minutes long) of dancers, from the Anaheim Ballet Company, practicing and exercising. It shows the power of this form of dance and the strength of its dancers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUrJuSh0evE.

Moonlight and Roses,

 

[MoonlightandRoses]

I know most about “Western” dance and little about “non-Western,” but have been looking for examples of “non-Western” dance and I have found this interesting video (approximately 6 minutes long) from the “First Urban Dance Center in Senegal.” The video is called “A-Z of African Dance” and it shows short clips of approximately 26 such dances. I don’t know how “traditional” these dances are, but I enjoy watching them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LInMiYj6ZVE.

Here is a link to their YouTube channel with many more videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTZYADUYsKtIVq23vLqlYGA.

Clair de lune et les roses,

 

[MoonlightandRoses]

Next is “Chinese Classical Dance.” As before I do not know much about “non-Western” dance so I am going with what is stated in the title of the video. I strongly suspect that there were and are many varieties of dance in China and Eastern Asia similar to the case for Europe. Here is the link to the video (approximately 4 minutes long): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grnP-dlwLaI.

Here is a link to a YouTube channel where many more videos of Chinese dance and music can be found: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWCQZHwNHL6XJgFRs9O0pDQ.

月光与玫瑰,

 

[latecomer91364]

I'm not usually huge fan of dance (except at strip clubs, maybe), but this is my favorite version of The Blue Danube (which I consider to be one of the most perfect compostions in musical history), and it intersperses a vignette with a simple 'story' played out in ballet. The whole thing is just beautiful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRA01Fg0WF0

 

[MoonlightandRoses]

Very nice – I like that it shows how dance can tell a little story, which is important for this topic. I enjoyed it, thanks for the link Late Comer.

Moonlight and Roses,

 

[MoonlightandRoses]

Some people might think of Rhythmic Gymnastics as a sport instead of a form of dance, but I see nothing wrong with it being both. In the Olympics, Rhythmic Gymnastics is preformed with one or two of five types of handheld equipment – ribbon, hoop, ball, rope or clubs. Currently there are individual and team events with the team being composed of five members. Also it is now a female only event. Music accompanies the performances. Here is a link to a video (approximately 2 minutes long) made for the London 2012 games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npmqtxoIs7E.

Moonlight and Roses,

 

[MoonlightandRoses]

Alvin Ailey was born in 1931 and founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958. It seems to me that the dances that come out of this theater have a style of their own, but are inspired by a variety of traditions. It is not ballet, but it reminds me of ballet in regard to the dancer’s athleticism, power and expressionism. Here is a link to excerpts (approximately 3 minutes long) from a dance called “Chroma” by Wayne McGregor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFj40CFXhtk. Other such videos can be found at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg9o2fgvhIPlow5gi0sc-1w.

Moonlight and Roses,

 

[MoonlightandRoses]

Ballroom dancing includes a number of styles of what can be called “couple” dances. By that I mean dancing where two people (generally female and male) are usually in contact when they dance and there is no needed involvement from others. Ballroom can be competitive, professional and amateur. Here is a video (approximately 4 minutes long) entitled “This is Ballroom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHJqxsZ9IAI.

This link is to an article summarizing 12 types of ballroom dances: https://www.thoughtco.com/ballroom-dances-basics-1007205.

Two professional ballroom couples were Irene and Vernon Castle in the early part of the 20th century and Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire during the next generation. This is a short video of Ginger and Fred, portraying, in a 1939 movie, Irene and Vernon dancing to "Tres Moutarde," composed c. 1911 by Cecil Macklin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuIHfs0S1Kc.

Moonlight and Roses,

 

[MoonlightandRoses]

Four Olympic Figure Skating events are Women Singles, Men’s Singles, Pair Skating and Ice Dancing. Pair Skating is basically two people – female and male – skating together, while in Ice Dancing there are restrictions on throws, jumps, spins and lifts and the two skaters are to remain relatively close to each other. So Ice Dancing is like couples dancing on skates. This leads to variations in the sizes of the skaters. Generally in pair skating the women are much shorter than the men as compared to ice dancing. Here is a video (approximately 4 minute long video) highlighting many of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic figure skaters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4LTfdfr8r0

Лунный свет и розы,

 

[MoonlightandRoses]

The Lindy Hop is a lively dance (to put it mildly) that developed during the 1920s in Harlem. As with some other such phenomena it appears that the dance preceded its name. Here is a clip (approximately 2 minutes long) of a group of dancers – Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers – performing in the 1937 Marx Brothers movie “A Day at the Races:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwKFALb6Vw8. The dancers in this video include Norma Miller and Leon James, Willa Mae Ricker and Snookie Beasley and Ella Gibson and George Greenidge.

Herbert “Whitey” White, was an employee of the Savoy Ballroom who put together a dance company specializing in the Lindy. The Savoy was a large dance hall located on Lenox Avenue (now Malcolm X Blvd) between 140th and 141st Streets and operating between 1926 and 1958. It was unusual, for the time, in that it was an integrated ballroom.

Moonlight and Roses,

 

[latecomer91364]

One of the most ridiculous of all time: The Freddy. A number of years ago, people were reportedly trying to revive it in NYC. Let it stay dead, this seemingly Jerry Lewis inspired idiocy (no disrespect to the late comic genius).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE66VvER6rM

 

[MarySueEllenMarie]

The Lindy Hop is a lively dance (to put it mildly) that developed during the 1920s in Harlem. As with some other such phenomena it appears that the dance preceded its name. Here is a clip (approximately 2 minutes long) of a group of dancers – Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers – performing in the 1937 Marx Brothers movie “A Day at the Races:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwKFALb6Vw8. The dancers in this video include Norma Miller and Leon James, Willa Mae Ricker and Snookie Beasley and Ella Gibson and George Greenidge.

Herbert “Whitey” White, was an employee of the Savoy Ballroom who put together a dance company specializing in the Lindy. The Savoy was a large dance hall located on Lenox Avenue (now Malcolm X Blvd) between 140th and 141st Streets and operating between 1926 and 1958. It was unusual, for the time, in that it was an integrated ballroom.

Moonlight and Roses,

Another of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers (and my favorite!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahoJReiCaPk

 

[MarySueEllenMarie]

Cab Calloway & The Nicholas Brothers!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8yGGtVKrD8

 

[MoonlightandRoses]

Latecomer, thanks for adding another dance to the thread.

Moonlight and Roses,

 

[MoonlightandRoses]

Mary Sue Ellen Marie, thanks very much for these links, the videos show the great talent the Whitey dancers and the Nicholas Brothers had. I looked up “Stormy Weather” (Cab Calloway and The Nicholas Brothers) and it seems like a movie I would enjoy very much. Also in the movie are Lena Horne, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Fats Waller and Doley Wilson (Sam from Casablanca). Here is a “club map” of Harlem in 1932 the top is toward the southwest: https://1843magazine.static-economist.com/sites/default/files/Harlem-club-map_edit_inline-web.jpg. Cab Calloway is singing on the bottom left (“HO-DE-HI-DE-HO”) at the Cotton Club, which is right next to The Savoy Ballroom where dancers are doing the “Lindy Hop.” Given the great significance of these performers to our current culture I feel they are not accorded the full recognition they deserve. “Rock-n-Roll” did not come out of nowhere, it was just name given to music that had existed for a long time in order to make that music more acceptable to the general public.

Moonlight and Roses,

 

[MoonlightandRoses]

The Waltz is a couple dance very much associated with Vienna. This is a video (approximately 7 minutes) showing dancers of the Vienna State Opera Ballet dancing to music supplied by the Vienna Philharmonic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkpRTTpmBmo. For a link to a similar video see comment #4.

Here is a video (approximately 2 minutes long) entitled Blackpool 2010 Ballroom Dancing Pro Final – Waltz”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1o31fsZxCc.

Mondschein und Rosen,

 

[MoonlightandRoses]

The following link goes to a video (approximately 5 minutes long) entitled “Japan – Traditional Geisha Dance”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU7ai3FIJrs

This link goes to an article which states “The word geisha itself literally means ‘person of the arts’” which makes sense to me: https://www.japan-zone.com/culture/geisha.shtml.

月明かりとバラ

 

[MoonlightandRoses]

An early dancer who performed the burlesque style Fan Dance was Faith Bacon, born in 1910. Fan Dancers might perform nude, partly nude or wearing a body stocking. Here is a 1942 video of her performing that dance (approximately 3 minutes long): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVSWqJWZkUo.

Another Fan Dancer was Sally Rand, born in 1904. Not only did she perform Fan Dances, but she also did her Bubble dance. See here for 1942 video (approximately 3 minutes): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM1BX5ka5Zg.

Moonlight and Roses,

 

[MoonlightandRoses]

Many people may not consider the performance of a contortionist to be dance, but I see a great amount of similarity particularly if the Contortion is done to music. Here is a video (approximately 5 minutes long) of such a performance by Tsetesglen Odgerel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19KsavjatHQ.

Сар болон сарнай,

 

[MoonlightandRoses]

Many Irish Dances are noted for fast foot work, little arm movement and a straight upper body. Here is one such dance (approximately 3 minutes long) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtnjd08c2JI. The music to that piece is “Siamsa” which I understand to mean entertainment. I’ve also seen a cappella Irish dancing where the only music was the sound of the dancer’s feet.

Solas Gealach agus Roses,

 

[MoonlightandRoses]

Synchronized Swimming first entered the Olympics as an official event in 1984 (solo and duet performances), however water dance contests were held as early as 1891. During the 20th century Annette Kellerman in live shows and Esther Williams in the movies engaged in similar performances and then there are the Weeki Wachee Mermaids in Florida. The 2016 Olympics offered duets and eight member team events. While a woman’s only event in the Olympics men have engaged in Synchronized Swimming and there is now mixed female and male competitions outside of the Olympics. Here is a video (approximately 3 minutes) of a Russian team early in 2012: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zzzlu-jnt8g.

Not only is Synchronized Swimming dancing in water, but it is a beautiful and demanding sport and the “dancer’s” legs are very important both in keeping their heads above water and for display above the water. For those interested here is a video (approximately 4 minutes long) showing clips of performances and explaining Synchronized Swimming https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtwrFaJtsZQ.

Moonlight and Roses,

 

[MoonlightandRoses]

Here is a video (approximately 2 minutes long) showing a number of women performing the Native American “Fancy Shawl Dance.” This dance only dates back to the 1920s with the current form dating from the 1950s. I feel the costumes worn by the women are beautiful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO87r3Z2IVY.

For those who are interested this link goes to an article about the Fancy Shawl Dance: https://indiancountrymedianetwork.com/news/the-evolving-beauty-of-the-fancy-shawl-dance/.

Ooljééʼ áádóó Roʊz

 

[MoonlightandRoses]

There is dancing on the ground, dancing on ice (Figure Skating) and dancing in the water (Synchronized Swimming), the next video I see as dancing in the air. Here is a video (approximately 5 minutes long) showing Marta Bataller performing an Aerial Silks routine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRyP6iOEkaw

Moonlight and Roses,

 

[MoonlightandRoses]

As I indicated earlier I do not know much about African dance, but I been looking for examples. Kpanlogo (pronounced with a silent K) is one such. This dance is relatively new going back to c. 1960. It started in Southern Ghana. Here is a video (approximately 3 minutes long) showing the dance being preformed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjBuiR2fs30.

Moonlight and Roses,

 

[MoonlightandRoses]

In her book “Pride and Prejudice” Jane Austen wrote “To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love.” English Country Dance was one of the dances that Jane Austen would have been thinking of when she wrote that line and was one of the dances that she engaged in. Here is what appears to be an example of English Country Dance from the 2007 movie “Becoming Jane” with Anne Hathaway: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUxbcJIOHNY. From my reading of Jane Austen’s stories it seems that there would have been a good deal of talking between the dancers. The story of the movie is set in 1795.

Moonlight and Roses,