Essay on Australian Visions

The world of contemporary dance is one that is constantly developing and pushing the boundaries of what makes dance more than just movement. However, it is questionable that it would be in this diverse state if it was not for a few revolutionary choreographers. Along with Martha Grahame is could be argued that Merce Cunningham was a pioneering, revolutionary choreographer who questioned given standards and procedures creating the diverse contemporary style that we know today. Revolutionary can be defined as something radically new or innovative; outside or beyond established procedure and principles (Dictionary.com, 2017). In order for something to be revolutionary it has to be in relation to something else, this is certainly true for Cunningham’s

One of the most egregious communication theories displayed heavily throughout the film is the idea of symbolic convergence. The very root of this theory rests on the idea that humans connect with one another through shared meaning of an event, object, or otherwise stated “thing”. There are countless displays of this theory throughout the film, both for the characters in the movie and the viewers on the outside alike. For the characters within the movie, symbolic convergence happens when they are dancing. Even though these

To better understand Aboriginals as a Dream Culture I want to give more insight into Aboriginal Australians general culture and their conceptions of “Dream Time.” In his discussion of religion, Mircea Eliade describes a concept of Cosmos vs Chaos (Eliade 1957). In this notion an unordered world is chaotic only until is it transposed during a sacred time: “By occupying it and, above all, by settling in it, man symbolically transforms it into a cosmos though a ritual repetition of the cosmogony” (Eliade 1957:31). In other words until a land is tamed or created it is considered unordered. This can be applied to Aboriginal’s understanding of the world prior to their current presence. Aboriginals believe that in a time before the Dreamings, the land and world was a featureless earth. It was not until the dreamtime, or time of creation: “where there is contact with appearances from both realms of inside the earth itself as from ill-defined upper region” that the earth began to have its composed landscapes (Cowan 1992:26). The Dream Time is not only a period but more of a dimension where ancestral beings moved across the earth and created not only land, but every aspect of the earth including animals, plants, and man. It is important to realize that the ancestors created the natural earth and that is why Aboriginals live a particular lifestyle. Most Aboriginals living in this cosmogony are hunter-gatherer tribes. This aspect of their life can be traced to stem from the idea of

Aboriginals or indigenous Australians are the native people of Australia. Aboriginals were nomadic people who came to Australia about 40,000 – 60,000 years ago from Southeast Asia. Religion is a great part of Aboriginal culture. The essay answers these questions: What do Aboriginals belief? What is a Kinship system? What is Dreaming and Dreamtime? What rituals does Aboriginals have?

The influence behind the dance company is what makes them so “widely acclaimed” when they perform internationally, for their distinct and unique music, choreography, movements and costume designs. The choreographers inspire the dance pieces, by the traditional stories and movements of various Australian Indigenous communities. Some of their best works include the performance productions of Ochres, Skin and Our Land People Stories.

The traditional view of ballroom is how a man is seen as powerful and strong , leading and deciding which steps to take whereas the woman responds and follows along in a beautiful and expressive way. Gender plays a big role in ballroom dancing, and behaving in a sex-consistent way is reinforced. Those dance movements is shown quite well in Strictly ballroom, as how the main characters were dancing in a heteronormative manner.

In the films, Strictly Ballroom (SB) by Baz Luhrmann (1992) and Mad Hot Ballroom (MHB) by Marilyn Agrelo (2005) both examine ballroom dancing but in different ways that define a distinctive meaning. In SB and MHB the spectator sees distinctive characters and their goals that are similar and that is to do the dances right and ultimately win. In both films there is a powerful dynamic within the beginning of how the characters are portrayed and towards the end where the characters have developed through dance. Dancing becomes a great part of Scott’s life in SB because that is what he’s been taught. In SB Scott shows his new moves at the competition with his partner and faces the consequences for stepping out of the conformity he’s been taught.

Nevertheless, dancers compete just as all other sports do. Although dancers are able to express themselves in their own way, dancers have to put forth months of preparation for one competition because the rules and specific way a move must be executed is so strict, while most sports only have a couple practices before a game. Perfection isn’t a far-fetched goal or dream in the sport of dance, it is a requirement. Dancers are expected to uphold the reputation of looking and performing perfectly at all times, but have you ever stopped to see what goes into making them look that way? “…proper use of the feet and ankles are imperative to a successful and healthy dance career.

Technique is a major key to being a winner, but if the dancer will not do them to win, what is the purpose of trying to consider themselves a sport? “Over the years, we have witnessed dance on the competition stage become very cliché and predictable.” (Roe). This is telling the reader that dance is becoming boring. Moves are becoming predictable and anticipated, even with couples and contact, it is still referring to all dance

Artists today seem more attached to form than perhaps ever before—wedded to concept, abstraction, gymnastic moves and external appearance” (Robb, Paragraph 4). Dance, for many, is starting to become more and more about technique. With that, dance is going to start (and according to Jennifer, has started) to become more about the hard work, and less about the feeling, leading to a higher amount of workout in every practice. During one practice, not including the actual dancing, a ballerina must warm up with a six minute plank, three hundred sit ups, fifty burpees, running laps, and that’s not even all of it.

Instead, she criticizes aspects of his technique because a ballet dancer’s training is never done (Daldry, Billy Elliot). Dancing takes as much rigor as any athletic activity. Therefore, various athletes have seen the advantages of learning ballet and have used it to strengthen their performance in their respective

The characters: Barry Fife, Shirley Hastings, Rico and Ya Ya in the film Strictly Ballroom have been caricaturised and will be compared with reference to filmic techniques. The first time we are introduced to the so called “god of dancing” and the egotistical, lecherous president of the dance federation, Barry Fife, we are met with Rembrandt lighting and a stern, powerful voice which later enforces that “There are no new steps!” Perhaps it is his use of overworked clichés or manipulative ways of deception, possibly his stagnated outlook on life and vanity that makes him so complex, but Barry Fife is the epitome of all men in high positions. In contrast to Barry, Rico is a caring, accepting and loving family man although ones first impression of him is that of fear and intimidation.

Australia has always been centered around diversity and change, specifically with the vast multiculturalism and migrant culture throughout the nation. The specifics of Identity hold an important role in shaping our identity as students and as a nation. Australians pride themselves on being a land of the free and full of diverse culture. This is specifically referred to in our national Anthem; “For those who've come across the seas, We've boundless plains to share; With courage let us all combine,”(McCormick, 1984). Displaying Australia’s open attitude towards immigrants and contributes to the diversity present within our society today. Even before this, much of Australia’s Identity was associated with caucasian culture (Originating from British Settlers). Which is the dominant perception of Australia through the media with australian representation being present through the stereotypes of Bogans, which was made popular through shows like Kath and Kim (ABC, 2007). Also, represented through the popular depiction of Australian people - the bushman made popular by movies like Crocodile Dundee (Faiman, 1986) and through famous real life bushman; Steve Irwin. An important aspect of Australian identity which is consistently neglected is the culture and representation of the initial owners of the land; the aboriginal people. Throughout history the constant mistreatment and neglect of the indigenous, has lead to a massive gap in privilege between the aboriginal people and our

The first character we will be analysing is Barry Fife. This character is a very superficial, self-absorbed as well as overly obsessed with his appearance. During the course of strictly Ballroom we notice that Barry wears a lot of blue which helps portray his cold, uninvolved emotional state. He firmly believes that his way is the right way and shows us this by the video he makes which is aptly titled “only way to dance”. His arrogance is revealed when he makes a statement saying, “Dance any steps you want, but you won’t win.

Australia had always acknowledge Britain as the “mother country”. When Britain declared war on Germany for invading Poland, Australia was announced to be at war by the former Prime Minister, Gordon Menzies. “Fellow Australians, it is my melancholy duty to inform you officially that, in consequence of the persistence of Germany in her invasion of Poland, Great Britain has declared war upon her, and that, as a result, Australia is also at war.”