Ballet Research Paper

Dance has come a long way since it first began, and that road has been paved by different styles and choreographers. Modern dance is one of the biggest contributions to dance today. It all began with the rebellion against classical ballet. If it wasn’t for Modern, many aspects and styles of dance would not exist today. Also, without choreographers we would have no dance. One of the most influential Modern choreographers is Twyla Tharp.

Contemporary ballet, although is a form of ballet but looks vastly different from classical and romantic ballet. Contemporary ballet consist of ballet and contemporary dance, and the dance often includes having a partner. Contemporary ballet is often done in a turned in position while classical ballet is done in a turned out position. A turned out position would be the first position in ballet where the dancer’s feet are usually pointing outwards. Like modern dances in the 20th century, contemporary ballet often hints a message to the audience. Alonzo King, a local San Francisco dance company owner inspired many choreographer with his choreography by having a perfect blend of traditional and modern dances in his piece. His choreography often contain a strong, controversial meaning. “The Moroccan Project”, choreographer Alonzo King suggests the message of love and inequality, using their trademark moves: spinning and elevating, in the contemporary modern dance style.

The history of ballet dates back to the 18th century starting with Baroque dance. Fabritio Caroso da Sermoneta was a famous Italian Renaissance dancing master. He was born around 1526-1535 and died around 1605-1620. His dance manual "Ballarino" was published in 1581, with a subsequent edition, significantly different, Nobiltà de dame, printed in 1600 and again after his death in 1630. In the 19th century there was the pre-romantic, romantic and the classical ballets. Anthony Tudor deserves an honorable mention for his choreography and teaching. Pre-romantic ballet occurred sometime circa ?? up to 1831. The romantic period covered the early to mid 1800's. This era also introduced the calf-length dress. A few of the great Romantic dancers were Marie Taglioni, Fanny Elssler and Carlotta Grisi. The tequnique became more developed, but the role

Dance is found in all cultures. It is considered a way to communicate without talking. During the Renaissance period, ballet was considered a Russian specialty. The highly qualified and sought after dance companies would tour the world performing in front of those who had never experienced ballet before. By exposing ballet to the United States of America, the Russians inspired and sparked a demand for legitimate ballet in America. It took place throughout the 20th century, currently known as the Russo-American Era.

The main topic of my research paper is comparing and contrasting the difference between Chinese Classical dance and European Classical ballet. The questions I will develop in the paper included as follows.

However, just because the style of dance that was established was out of touch with the revolutionaries does not mean that dance did not thrive and adapt to the times. During the Revolution, ballet took on three distinct forms: ballet based in

“Balanchine abolished scenery and turned rehearsal clothes into costumes. But even ballets will less severe aesthetics--Western Symphony, with its dancers gussied up like cowboys and showgirls--usually skipped the over-the-top characterizations and fairy-tale plots of classic story ballets, like Swan Lake.” (Tonguette) While these are some significant differences, there are many other differences to be found in other aspects of a ballet.

One of the primary ways in which Tap, swing and jazz dance deviate completely from ballet are how the styles organically developed into social dances. Ballet started as a social court dance however at it’s inception was segregated from it’s roots as something purely performative. Jazz dance forms on the other hand such as tap dance kept many of the swing vernaculars which created them in their performance. That is to say that when watching a tap dancer perform on stage (with a traditional deportment) and then watching a swing dancer in a dance hall, one can see the similarities in movement qualities and even certain steps (such as the “shim sham” or “Attack Annies”). From this it can be argued that Tap dancers (as well as all vernacular jazz dancers of the day) question what dance is by keeping its social roots alive even after it had transitioned onto the stage. The fact that tap dance was a part of the vernacular dance of the day (and still had a casual culture about it) allowed that the Nicholas Brothers to learn to dance without ever taking a class (Frank 67). Where as a ballet dancer may spend long hours training at the bar and in class Fayard Nicholas learned to tap dance purely through watching

Ballet is one of the most beautiful, graceful dances known to the dancing world. From the tutu to the pointe shoes the need to see the expression of the steps given. Being able to see how the illusion of a flying princess is one of the most mysteries that come with a ballet show. The history of Ballet has evolved into one of the most well-known type of dances in the world this is from only the men having roles in the ballet to women being able to express emotion.

I get to express myself more. In ballet you have to use shoes and everything but in modern it’s bare feet, you get to feel the floor, you get to mess with everybody and have a lot more fun” she said.

Dance is one of the most beautiful, expressive forms of art known to mankind. It expresses joy, love, sorrow, anger, and the list truly goes on for all the possible emotions that it can convey. Dance not only can express how one feels, but it can tell a story or even be used to praise a higher power. Dance has intricately played an important role to every culture over the course of time. Two forms of dance that have not only stood against the test of time but have influenced the development of other various styles of dance is none other than Classical Ballet and Modern Dance.

Dance critic Théophile Gautier states, “Nothing resembles a dream more than a ballet...” (Anderson 77). The effortless technique of the ballerina paints most ballets as exactly this. Consequently, there is more to a ballet than technique and dancing. Different types of ballets and their structural components separate one ballet from the next. It is important to understand the difference between the two main types of ballets: Romantic Ballet and Classical Ballet. Romantic ballet in the 19th century differs from Classical ballet in the 20th century structurally, technically, and socially. The two dance forms also vary in costumes and narrative. However, with all of those differences, they both use ballet technique for a specific purpose.

Dance has changed from hundreds of years of tradition, to something modern, forever changing, modern dance. With television shows such as “Dance Moms”, and “So You Think You Can Dance”, modern dance has embodied a new form, transformed into a different style, representing its new name entirely. Contemporary, developed from modern dance, is something modern, it is forever changing, and it is contemporary.

Ballet has been an art form since the late fifteenth century, but society did not truly see the impact of ballet until the nineteenth century. Modern day thinkers

Although Kylián uses some classical ballet elements such as graceful and flowing movements in Petite Mort, this is clearly a contemporary ballet. Because contemporary ballet incorporates both modern dance and classical ballet there are many similarities. Foot positioning is one of the key distinguishing feature between the two. Most, if not all, classical ballet is performed in a turned-out position while contemporary is done in a turned-in position. Turn-in position allows for a greater range of movement that is used in contemporary ballet. Another difference between the two is the absence or use of pointe shoes. In classical ballet pointe shoes are vital in supporting the dancers