Category: Dancing

Ballet-Behind the Scenes

ballet performances / Dancing / musings

Ballet-Behind the Scenes

I live near Seattle and support the PNB (Pacific Northwest Ballet). That support entitles me to free admission to two dress rehearsals. This season I saw Romeo and Juliet, then “American Stories.” What I enjoy about the dress rehearsals is the opportunity to watch them perform and then watch the stager and artistic director make adjustments. They meet with the dancers from various acts, rehearse changes, change lighting, adjust the tempo of the orchestra, and all with aa thoudans or more donors sitting quietly, watching and enjoying the opportunity. Some dancers wear warm-up clothes, others near-full costume. Conversations fly around,...

Misty Copeland

character development / Dancing

Misty Copeland

Once every decade or so, a super talented dancer comes along and takes the ballet world by storm. Currently she’s Misty Copeland, the thirty-two year old dancer just named as a principal for the American Ballet Theatre. The fact that she is an African-American is highlighted but, her raw talent is the true measure of her success. Like every über successful performer she’s become an overnight sensation. Of course it took her nearly twenty years to attain that status! She wasn’t all dancer to the exclusion of high school like many dancers seem to be. She kept her life in...

Summer Fun on TV is Coming!

84 Ribbons / Dancing

Summer Fun on TV is Coming!

If you love exuberant dancers, be certain to check out Fox’s SYTYCD, aka So YOU Think You Can Dance summer series. Thousands of young dancers around the US tryout to become one of the 20 finalists who strive to be named most popular dancers of the season. The choreography is all freshly created. Dancers have less than one week to learn and perform their randomly selected partnered dance genre as well as their personal solos and at least one group number (which usually opens the show). You will see modern, hip-hop, Bollywood, ballroom, Broadway and many other styles. I love...

Important April Dates to Celebrate Dance

Dancing

Important April Dates to Celebrate Dance

National Dance Week – April 24-May 3 The dance-related organization became a non-profit institution in 2011. It’s purpose: introduce people to the enjoyment and benefits of dance through community awareness and dance in school. I also encourages continuing education for professionals. International (World) Dance Day – April 29 This day of celebrating dance began in 1982 as an initiative of UNESCO. The purpose: attract people to the world of dance by suggesting they attend performances, classes and lectures  and read magazine and news articles on dance. How can I get involved from near my home? 1. Attend a ballet performance...