I believe that you will agree that dancers who demonstrate an impressive “commitment” to movement achieve that distinction by giving whole-body, uninhibited performances. I hope that you begin to consider how you can apply this observation to your own dancing. Get your whole body involved! Let go of those inhibitions! No soapbox, here – just raw enthusiasm for the progress you’re going to make this term!
Many of you commented on the enviable flexibility of the dancers from Batsheva. What else besides the dancers’ flexibility caught your eye? This has inspired the next round of questions.
Check out this excerpt from “Café Muller” by German choreographer Pina Bausch, and a few clips from the brand new Wim Wenders documentary about her life, “PINA.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL31OTG7Io4
Corollary Question(s):
What, if any, are the baseline characteristics of a “good” dancer? For example, do you have to be flexible to be a good dancer? Or, can you be a captivating dancer even if you’re not especially flexible? Are there any traits that all successful dancers share?
These clips were amazing. Flexibility is definitely not needed to be a good dancer but it can only enhance the performance. During the duration of the clips, I almost forgot that the performers were dancing rather than acting. It is amazing that they have the skill to blend the two. In Cafe Muller, the performers really emerged themselves in the melancholy setting. I was truly engaged. I think that watching these videos will help me to commit to the movements and have a story in mind while dancing in class. The Pina Fun clip was really cool. I did not quite imagine dancing in the rain to be like that but it was really lively and energetic like what the chihuaha on a trampoline should look like. The last clip of Pina Obstacles was really cool because the performer was able to use the elements to capture the audience's attention with the dirt and pretty setting. This taught me that dancing is not limited to one's body and that nature and objects can be used as props.
ReplyDeleteI think that the only good quality a great dancer has to have is a passion to dance. In all three of the clips, each dancer is able to draw in the audience with their movements because they dance with a purpose. They allow people to connect with the emotion of the piece through movement. Each character has a role in which they bring to life which makes it so interesting to watch. Dancers don't need to be flexible, fast, or have lots of movement for people to be drawn into the performance. Dancers just need to be believable and passionate. The audience will not be able connect to dancers that don't feel engaged. ~Nicole B
ReplyDeleteI think that there are not any baseline characteristics of a “good” dancer because classifying a dancer as “good” is subjective to every person. However, I believe that to be a captivating dancer, expression will show throughout the whole body. Emotions in the face and all the other body parts will show energy or grace which does not necessarily mean that the dancer needs to show flexibility in movement. Any person can work on stretches and become flexible but that does not mean they will be a good dancer. I believe every successful dancer is passionate about dancing and truly feel the music within them. I saw this in all the clips. The Pina Fun was especially captivating to me. The dancers were truly able to utilize the music and the rain to express different emotions. They use emotion throughout their body and like we learned in class, commitment with each movement. Each movement has intentionality is used to express an emotion
ReplyDelete-Candace
In these three clips, the dancers all share one thing in common- passion. The dancers are able to captivate the audience with their expressions, emotions, and energy flowing from head to toe. Flexibility does not necessarily make a person a "good" dancer; there isn't really a true definition of a "good" dancer because every person dances in their own, unique manner with different stories. However, a successful dancer illustrates their emotions through their committed body movements to the audience. If the audience is engaged and able to connect with the dancer, they will believe he/she is a "good" dancer.
ReplyDeleteIn the Cafe Muller piece, the performer that stuck out the most to me was the lady in the white dress. She danced with a lot of emotion and passion that it was engaging, and I wanted to watch her story. Her entire body was telling me a story, and her feelings were displayed through movement. In the PINA piece with water, all performers danced with passion and the environment with the movements helped to create a mood of anger. The dancers moved so vigorously and told a story through their passionate dancing. In the last PINA piece, I could clearly see the struggle the narrator was speaking of in the movements of the dancer. He also danced with frustration and his entire body that made it seem as if he were going through an obstacle.
I do not think that flexibility is the most important characteristic of a good dancer, but do believe that it is one of the most crucial factors. In these videos, I witnessed more of passion and emotion than of flexibility of dancers. However, I feel that there are limits as to being able to adequately express various emotions and passion if the dancer is not flexible enough. The dancer is restricted and highly selective in how to move his or her body, whose collection of movements is very narrow. Sure, you could be a “good” dancer even if you are not flexible, but it would be extremely difficult to become the “best” dancer. I wanted to be a dancer when I was younger, but after being encouraged to quit ballet class for not being flexible enough, I was almost forced to believe that flexibility is very critical to become a dancer. I believe that all successful dancers are flexible, passionate as in these videos, and able to feel and express music through every part of the body.
ReplyDeleteIt’s hard to say what makes a “good” dancer since everyone has different definitions of good. However, I believe that good dancers are typically very self-aware and unafraid to fully commit to their movements. I feel that it’s important that dancers are always fully aware of their movements and what each part of their bodies look like. And I’ve often noticed that no matter how loose and easy dancers make their movements, there is always extreme care and precision put into each of their moves. As for flexibility, although it may be useful in some styles of dance, it is definitely not a requirement to be a good dancer. Rather, it is important to show some kind of energy or emotion behind the moves and engage your whole self, mind and body, into the performance. For example, the Café Muller piece did not seem to require much flexibility; but it was still extremely captivating. I feel that if you commit yourself to your movements and dance with a purpose, viewers can’t help but be captivated.
ReplyDeleteThe baseline characteristics necessary to be a dancer are abstract in nature; therefore, subjective. A ballet dancer is expected to be coordinated, graceful, and agile. However, a "Krump" dancer (one who dances in the style of krumping) would be expected to be overly expressive with their body to the point of exaggeration and sharp in bodily movement. Although lacking in grace, krump dancers still maintain excellent coordination, for their intended dancing style. So who is the better dancer? The dancer who is graceful or the dancer who is exaggerative? The truth lies in the perspective. For example: If someone enjoys krumping because of it's intense nature, and dislikes ballet due to it's lack of that similar intensity, a conclusion is drawn by the observer of the dancer: the krumper is a better dancer. But if the observer is trying to be objective, they would try and base their decision of "who is the better dancer", off multiple aspects, which may or may not be exclusive to one dancer or the other. In essence, the determination of a "good" dancer is always subjective to the observer, audience and media.
ReplyDelete"Success" is also a subjective quality of a dancer. A dancer may be considered successful when they achieve more than they expected (i.e. an internal success). A dancer may be considered successful by their peers if they perform beyond their peer's expectations (i.e. a social success). And hopefully, if a dancer is serious in their pursuits of dance as a career, they may perform so well that they dance in a prestigious theater and critics will rave at their outstanding performance. Fame and fortune await this dancer; therefore, success has taken the form in monetary gain and public popularity.
Although I've digressed and essentially answered the question in the most verbose way possible, I want to conclude with the following explanation of what I personally view is defined as the "best" dancer, and "successful" dancer. The best and most successful dancer is having the most fun. If you're not having fun for yourself – what’s the point?
I agree with many of the posts above that highlight that a 'good' dancer is a subjective evaluation. I also agree that flexibility doesn't make a good dancer, but it may enhance the aesthetic appeal of some movements.
ReplyDeleteI loved the beginning of Cafe Muller piece because I think it highlighted something that seems to be important in dance, which was to dedicate yourself to the movement you are making. It was clear that with every dancer, even if the motion they were supposed to be making only involved a specific body part, the rest of their body placement and movement were carefully thought out, and that awareness seems to be a characteristic of all 'good' dancers.
It is similar to when you ask us to put more emphasis or energy into our movements, its clear that having a commitment to a movement and awareness of your whole body can very much enhance the experience for people watching and for the dancer.
In my opinion, the key baseline characteristic of a “good” dancer comes from within the person dancing. It comes from creativity- pushing yourself and your limits to movements you’ve never done before, steps you’ve never taken and body positions that are novel to your past experiences. Once you embody your movements, show that the movements you are doing mean more to you than just moving an arm in a circle, or doing a pirouette, it is then when others will see you as a “good” dancer. I do not believe that you have to be flexible to be good dancer, or to be captivating. I think an important trait a successful dancer has is to be able to step outside of their comfort zone, to persuade the audience of how they are feeling, from facial expression to the simplest movements in their fingers.
ReplyDeleteIn the last video clip from PINA, it discusses how there are obstacles in dance that have to be overcome. I believe that these obstacles are internalized, your own personal hardships or feelings of discomfort. “You have to go against or through them, or climb over them.” This quote is applicable to every dancer, whatever the obstacle may be and how it is overcome. A good dancer should be able to identify such or any obstacles, and attempt to overcome it.
- Nicole Wong
The universal language of dance is a beautiful expression that I truly believe captivates the mind, body, soul, and heart of an individual. The gift to express oneself through embodiment bridges the gap in differentiating a ‘good’ dancer because it is almost inevitable to label due to the infinite styles/differences one expresses. However, I can stand behind the energy of a passionate dancer when I’m in the vicinity of him/her. Eyes are the windows to the soul and it’s amazing to see a dancer’s passion behind their art as they express themselves freely in their open canvas. It is absolutely breathtaking’ to see one’s soul freely let go and express themselves with 110% heart and passion. I gain a tremendous appreciation for dancers that send out their energy to the universe and as an audience; it is an honor being able to captivate and feel their energy. Flexibility does not always determine a good dancer or indicate one. I believe you can be a captivating dancer without being flexible, as long as you are cultivating your expression passionately and full-heartedly. The videos of PINA portrayed the beauty of the passion behind the art of self-expression. I believe all dancers share the heart of passion for dance and creating a work of art through their embodiment and connection to the universe. Every movement is a mere projection of an emotion they are portraying that captivates their piece of art during that moment in time. Overall, it is a blessing to experience dancers whom share their story/artwork by expressing themselves 110% freely and passionately.
ReplyDelete-Cindy Vo
I feel that a good dancer is anyone who is expressing themselves. There are no specific movements or type of dance that can be deemed better than another because everyone moves differently and has different emotions when dancing. I would say the most important trait of a dancer who is intriguing to watch is passion. Anyone who is passionate about what they are doing is extremely pleasing and engaging to watch. All successful dancers share this ability to express passion through the movement of their bodies. I liked the intensity and sharpness of the dances in these videos. I really thought the guy in the last one was going to fall of the cliff so it made me quite uneasy haha
ReplyDeleteCamille Asaro
I found a few common threads that strung together all three of these cathartic dance performances. All of the dancers I would define as "good" because each of them were telling a story with their bodies. These men and women were not just merely moving, they each possessed inner monologues, felt a sense of urgency, and seemed to have an overall objective. I saw their limbs surrendering to the floor, to their partner, or to gravity without fear or hesitation. When needed, all tension was released and they became fluid and free.
ReplyDeleteAs long as a dancer is willing and able to freely express himself/herself and what he/she wants to get across to the audience through movement, the person can be a captivating dancer. Being flexible can definitely enhance the person's dance movements and techniques, but I still believe that a good dancer does not have to be flexible. I feel that as long as a person has an open mind, a free soul, and a desire to dance, he/she can be considered a good dancer.
ReplyDeleteThese clips were all amazing and I especially enjoyed the first one because it was so different from what I had expected to see out of a dance performance. I feel like the dancers were almost acting rather than dancing. They were so natural in their movements and they really were able tell a story to the audience. In the second clip, PINA - Fun, I feel like the dancers were trying to disguise themselves as raindrops. It was really beautiful.
What makes a dancer "good" is not their ability to stretch their bodies in captivating ways, rather to simply share their artistic expression with their audience, in whatever way comes naturally to them. However, to be a better dancer you cannot let yourself plateau at the level that is comfortable to you, you must incorporate things such a flexibility into your style of dancing. Having the ability to perform routines that have already been choreographed and performed is yes a great accomplishment, but taking that routine and making it unique to you is what's important. This "artistic eye" is a quality that makes a good dancer great and something all dancers share is the drive to achieve this viewpoint and the ability to better their skills.
ReplyDeleteEvery person has a different definition on what exactly is a good dancer. Some might define good as perfection of the technicalities, such as form, flexibility, strength. Another might define good as a boldness to push beyond personal physical limits and the drive to discover the unknown. Others might define it as a combination of the previous two.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I believe that the primary characteristic that all successful dancers share is the passion for expression. In all three clips, all the dancers moved with intent to express something. As I watched the dancers, it wasn’t their technical mastery, but rather their passion to express a certain emotion, obstacle, etc, that captivated me.
The last two clips especially resonated with me. I think that in order to be a "good" dancer, one does not necessarily need to possess a certain flexibility, agility or body type. Rather, connection to one's environment, as exemplified in the last two clips, is key. In the second clip, the way the dancers interacted with the various aspects of the dancefloor, the rock, the water on the ground, even the droplets of rain, was powerful to watch, integral to how they communicated certain feelings with their (diverse) bodies. Additionally, the way the dancer in the last clip utilized the dirt in which he was dancing was quite interesting. As opposed to it being a taken-for-granted or not thought about element of the dance, it became a sort of other character, something to interact with and inform the performance as a whole.
ReplyDeleteI hope that by watching these clips, I can keep in mind that our class space is not just a room with a wooden floor, mirror, and various belongings strewn about. I hope to use ingenuity and creativity to interact with these objects and elements, or at least acknowledge them, to improve the way I move both within and outside the context of the class.
---Charlie
All of these dancers shared a full emotional life that was connected to their movements as well as a real sense of their body. You have to know what your body can and can not do. You're allowed to test those boundaries, but you still need to have that in mind. I believe that the most important thing that a "good" dancer has is commitment/passion. The training and technique simply unlock that inner life and give it a voice in the rest of the body. Similar to action, I believe that we have all these classes working on our technique and form, etc so that when we're in a performance, it's all second nature to us that we just live the emotional life and see where it takes us.
ReplyDeleteFlexibility and endurance just help dancers have more options about what they can use to express themselves. It's another tool, but it's not the end-all. The better shape your body is in, the more you're able to do before it gives up on you, even though you want to keep on dancing.
- Mary
From my perspective, the baseline characteristics of a “good” dancer involve complete and utter commitment to the movement at hand. It requires both devotion to and passion in the performance itself. This means that the dancer gives not only their physical body to the choreography, but their emotional mentality as well. In watching the excerpt from “Café Muller,” the dancers devoted themselves entirely to the movements. Regardless of however many times a phrase was repeated, each additional repetition was just as powerful as the last. They devoted themselves to the intended emotion by maintaining their facial expressions and “letting go of any inhibitions.” I believe that these baseline characteristics are also the traits that define “successful” dancers—dancers who devote themselves so passionately to the performance that an outside world or audience no longer seems to exist or matter. Although flexibility may be beneficial in distinguishing dance from everyday movement, I definitely do not believe that it is necessary to deliver a captivating performance. Captivation depends on the dancers’ ability to tell a story with their movements.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, I found it interesting that the “PINA – Fun” clip reminded me of our in-class circle lab. While we were told to imagine drawing circles as if paint was flowing from our fingertips in class, in the video, I could actually SEE the circles being drawn from the water that the dancers were performing in. It was a beauty that I have never seen before.
the first video is very loose in my opinion not like sloppy but in the meaning of very relaxed and then suddenly they start being very passionate and aggressive and very exaggerated movement which is very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe second video the dancing is very wild and strong similar to animals how they are graceful but at the same time have that fierce and powerful movement.
For the third video i like how the dancer used his surrounding to really emphasize his movement.
-christian Huerta
In my opinion, flexibility is not the most essential factor to determine whether the dancer is good or not. Upon watching the first vedio "Cafe Muller" by German choreographer Pina Bausch, the dancers really engage in that setting, and they use their body to persuade audience of how they are feeling. In another word, their movements coordinate with their body part to express their emotions. The dancers' movement in another two vedio clips are also not regarded as flexible, but they do show the passion in their dance, which captures audience' attention and catch their thoughts. They are so passionate and energetic to make their dance to show their inner feeling to the audience. Just like what we learned in the class, we try to move our body parts as more as we could. We do not need to care about whether the movement is graceful, beautiful or not. We just try our best to get our whole body included. Thus I deduce that the key ingredient to be a successful dancer is passion and ingenuity in dance.
ReplyDelete-YIFAN WANG
The only baseline characteristic a "good" dancer should have is the ability to express his or herself through any kind of movements. Preferably, these movements should have meaning and emotion. One does not need to be flexible to be a good dancer. Like I mentioned earlier, as long as the dancer can convey emotion or a story through his or her movements, they can be a successful dancer. Traits that all dancers might share are passion and a heap of emotion. Without this, their movements would just look very dull and forced. Dancing should not be so over thought. The dancers in these videos provide a story through their movements. They captivate the audience (me, at least) and that's a great trait to have as a dancer.
ReplyDeleteThrough out the first video i did not understand the concept of dance. i saw repetitive movement and trust almost comparing it to Thursdays class. In the send second video i see much more movement that we practice in thursdays class as well. Theses dancer show the variety of ways to move the body and are willing to go all the way to show it. The last video i got to say was my favorite. The way he moved... well it was kinda wonderful. the way he moves through the dirt becoming one with the earth and guiding through it. It was as almost as if he was at peace with himself and the ground below him using every part of the body to convey a message.
ReplyDeleteDrawing from these clips, it seems like a "good" dancer successfully embodies emotion through muscular movement and control. It is not that one need be flexible to be a "good" and captivating dancer, but rather that one must be aware of all the ways that each muscle in the body may be contracted or lengthened and how this affects the choreographed or non-choreographed movement. That means an understanding and awareness of ones body is essential to dance. When we talk about using the eyes in class or imagining that we wish to touch something in front of us, I think that it is this use of the muscles that will allow us to achieve that intensity or focus on the movement. By using the muscles often forgotten, like those of the eyes, eyebrows, ears, mouth, nose, fingertips, neck, toes, maybe one comes closer to being a successful dancer.
ReplyDeleteKatrina Hoffman