Hey everyone! Doing my mom a favor and posting this-
Arthur Murray dance studio in Danvers, MA is looking for ballroom instructors! Previous training is required. Please send resumes to arthurmurraydanvers@comcast.net. It's a great place with a lot of nice people!
Thanks everyone!
Monday, May 28, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
The Importance of Sound
The other evening I was sitting at a restaurant watching the Tvs that were on. They were displaying some sort of music awards (sadly, I do not know which one it was). Since there was music playing, they did not put the sound on the televisions. At one point, a friend of mine and I happened to look up to see a gentleman break dancing with only one leg dressed in an old school military uniform with C-Lo Green in the back. We both looked at each other with the inquisitive expression of “what is going on?” Had the music been playing, or the sound in general had been on, we may have had a better idea as to what the point was of this particular act in the show. It hit me then- music is SO important!
Dance is typically a visual art. However, there are so many aural aspects to it that one may not typically think about. The best example is lyrical dance. Lyrical dance in itself is about the lyrics in the music. Without the music, you may not be able to fully understand exactly what the dance is trying to convey. A dancer could be clasping her hands together to show that she is holding flowers while the song portrays a wedding, and without the words, you would just think she was clasping her hands. It would not be understood that she was a “bride” so to speak.
As a choreographer, I find that it’s best to choreograph with music. I took many classes where, and know many choreographers who can create a dance just based off of movement. I personally love to listen to a piece of music over and over again and find the nuances of it. When I can get my hands on the composed music itself, I like that even better. I am fortunate to have taken music classes for a long time (flute player in band for years!) so I can read music on paper and understand it and follow along while the song plays. This of course is more so with classical type pieces. It helps me to find parts of a song that I wouldn’t necessarily have picked up on had I not had the physical written composition in front of me.
Even with pieces that do not have music, I feel like hearing the breath of the dancer, or even the soft swooshing movements of a foot along the dance floor, or hands clapping, or the sound of a turn, are essential to any dance. Without those, I would feel like any particular piece would be flat and emotionless, even if the performer put all the emotion they could into it. Sound creates the full experience. It’s similar to being able to have lighting for specific pieces. It just makes all the difference!
Had I heard the music on that night in the restaurant, I may not be wondering right now what it actually was that I was seeing. Not to mention that I missed a performance by C-Lo Green whom I love! Next time, maybe I should just ask the server to turn up the sound!
Dance is typically a visual art. However, there are so many aural aspects to it that one may not typically think about. The best example is lyrical dance. Lyrical dance in itself is about the lyrics in the music. Without the music, you may not be able to fully understand exactly what the dance is trying to convey. A dancer could be clasping her hands together to show that she is holding flowers while the song portrays a wedding, and without the words, you would just think she was clasping her hands. It would not be understood that she was a “bride” so to speak.
As a choreographer, I find that it’s best to choreograph with music. I took many classes where, and know many choreographers who can create a dance just based off of movement. I personally love to listen to a piece of music over and over again and find the nuances of it. When I can get my hands on the composed music itself, I like that even better. I am fortunate to have taken music classes for a long time (flute player in band for years!) so I can read music on paper and understand it and follow along while the song plays. This of course is more so with classical type pieces. It helps me to find parts of a song that I wouldn’t necessarily have picked up on had I not had the physical written composition in front of me.
Even with pieces that do not have music, I feel like hearing the breath of the dancer, or even the soft swooshing movements of a foot along the dance floor, or hands clapping, or the sound of a turn, are essential to any dance. Without those, I would feel like any particular piece would be flat and emotionless, even if the performer put all the emotion they could into it. Sound creates the full experience. It’s similar to being able to have lighting for specific pieces. It just makes all the difference!
Had I heard the music on that night in the restaurant, I may not be wondering right now what it actually was that I was seeing. Not to mention that I missed a performance by C-Lo Green whom I love! Next time, maybe I should just ask the server to turn up the sound!
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Finding Peace and Love
I feel as though recently there has been so much sadness in my circle of friends. From break ups and heartache, to deaths in the family, there have been so many unfortunate situations. When you are constantly surrounded by it, it can be difficult to remember that there is so much to love.
I find my love in dance. Obviously. I am lucky that dance is not just what I do, but it’s what I love, and it’s my therapy. When things get bad, I throw myself into teaching and dancing. I have that outlet. Many do not.
I don’t know what I would do without dance sometimes- that adrenaline rush from the physical output, and the emotional rush from letting your heart take over your body.
I wish more people would dance. I know that many guys find it “feminine” and don’t feel comfortable with it. Imagine if more guys danced, though. Not necessarily ballet, but other forms like hip hop. Would there be less of that testosterone driven force in times of turmoil that lead to destructive behavior? I’ve known many guys that when things get bad, they’ve turned to fighting or drinking or both. If they had dance, would they be able to take their physicality into that?
I’ve been known to have a temper in my “past life.” I get angry and scream and cry, and when I didn’t have outlets to dance it out, it would get worse. It was only a few months ago that I remember being so upset and angry that I was walking down the street choking on tears and unknowingly digging my nails into the palm of my hands because I was so emotional that I was uncontrollably making fists in order to steady the shaking. Now, this doesn’t happen all the time to me, but it was a morning that I had to go into my other job that doesn’t involve dance, and the situation that had caused the outburst had happened first thing in the morning. I had no opportunity to dance it out. I had to wait until the next day to get into dance classes to teach. Even so, I wish I had had the time to put what I was feeling into dance. I got to later that week.
I did a lot of improv when I got my chance to dance it out. While some of it was slow and emotional, there were others that were angry, and on top of that there were some that I did that just brought me peace. I feel like that’s the most important type- finding your peace. When a dancer “dances it out” they often get totally caught up in the emotions. One needs to find the balance. They need to find their peace.
My peace:
So what do you think- if more of the destructively emotional people out there danced, do you think it would help? Or do you think it would not make a difference? Do you think guys would do it more if it were socially acceptable?
My belief is that it would help. Everyone needs an outlet, and everyone needs the creative side to their outlet. Dance is perfect for men because it involves both the creative and physical sides. I'm sorry, but there's not much emotion in soccer or football or running. Sports don't quite get that creativity side like dance does!
This is my way of saying "I've had a sad day, and I want to spread my love to the universe." So hopefully this has put a little more love and a little less sadness out into the world today.
Forget regrets- dance like it's your last!
I find my love in dance. Obviously. I am lucky that dance is not just what I do, but it’s what I love, and it’s my therapy. When things get bad, I throw myself into teaching and dancing. I have that outlet. Many do not.
I don’t know what I would do without dance sometimes- that adrenaline rush from the physical output, and the emotional rush from letting your heart take over your body.
I wish more people would dance. I know that many guys find it “feminine” and don’t feel comfortable with it. Imagine if more guys danced, though. Not necessarily ballet, but other forms like hip hop. Would there be less of that testosterone driven force in times of turmoil that lead to destructive behavior? I’ve known many guys that when things get bad, they’ve turned to fighting or drinking or both. If they had dance, would they be able to take their physicality into that?
I’ve been known to have a temper in my “past life.” I get angry and scream and cry, and when I didn’t have outlets to dance it out, it would get worse. It was only a few months ago that I remember being so upset and angry that I was walking down the street choking on tears and unknowingly digging my nails into the palm of my hands because I was so emotional that I was uncontrollably making fists in order to steady the shaking. Now, this doesn’t happen all the time to me, but it was a morning that I had to go into my other job that doesn’t involve dance, and the situation that had caused the outburst had happened first thing in the morning. I had no opportunity to dance it out. I had to wait until the next day to get into dance classes to teach. Even so, I wish I had had the time to put what I was feeling into dance. I got to later that week.
I did a lot of improv when I got my chance to dance it out. While some of it was slow and emotional, there were others that were angry, and on top of that there were some that I did that just brought me peace. I feel like that’s the most important type- finding your peace. When a dancer “dances it out” they often get totally caught up in the emotions. One needs to find the balance. They need to find their peace.
My peace:
So what do you think- if more of the destructively emotional people out there danced, do you think it would help? Or do you think it would not make a difference? Do you think guys would do it more if it were socially acceptable?
My belief is that it would help. Everyone needs an outlet, and everyone needs the creative side to their outlet. Dance is perfect for men because it involves both the creative and physical sides. I'm sorry, but there's not much emotion in soccer or football or running. Sports don't quite get that creativity side like dance does!
This is my way of saying "I've had a sad day, and I want to spread my love to the universe." So hopefully this has put a little more love and a little less sadness out into the world today.
Forget regrets- dance like it's your last!
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