Articles are critical to research papers. This is a great article written by Jill Morrison that gives views and definitions on interpretive dance. She says it is a form of modern dance in which the dancer's movements depict an emotion or tell a story. These definitions that are given to me from this article were very useful when bringing together my research. It was very hard to find an article that was useful and helpful with research.
This article was very helpful because the main topic of my research paper was the main subject within this article. Interpretive dance being such a broad topic was very hard to find research accurate enough to use, yet this article was perfect for the job.
Morrison, Jill. "Interpretive Dance." Aricle Insider. 25 Mar 2009 http://www.articleinsider.com/business/services/interpretive-dance.
Definition
Beginning Research
Interpretive Dance was the perfect topic for me. There are so many websites that are able to help with my research, however one of the most helpful is this Website with an article written by Nadia Hava-Robbins, and this article has a lot of great information needed to complete my paper. Interpretive dance in this piece is defined as, “a form of expression for speaking visually, of joy, love, fear, pain, anger, despair, etc.” (Hava-Robbins)
This website catches my interest as well as promotes the positives and negatives of interpretive dance which gives me exactly what is needed for my research. This website describes personal experience and opinion that other websites do not, which is very helpful.
Hava-Robbins, Nadia. "Interpretive Dance." Dance. Jan2002. 25 Mar 2009 <http://www.snowcrest.net/turningpoint/interpdance.html.>
Artistic Response
Interview
When interviewing someone about dance, I knew just who to turn to. I went straight to Shannon McClure Denney. She is The Pointe Dance Arts' owner and artistic director. She has been dancing since before she can remember. She he studied under nationally and internationally recognized choreographers Theresa Noletto-Hutchins, Celi Shinn and Scott Benson.
I asked Denney why she has danced for how long she has. She responded by telling me that it is her whole life, “when something has been a part of you for so long, you can’t just give it up.” Her mother put her in dance when she was a little girl. She fell in love with it, and knew it was something she wanted to continue to do. Shannon has performed in professional environments in which few are given the opportunity. In 1986, Shannon was accepted as a member of the Sheffield Performing Arts Company. She performed with that company for eight years. In the winter of 1992, Shannon traveled to Paris, France as a member of the Universal Dance Association All-Star group where she danced in the New Year’s Day parade. She is constantly showing our school her lovely talent.
Also, I asked her why she loves dancing so much. She proceeded to tell me that, “it allows me to let all of my true feelings out. There are so many different dances, that one of them is bound to get feeling out of you. With the different routines, there are different songs, and those songs can click in your mind to help you dance out whatever you are feeling.” She also told me that if you don’t necessarily click with one dance, it doesn’t mean someone else on the team doesn’t. Everyone has different feelings at different times, which means there will always be someone who connects to the dance that is being performed.
Lastly, I asked her what her favorite part of dancing was. She told me that she loved to perform and show off her talent. “I love when the song ends, and I look into the crowd and see all the people’s faces. Whether they like it or not, to know that someone out there really did connect with us…it’s mind blowing.” She is on stage about 75% of her life, and she says there is no place else she would rather be. She loves being on stage and “showing off what she has worked so hard to do.”
Shannon, among others, is truly an amazing dancer. Her body movements give so much meaning and expression that you can’t help but be in awe. Dancing is an extremely beautiful way to show off your talent and show the world your feelings, without singling yourself out.
Denney, Shannon. Personal Interview. 1 May 2009.
Live Interaction
I went to Miss Kelly’s School of Dance in Trussville. I attended the 10-12 year old ballet class. Let me tell you, in was unbelievable to see these young girls move in ways I wish that I could. I am sixteen and these girls were so mature in their dancing, that I don’t even think that I would have the ability to do it and be serious. Being the goofy person that I am, it took me a while to finally get into the dancing, but once I watched it for a little while…it really is a moving sport to watch.
When you see these little girls’ faces when they dance, you can tell how much dancing means to them. They are so in love with ballet, and you can see it in their eyes. You can see the emotion that they are trying to express just by watching how their faces change from when the music stops, and they laugh at their mistakes, to when it starts and you see their concentration and seriousness about the dance.
I learned a lot from watching these little girls dance. It showed me how ballet is not only a very moving and powerful dance; it is a lot like interpretive dance. From my research, interpretive dance is very emotional, expressive, and beautiful, which is exactly what these girls showed me in their ballet. I have so much respect for these girls who put forth so much effort to perfect every dance that they do, just to show their feelings to the audience, so that they too, can connect.
Beverly’s School of Dance. Live Interaction. 2 May 2009.
Video
You see all different people doing ballerina moves. It is breathtaking to see how flexible these people are! Not even joking, I was in awe watching the video. It shows the true strength that it takes to take ballet and to be successful in it.
It is made by Anaheim Dance Studio, and they did an incredible job. If they want support for their studio, they have my full attention. This video sucks you in. It makes you want to put on tights and dance like no ones watching, because you see how effortless these people move when they are dancing. They dance like it’s just as easy to breathe. They make it seem like they are floating on air when they jump.
I can honestly say that I’m in complete and total amazement of ballet now. I have given it a whole new respect. I have never thought of it as a beautiful thing. I always saw it as some boring thing that the rich girls did. But I was wrong. It truly is a beautiful thing, and it is simply breathtaking.
Ballet: A Beautiful Strength. AnaheimBallet. Anaheim Ballet Studio. 2008.
Is it Useful?
Some people think that interpretive dance isn’t as beautiful and expressive as others. In fact, they pretty much compare it to the IQ’s of professional cheerleaders (pretty mean, but you understand the point). The article states that interpretive dance is meant to tell a story or relay an emotion or meant to express the emotion in the music. Or in other words, an excuse for the dancers to forget everything and just “be-bop” around the stage. (Everything2.com).
I think that these words are very harsh. I that that interpretive dance is very expressive and a beautiful way to show emotions. I think that this article has too much harsh feeling about interpretive dance and has a lot of negativity for something that is so beautiful.
"Interpretive Dance." Everything2.com. 02 Aug 2006 . 2 Apr 2009
