New generation of dancers seeks to redefine ballet
NEW YORK CITY -- The curtains are drawn, the stage is set, and the spotlights are on a new generation of dancers taking over the performing arts world. With Broadway reopening and in-person performances returning, a group of ballerinas are sharing their plans for transforming the classical ballet image into a body-positive, diverse, and inclusive artform. "It is a new era of dance, I hope the world can see that," said Devon Custalow, a dancer at the Joffrey Ballet School. "With everything that has happened with the pandemic, I hope
The documentary ‘Dance of Liberation of the Lamas’ captures the spiritual experience of the Cham
The serene and the sacred seamlessly meet in Benoy K. Behl’s documentary, Dance of Liberation of the Lamas, that captures the spiritual experience of the Cham. The filmmaker and art historian recently gave a talk on the dance form at an online event organised by the India Habitat Centre. According to Behl, the Cham is one of the very few living examples of the role of dance in ancient India both from the point of view of the practitioner and also the society for which it is performed. Tracing its origins, the
Exhibition Highlights History Of Spanish Dance In Arizona
Spanish dance has become a mainstay of annual programming at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, and this year an exhibition tracing the history of Spanish dance in Arizona will accompany Flamenco Íntimo performances. "Spanish Legacies: 75 Years of Spanish Dance in Arizona," a historical exhibition co-curated by Julia Chacón of Julia Chacón Flamenco Theatre/Arizona State University and Brittany Arnold of Scottsdale Arts Learning & Innovation, opens Sept. 24, 2021, in the Center's ArtReach Space and runs through Jan. 9, 2022. The ArtReach Space is located right outside
Dancer, actor, shoe designer, cancer survivor: one local 7th grader does it all
A pediatric cancer patient is giving back to the hospital that helped her through treatment, and spreading her sparkle in the process. Lexy McRae is a little girl who is making a big difference as she uses her creativity to raise money for a children’s hospital. The middle-schooler is lacing up her shoes to make an impact. 12-year-old Lexy is a dancer, actor and now, a shoe designer. The 7th grader teamed up with the athletic brand, Saucony, for their “Run for Good” children’s program, which allows young hospital patients to
3 Women Who’ve Brought Hispanic Dance to the World’s Stages
Hispanic dance—which includes a multitude of styles from flamenco to salsa, Mexican folk dance to Argentine tango—hails from a wide-spanning geography that includes Spain, Latin America and North America. A blending of diverse local and international influences has given each style a distinct character, technique and aesthetic with one common thread—they all have sazón (seasoning) sourced from the diverse traditions of Spain’s music and dance. Over the past century, women have been key visionaries in bringing Hispanic dance into the canon of high art. In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Dance
Robotic knee surgery gets local competitive dancer back on the floor quickly
AUSTIN, Texas — Dancing is art in motion, and a dancer's body is a tool for their expression. "Everything in dance starts with a plié and ends with a plié, everything," said Linda Holland. Holland is a competitive dancer who owns her own dance studio, Dance Institute. She found that in 2018, she was not able to use her tools correctly. That's when she had her first knee surgery, but she still felt something wasn't right. "If you don't have knees you probably don't dance, that's very safe to say," she said. "I was
Living it up like Jazz: Diabetes doesn’t stop this dancer from pursuing her dreams
A professional dancer and daughter of former world billiards champion Geet Sethi, Jazz Sethi embodies determination and perseverance. One of the first users of DIY artificial pancreas in the country, Jazz was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 13. “I was losing a lot of weight. My sugar level was 1050. So, they rushed me to the hospital. They got me in the ICU and I was put on insulin,’’ recalls the 26-year-old Jazz. Jazz has been living with Type 1 diabetes for the last 12
‘Fascinating footwork’: Duo perform tricky traditional Philippine dance, video leaves netizens impressed
Traditions and customs of various cultures often tend to impress netizens with their uniqueness and one such custom that has caught the attention of many is a viral clip of two young dancers performing Tinikling –– a traditional bamboo folk dance in the Philippines. Tinikling originated during the Spanish colonial era and involves two people dancing together in absolute coordination between two sliding bamboo poles on the ground. “Young dancers in the Philippines performing a traditional bamboo dance known as Tinikling,” read the caption of the post, which was
Maybe life isn’t a journey after all. Maybe it’s a dance that’s meant to be enjoyed.
Alan Watts, British philosopher, writer and speaker, said, “Life is not a journey!” When I first read that statement, I thought he was mistaken. After all, we continually say that life is a journey. Specifically, that life is not a destination but more like a travelogue. We move through life, one experience after another. We are born, we learn, then work, find success, marry and raise children — on and on and at some point, we die. Always thinking there is another step and that we are not finished. That’s why death
How to Become a Good Enough Dancer Just in Time for a Big Event
Dancing can be intimidating. At any wedding or club, there always seems to be someone there who looks so effortlessly cool moving around on the dance floor. Not everyone feels that confidence or has an arsenal of moves to break out at just the right moment, though, and when you’re in a time crunch before a big event, the whole dancing thing can send you into a little anxiety spiral. Worry not: There are a few simple moves and confidence boosters you can learn right now to prepare you for your big boogie debut. Read