Pen Pal Letter about Ballet - Essay Example

 Pen Pal Letter Dear friend, Let me start by enlightening you about dancing. Dancing is an art, thus requires movement of body parts. Am glad to inform you that I enjoy every moment ever since I joined the dancing class. You may not know that I always had an interest in dancing ever since I was six years (as claimed by my parents), but it was a challenge for me to select the best dance class that could transform my dreams into reality. After searching several institutions that offers dancing classes, I finally got one that suites me with the help of my best friend, Ivy. The first day to the class, I was shocked to get a number of students who were eager to learn dancing. I did not expect to meet such a number of students having enrolled for a dancing class, because I did not believe that people considered dancing as a profession. At this juncture I would like to thank my parents for the support they have given to me ever since I had revealed an interest in dancing. I can count myself as a lucky-one because few parents give a go ahead to their children to enroll in a dancing class as a profession. Ever since I was admitted for this dancing class, I have learned new dancing moves which are great and fun too. I would like to share with you one of the dances that have I learned and am sure you will enjoy it. This type of dance is called Ballet categorized as a performance dance, with an Italian origin during renaissance back in the 15th century. Ballet is a blend of rural party dance with court dance. However, due to the love of this dance, it was later enhanced in both France and Russia to become a concert dance. It is believed that when Catherine De Medici (Italian) married King Henry II of France this is when the ballet was introduced in France. Ballet capitalizes on turn out which refers to the standing position of the legs. However, during the reign of King Louis XIV is when Ballet made positive progress in French culture. The king always invited Ballet dancers to perform to him whenever he had a function not to forget the King himself performed ballet alongside with noblepersons. The contribution made by King Louis XIV towards development of ballet cannot be underestimated especially by him, establishing the first world’s ballet school (Academie Royale de danse currently known as Paris Opera) and was thus renamed as “The Sun King” (http://www.sasschoolofdance.com/history-ballet). You might be wondering how King Louis XIV performed exemplary in Ballet dance. The person behind this is none other than Pierre Beauchamp, the guy behind the famous principle that each leg must be “turned-out”. Another question is how this type of dance found its way to Russia. The credit goes to two Frenchmen called Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov who was his assistant who traveled to Russia back in the early 1840s and produced more than sixty ballets. They choreographed three famous ballets namely; Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Sleeping Beauty. Vaganova method- This method of ballet was developed by Agrippina Vaganova to train dancers on classical ballet. It integrates the romantic style of French ballet with dramatic soulfulness of the Russian character. Her contribution towards ballet made her famous dancers in the dancing history as well as being appointed as the director of Imperial Ballet School in Saints Petersberg. Vaganova method is regarded to be clean having precise moves. Cecchetti method; this method was developed by an Italian Enrico Cecchetti early 20th century in Russia. This method aims to train the student on dancing by studying and internalizing primary principles. At the end of the training the student is expected to be independent by initiating his own moves. There are seven grades for method and different steps are exercised at a drafted sequence. Bournonville method; It was developed in the mid-19th century by a Danish August Bournonville. This method put much capitalizes on the use of arms (maintain them in a preparatoire position). Bournonville method has a guiding principle to the dancers to perform with a natural grace, impact that is dramatic and harmony between music and body. A feature characterized by this method is that the dancers exhibit quick footwork. Balanchine Method; It was developed by George Balanchine and was first used at the New York City Ballet, therefore can be regarded as American Ballet. This method brings together elements of traditional, Pre-Vaganova ballet training with the neo-classicism created by Balanchine in the 20th century. The dancers used to put on masks and long heavy dresses, this could cushion them in case of misfortune during performance. These attires proved to be difficult for the dancers to make moves more swiftly in an effective and efficient manner. In the 18th century Marrie-Ane Cupis De Camarago (a Belgium dancer) was the first dancer to shorten her dress to let people have a glance on her footwork. She did perform exemplary as compared to other dancers who had worn long dresses. The transformation and development in the ballet dance did not stop with her, early 19th century dancers began wearing “Romantic Tutus” As a friend I think I need to inform you on the techniques involved in performing Ballet. For beginners classes begins at barre (a wooden beam), that supports the dancers when practicing. The essence of barre work warms up the body and stretches the muscles to prepare the dancer for center work. Once the dancers have acquired center work, which is basically making moves slowly while at the center of middle and increasing pace for each practice. The last practice is making leaps and turns across the floor. You should have noticed that during performance of ballet females, perform on toes while female engage in jumping and turning thus forming a dancing partner for exemplary performance. However, just like any field there are risks that re involved and in this case injuries to dances are common due to excess strain of muscles. The dancers in their later life experience pain due to overstretching of muscles during their performance of ballet. Therefore, as a friend I would urge you to be cautious enough when it ever crosses your mind to involve yourself with ballet. Let me hear from you your reactions. Your new friend Read More