Dance paper extra credit paper - Essay Example

Dance has changed drastically over the years. Many new forms and styles have evolved into new generation of genres that has reflected the changing ofthe times and movement of art aesthetics. Equally, the changing of technical aptitude has amplified in such a way that deviation from the classical arrangements does not mean inadequacy but simply a progression into integrating the foundations with ingenuity. The same developments can be seen from ballet as an art form and what better way to appreciate this advancement than with the classic and inevitable piece Swan Lake.

The various artists who have accomplished rendering this timeless piece show how dance has evolved simultaneous with culture. Anna Pavlova’s performance of the “Dying Swan” is that conventional ballet we have come to know. The piece is nothing less than pure perfection with the lines of the dancer and the precision of every step flawless with the music. The choreography is with such intensity that it ends in a rupture of what the theme essentially evokes and the sadness that it grabs from the audience.

Mikhail Fokine has created the piece that the technique is the main focal point such that it deserves the term classical ballet in every possible sense. The movements are almost entirely on miniscule tiptoes with the emphasized pointes and attitude that it does resemble a swan. The outstretching of the arms and the graceful flailing makes for the swan in Swan Lake and the essence of femininity. The Odette solo choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov is similarly technical and envelopes the entire performance in classical grace.

The slow, romantic music makes for the mood which sets the tone of the recital. Then the music progresses into a more intense and faster beat but no less romantic and this is coupled by the multiple fouettes that makes Swan Lake the dread and the ambition of any ballet artist. The soft music of the background allows the dancer to engage the audience into the female aura of force and grace combined into one character. This piece is a showcase of technique and execution as Swan Lake is originally envisioned.

Dada Masilo is the face of ballet that challenges the conventions and redefines what the classics dictate the art form to be. Her performance of the Odette solo is that embodiment of ballet which incorporates other modern dance genres away from such a strict notion of what ballet should be. It is by no means a coincidence that she is not even wearing the staple ballet shoes. Her movements are indicative of the jerks and accentuated hip movements one would not commonly see in ballet. The redefinition of aesthetics brought by Dada shows a woman of color who is equipped with all the techniques necessary to take on the technical rigours but refuses to be contained and to conform.

Odette has consistently been played by a white dancer and Dada is the representation of a woman of color breaking away from convention. The movement is generously free and dare I say that it even has elements of twerking even before twerking became what it is today. Lil’ Buck’s Dying Swan is another which breaks all barriers in notions of that classical piece. Not only is Odette performed by a man that seems unthinkable, but, he performs it seamlessly where the ends do not quite end and his body seems to be floating.

His infusion of Jookin’ would seem misplaced to a purist but watching it would render anyone awestruck. His ankles seem to be at the brink of twisting almost every other second and he moves fluidly in every turn that it can be equated to the fouettes that Petipa and Ivanov have been applauded for. The contortion of the artist may not be ballet but the emotion remains where it should be. The entertainment that is the essence of dance together with the performance that leaves the audience amazed are what make these pieces worthwhile to watch and the progression of ballet aesthetics is indicative of the changes in culture and society itself.

The various renditions of this Tchaikovsky masterpiece epitomize the dream of every ballerina as a performer. But rather than relying on the great classic choreographies, there are those who dare to give new light and paving the way to the breaking of boundaries. Works CitedLil’ Buck. “Opening Ceremony Blog Exclusive - Spike Jonze Presents: Lil’ Buck and Yo-Yo Ma.” OpeningCeremonyNY. Youtube, 11 Apr. 2011. Web. 12 June 2014.Masilo, Dada. “The Vail Series: Dada Masilo.” Denison University.

Youtube, 9 Feb. 2012. Web. 12 June 2014.Obraztsova, Evgenia. “Evgenia Obraztsova - Swan Lake, Part 3 (Odettes Variation and Exit).” ObraztsovaUnofficial. Youtube, 24 Apr. 2012. Web. 12 June 2014.Pavlova, Anna. “Anna Pavlova in Dying Swan.” Kaninchenrc. Youtube, 28 Oct. 2008. Web. 12 June 2014.