Danceosaurus

Well I am just an aging, opinionated dancer/teacher.  I danced professionally when I was younger.  But have been teaching dance privately for what seems like forever.  I love the art of dance.  The aesthetics of it.  I accidentally discovered modern dance in the late 60's.  I participated in long discussions about the discovery of movement, random chance choreography, anti establishment movement themes, "pure" dance, and the like.  My idols changed from Cyd Charisse, Margot Fontaine, and Rudolf Nureyev to Doris Humphrey and Martha Graham.  Even though the repertory pieces of the great ballet companies were amazing and had some of the greatest dancer/athletes we have ever known.  The silly plot lines and repetitive dance sequences rarely inspired me like a sublimely weird prop piece from Alwin Nikolais, the immensely intricate movement of Merce Cunningham or the elegant subtleness of Martha Graham.  Over the years these artists as well as others like Jerome Robbins, Bob Fosse, Twyla Tharp began to influence me and my own choreography.  And in most instances I am so jealous of their innovation, cleverness and sear imagination in their work. 

 

Why am I doing this?  Dance, today, for the most part has some form of artistry.  But there are elements that are creeping into dance that bother me.  They take away from the art.  This bothers me to the point that I can't shut up about it.  Sometime writing it down helps me vent a little.  Maybe by putting it out there it may trigger some "food for thought" in others.  Maybe I'm just old and out of touch.  That maybe very true.  I am not here to anger anybody.   Just give an opinion.  If you agree, feel free to share.  If not, just ignore me.  I won't be offended.  I'm not looking for a discussion.  Just a place to put my opinions besides a folder on my computer.