Fred Astaire's Ability To Dance

In the movie “hair spray” the choreographer and director do a great job explaining not only the history of dance but also a main historic fact. With the classic musical- style story the director is able to introduce a part of history in a fun exciting way through dance and music. The story tells us many different things as well as shows us how dance can bring people from different ethnicities and color together. We can deeply connect with the story if we can understand and experience with story line. The story begins with a girl by the name of “Tracy” who is crazy about singing and dancing the, “new groove”. She is different then the rest in many ways but pursues her dream as a dancer without allowing anything to stop her. She shows her enthusiasm for dancing and singing from the beginning of the movie to the end. The story shows us a part of the 60s when segregation was in place. Whites and people of color where not often seen together. They were unable to live in the same neighborhoods or share the same friends, stores, and buses. At this time in history dance was very

Alvin Ailey was an accomplished dancer and choreographer whose African-American heritage influenced his works in the 20th century. His successful dance career has gained international recognition and acclaim thus rendering a significant legacy. Ailey’s background as a dancer and choreographer had many strong influences from social, cultural, economic and political aspects during his early life. His African-American heritage has greatly influenced his works. Alvin was the founder of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (1958-), galvanized and stabilized an African American presence in theatrical dance. An outstanding performer, choreographer, company director, and mentor to scores of dance artists, Ailey oversaw the growth of his small, pick-up group of seven dancers into a large, carefully managed, internationally-renowned enterprise including several ensembles of dancers and a thriving school in New York City housed in the largest building devoted to dance in the United States. Along the way, Ailey changed the landscape of modern dance by developing new audiences for its performance through a consistent combination of exceptional artistry and wellcoordinated community outreach programs. In all, Ailey invigorated the art of dance with his distinctive creative imagination, his “blood memories” of cultural formations he witnessed as a child-- including the jook joint and the black church --and the strong survivalist ethic he learned as an African American man born in the

One of the things Larry LaSalle became famous for was his dancing. It was one of his favorite skills in life. “‘Know why I’m sitting in this chair, Francis? And barely stood up when you came in? My legs are gone.’

Almost everyone in the world feels a need to belong. When searching for one’s own identity, the questions of where power lies and who disperses it derive. The choices to separate, conform and individualize play the most significant role in identity because those choices refer individuals to the people they associate with. Deirdre N. McCloskey’s “Yes, Ma’am” and Alice Walker’s “Beauty: When the Other Dancer is the Self” relate in finding an identity and self-accepting oneself.

Many choreographers shape dance into something different and defy certain styles. Alvin Ailey not only did this through dance but changed the racial norms in the dance world. The Alvin Ailey American Arts Theatre has performed for over 25 million people in 48 states, 71 counties and on 6 continents. Throughout his life he made a difference. Ailey himself “changed forever the perception of American dance.” Alvin Ailey changed the views of modern dance and racial acceptance in the arts throughout America.

Amy Deryousefian
Dance 1
Michele Jenkins
10 March 2017
 Gene Kelly
 Gene Kelly was the king of the musicals in the 1940s and 1950s. He was an American film actor and director who had an artistic, classical style of ballet techniques that transformed the film of musicals. He boldly blended dance solos, mass movements and offbeat camera angels to tell a story in visual terms. Not only did Kelly direct and act in the most famous films, he also worked behind the scenes, breaking the ground with his choreography and establishment. Gene Kelly, earned money by teaching simple dance steps at his home, achieved his legendary status as a dancer, actor, choreographer, and director

Cole carved a clear space for jazz dance in theater and film. Others soon followed in his wake, famously Jerome Robbins, Bob Fosse, Michael Kidd, Alvin Ailey, Gower Champion, Peter Gennaro, and Michael Bennett. Cole dancers more than two, but not a lot of became experts at creating dance patterns included Rod Alexander, Anna Austin, Nita Bieber, Ron Field, Malcolm Goddard, Carol Haney, Bob Hamilton, etc. But his followers could not copy his energy for movement invention, a fine eye for sculpting space, or ability to hold or do something for enriching dancing with production design. Beyond the dance world, Cole was a person that comes up with cool new ideas and fashions with a lasting effect on American culture. In his set and costume designs, he first discovered the use of bold first or most important

Charles “Cholly” Atkins was truly a class act. He definitely a leader in the entertainment industry, and he knew it. Not only was he amazing at various types of dance, he was a gifted singer, and a superb choreographer. His career started in the 1930s and the legacy of it extends even to today. His dancing style was like no others; he combined standard tap dance with modern dance and ballet moves to create amazing and eye catching tap techniques.

Concurrent with his singing career, Michael also trademarked some his unique dance moves accompanied by some of his songs like “Billie Jeans” and “Ghosts”. Though I am not a dancer, I am absolutely awed by his dance moves such as the moonwalk, circle slide, the pelvic thrust and the spin, all of which serves as a trademark icon to him. No doubt, many dancers all over the world had been greatly inspired by Michael as with the many singers and musicians.

Jerome Robbin’s choreography incorporated rhythms and movement from African style dance, Latin-American, modern dancing, and ballet (Giordano, Gus 50).One of Jerome’s most famous Broadway musical’s was “West Side Story”. This particular musical went on and won 10 Academy awards in the year 1962 just alone. “West Side Story” won a total of 28 awards (“A Biography in Brief.” ). “West Side Story” was not just you typical dancing and singing sort of musical but it incorporated many art forms such as drama, music, as well as poetry (Giordano, Gus 66). Some other famous choreographic woks done by some in the musical world ''

Bob Fosse was a dance prodigy; with pigeon toes and slouching posture, Bob Fosse hardly fit the dance ideal so he focused more on rhythm and style to make up for what he lacked physically. Bob

Fosse’s hard work with creating two of his major works, Pajama Game and Damn Yankees led to Hollywood film versions of both musicals (Gottfried). He returned to his expertise of work to co-choreograph (with Jerome Robbins) Bells Are Ringing (1956), followed by New Girl in Town (Grubb). Fosse made his directorial debut with Redhead, a

Just when social dancing was at its height, World War 2 put a stop to its popularity. Lack of attendance, plus the intricate rhythmic patterns of modern jazz music, which were too complex for social dancing, led to the closing of dance halls and ballrooms. With the demise of social dance, the growth of jazz dance as a professional dance form began. During the 1940’s, jazz dance was influenced by ballet and modern dance. By blending the classical technique of ballet with the natural bodily expression of modern dance, jazz developed a sophisticated artistic quality. Unlike early jazz dance, which was performed by talented entertainers without formal training, modern jazz dance was performed by professionals trained in ballet and modern dance.

Another element of musical theatre is dance, which is evident in both Grease and Billy Elliot. One of the most famous dances from Billy Elliot is the angry dance, performed by Billy out of frustration from constantly being mocked and disregarded because of his love for dancing.

     In Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice, set in the Regency Period, dance performs several important functions.  Dance patterns emulate courtship rituals, marking dance as a microcosm for courtship and marriage - two main themes of the novel.  The Regency period propagated the belief that no ingredient was more essential to a courtship than dancing:  "To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love..." (Austen 7).  Therefore, knowledge of dance - dance steps as well as dance etiquette - was a crucial necessity and was often acquired through study and awareness of conduct codes.  These crucial codes were disseminated through popular courtesy/conduct books, which