Comments on: Let’s Hear it for the Boys! http://danceadvantage.net/2008/10/22/lets-hear-it-for-the-boys/ Giving students, teachers, and parents an edge in dance education Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:08:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Good Resource for Boys and Dance « My Son Can Dance http://danceadvantage.net/2008/10/22/lets-hear-it-for-the-boys/comment-page-1/#comment-237 Good Resource for Boys and Dance « My Son Can Dance Sat, 04 Apr 2009 18:14:39 +0000 http://danceadvantage.wordpress.com/?p=515#comment-237 [...] I see so many people showing up at this blog from her post about boys, called “Let’s Here it For the Boys,” that I’d like to not only return the favor but turn your attention to the great [...] [...] I see so many people showing up at this blog from her post about boys, called “Let’s Here it For the Boys,” that I’d like to not only return the favor but turn your attention to the great [...]

]]> By: Camille http://danceadvantage.net/2008/10/22/lets-hear-it-for-the-boys/comment-page-1/#comment-124 Camille Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:06:05 +0000 http://danceadvantage.wordpress.com/?p=515#comment-124 Boys and dance is such a heated topic with so many avenues to consider. First and fore most YES-- boys should dance! I'm a huge fan of encouraging all kids and adults to dance and move and explore what our bodies can do and say. While I was finishing up my degree I was also teaching at a nearby studio. For my senior project I asked one of my students (a young boy) to be a part of my senior project (which is basically a show for graduating dancers to showcase their work). He was 6 years old and amazing. He came to my class as a tap dancer and I introduced him to contemporary dance which he immediately connected with and excelled in. The piece that we created together with another young girl opened the performance and he was just breathtaking with intensity and focus. He came from a supportive family and was always encouraged to pursue his artistic endeavors and I know that was a major part of his dance development. On another note, while at university I took a class on dance and gender that encouraged interesting discussions about men in dance. It made me think about the many male dancers who decide in their later years that they want to dance and have to play catch up in college and who never really make the mark as a dancer despite being given places in companies. This can be a source of frustration for women in the dance world but blaming the men because of societal barriers is also not the key to change. Though, I realize this is definitely not the case for all men and many do go on to make amazing careers in dance just like some women do after starting late and there are many well trained male dancer that begin at an early age (like the fantastic video posted from Alvin Ailey). But I think the late start for many is a problem when discussing gender and dance. It also sends the wrong message to girls about their worth when they may have trained much more extensively and didn't make a particular audition. In the end, it's not healthy for both males and females and stifles the one while sending false praise to the other. Changing the perceptions of men and dance while encouraging teachers to provide more outlets for male dancer is definitely key to making a good transition for equality on many levels. In another class I took we had a guest professor that came to talk with us. He was from The Netherlands (I think) and shared with us how Russian male dancers are the equivalent of male sports stars in the US. The problem with dance being too feminine is not part of their upbringing. So much of society's dance misconception comes from our culture that separates men from art, artistry and the creative movement. With all this said, I know there are exceptions to the mainstream thought and wonderful examples of men in dance and art in general but the numbers of men in dance are revealing. I look forward to this unhealthy trend in taking a turn for the better. Way to go with this post! I also need to get the Jose Limon book! Boys and dance is such a heated topic with so many avenues to consider. First and fore most YES– boys should dance! I’m a huge fan of encouraging all kids and adults to dance and move and explore what our bodies can do and say. While I was finishing up my degree I was also teaching at a nearby studio. For my senior project I asked one of my students (a young boy) to be a part of my senior project (which is basically a show for graduating dancers to showcase their work). He was 6 years old and amazing. He came to my class as a tap dancer and I introduced him to contemporary dance which he immediately connected with and excelled in. The piece that we created together with another young girl opened the performance and he was just breathtaking with intensity and focus. He came from a supportive family and was always encouraged to pursue his artistic endeavors and I know that was a major part of his dance development.

On another note, while at university I took a class on dance and gender that encouraged interesting discussions about men in dance. It made me think about the many male dancers who decide in their later years that they want to dance and have to play catch up in college and who never really make the mark as a dancer despite being given places in companies. This can be a source of frustration for women in the dance world but blaming the men because of societal barriers is also not the key to change. Though, I realize this is definitely not the case for all men and many do go on to make amazing careers in dance just like some women do after starting late and there are many well trained male dancer that begin at an early age (like the fantastic video posted from Alvin Ailey). But I think the late start for many is a problem when discussing gender and dance. It also sends the wrong message to girls about their worth when they may have trained much more extensively and didn’t make a particular audition. In the end, it’s not healthy for both males and females and stifles the one while sending false praise to the other. Changing the perceptions of men and dance while encouraging teachers to provide more outlets for male dancer is definitely key to making a good transition for equality on many levels.

In another class I took we had a guest professor that came to talk with us. He was from The Netherlands (I think) and shared with us how Russian male dancers are the equivalent of male sports stars in the US. The problem with dance being too feminine is not part of their upbringing. So much of society’s dance misconception comes from our culture that separates men from art, artistry and the creative movement. With all this said, I know there are exceptions to the mainstream thought and wonderful examples of men in dance and art in general but the numbers of men in dance are revealing. I look forward to this unhealthy trend in taking a turn for the better. Way to go with this post!

I also need to get the Jose Limon book!

]]> By: No One Likes to Change, Least of All Boys « My Son Can Dance http://danceadvantage.net/2008/10/22/lets-hear-it-for-the-boys/comment-page-1/#comment-123 No One Likes to Change, Least of All Boys « My Son Can Dance Thu, 23 Oct 2008 18:39:17 +0000 http://danceadvantage.wordpress.com/?p=515#comment-123 [...] out her website and blog at http://danceadvantage.net. She posted one about my blog here.) I guess he just needed to moan and groan and complain and be stuck for a [...] [...] out her website and blog at http://danceadvantage.net. She posted one about my blog here.) I guess he just needed to moan and groan and complain and be stuck for a [...]

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