Profile of an American Icon: A Few Words With Paul Taylor

I feel very honored that Mr. Taylor took the time to answer a few questions about his life and work in an email interview. Paul Taylor is one of the most prominent and influential choreographers of our time. Yet, in the late 1940’s he was studying painting and swimming on scholarship at Syracuse University when amidst a series of seemingly unrelated dance experiences he was struck by a revelation or, as he describes it in his autobiography Private Domain a “flash of recognition… an unignorable hunch” that he was to become a dancer.

DVD Review: My First Ballet Collection

My First Ballet Collection is a great choice for those wishing to nurture enthusiasm for ballet among children of all ages. Younger children will enjoy being introduced to colorful characters and beautiful dancing. Older children will benefit from the opportunity to sample a mélange of ballet specimens.

Ballet — Its Origins and History

Ballet Comique de la Reine (1581) was choreographed by Balthasar de Beaujoyeux and is credited as the first ballet because it had a central story around which sets, costumes, and music were built. Ballets de cour peaked during the reign of Louis XIV, who was passionate about dance and its artistry.

Remembering Merce

I had the opportunity in college to observe Merce in action with his company of dancers during a company class several years ago. At probably about 80 years old, he had difficulty walking and would instruct the dancers from a chair, indicating movements and instruction with his hands and only a few words.

Your Lobby Library — 9 Dance Biographies for Students

The lobby of your studio is a great place for waiting dancers and families to learn a bit more about dance, its history, and its artists. Picture books are a great way to introduce your dancers and perhaps inspire them to learn more and dig deeper into the lives and legacies of important figures in dance.

Isadora Duncan: Mother of Modern Dance

An innovator ahead of her time, Isadora’s natural and free dance liberated the dance formula and paved the way for the development and acceptance of the modern dance art form.

Guest Post: Dancers Connecting to Their Faith and Enriching Their World

The following is a guest post by Randall Flinn, director of Ad Deum Dance Company in Houston, TX.
The Relationship Between Faith and Dance

Dance is born from the heart and soul of people and cultures. Long before the polished refinement of classical or contemporary dance movement, dance lived and thrived in personal expression and communal relationships [...]

Everything Old Is New Again

Let’s face it, dance doesn’t happen in a void. New work is continually influenced by that which surrounds it, as well as everything that has come before. One can trace a line throughout history of dancers and choreographers who have influenced future generations. The connections are like thread woven through intricate fabric.
Dance for the masses, [...]

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Turnout – What Is Turnout?

This will be a continuing series. Certainly, it would be impossible to write about everything you ever wanted to know about turnout in one, two, or maybe even twenty posts. But, welcome to Part I!
Contents:

Introduction
What is Turnout?
Recognizing Proper/Improper Turnout
Nature vs. Nurture

Want to learn some techniques for improving your turnout? Read Part II

If you study [...]

Pillow Talk (Jacob’s Pillow, that is)

My little family of three just returned from our summer vacation. Aside from a short trip to the Big Apple in 2006, my husband and I have not indulged in a true holiday for several years now, instead spending time off visiting with family. Now that we have an infant son, vacations come with [...]

Classic Confusion

A reader recently posed a question in response to “Tips for College (Part II)” and perhaps “What is Modern Dance?.” She asked, “What is “classical” dance in the west?”
The term “classical” in dance can vary in meaning, and just like the term “modern dance,” can be very confusing. Rooted in Europe, ballet would probably [...]

What is Modern Dance?

Each generation of modern dancers seeks new terminology, concepts, and techniques that broaden the definition of dance. This legacy continues in the 21st century, an environment that draws from the techniques of modern dance and the spirit of exploration in postmodern dance.

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