Christian Dancing

David danced before the ark, but that was not "social dancing." Social dancing has long been viewed by many Christians as dangerous to spiritual health if not actually sinful. The Missouri Synod Lutherans, for instance, disapprove of what a special committee of their ministers defined as "the embrace of members of the opposite sexes who are not married to each other.'' But, meeting in Milwaukee last week, the Concordia College conference, attended by 50 ministers of the Missouri synod (membership: 2,150,230), tentatively opened the door to the "party. "In the literature of our synod with respect to the question of the dance," said the committee in a resolution before the conference, "we found quotations of theologians and conferences as far back as Chrysostom and the Council of Laodicea [ probably 4th century] with constant and consistent warnings against the dangers [of dancing]." But through the years there has also been a minority report. The committee conclusion: If, after consideration, a Lutheran group finds social dancing "in accord with its objectives and to the best Christian interests of its members ... it may permit the same under careful supervision and guidance, always striving toward the goal that whatsoever we do in word or deed we do all to the glory of God and in the name of the Lord Jesus."

For more information;

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Dance an Indian Art

Dance in India covers a wide range, from the ancient classical to modern styles. Its importance may be gauged from the fact that its three best-known deities, Shiva, Kali and Krishna, are typically represented dancing. There are hundreds of Indian folk dances such as Bhangra, Garba and special dances observed in regional festivals.India offers a number of classical Indian dance forms, each of which can be traced to different parts of the country. The presentation of Indian dance styles in film, Bollywood, has exposed the range of dance in India to a global audience.
Contents.

Classical Indian dance

Main article: Classical Indian dance

Each form represents the culture and ethos of a particular region or a group of people. The criteria for being considered as classical is the style's adherence to the guidelines laid down in Natyashastra by the sage Bharata Muni, which explains the Indian art of acting. Acting or natya is a broad concept which encompasses both drama and dance.
Indian classical dance is a misnomer, as actually dance refers to natya, the sacred Hindu musical theatre styles. Its theory can be traced back to the Natya Shastra of Bharata Muni (400 BC). The Sangeet Natak Akademi currently confers classical status on eight "dance" forms.

Shaivite tradition

Classical Indian dance of Bharatanatyam
Shaivites are those who worship the Lord Shiva. In "the lord of dance" are revealed both faces of dance - 'lasya' and 'tandava', of which all subsequent dance forms are offshoots. 'Lasya', the dance of aesthetic delight revealed beauty, grace, love and all tender aspects of existence. 'Lasya' is the mode that defined many of Shiva's iconographic forms - Kalyana-Sundara, Vrashavahana, Yogeshvara, Katyavalambita, Sukhasanamurti, Vyakhyanamurti, Chinamudra, Anugrahamurti, and Chandrashekhara.
Devi, Shiva's variously named consort, is alluded to have performed dance in her manifestations as Kali - Mahakali or Shamshana-Kali, and Bhairavi. Devi had many other forms, each representing a particular 'bhava'. So did ten Mahavidyas and 'Saptamatrikas'. Each of such forms was modeled using the dance-mode in which its characteristic 'bhava' transpired. Thus, in modeling Devi's other forms, too, a similar dance-iconography was used.

Vaishnavite tradition

The dance style performed by Sri Krishna and 107 gopi's in Vrindavan is called rasa-lila, and is considered as a form of devotional dance.

Krump: Dance Alternative To Gangs

(CBS) The new documentary film, "Rize" looks at a grassroots dance movement that started in South Central Los Angeles, called krimping or clowning.

This unique dance form is the brainchild of Thomas Johnson, aka "Tommy the Clown," who first started performing the hip-hop moves at birthday parties. Soon clowing and krumping - a more gritty and aggressive version - began sprouting up all over urban Los Angeles. "Back in 1992 when I was doing it," Johnson tells The Early Show co-anchor Rene Syler, "it was a movement called Clown Dancing that the kids were attracted to.

It gave them a chance to not be in gangs and an environment where they could do some krumping. This started a show called, "The Battle Zone." It was a tool that drew people from all over, like 60,000 kids."Johnson, along with two of the dancers from "Rize," Lil C and Miss Prissy, showed Syler how to do some of the moves.

Miss Prissy is featured heavily in the documentary. "I'm just excited that I know that there's other children out there, and especially ladies, who look up to me. And they're looking and seeing that girls can do this, too," she says.Though the dance is very aggressive, Miss Prissy says her job is to show that it is not necessarily just for guys. "That's why I'm here. I put the sauce on it for the ladies," she says. The krumping/clowning dance is a grassroots phenomenon that fuses hip-hop music and moves with the raw emotions of ghetto hardships.

Though "Rize" focuses on the dance, it also effectively examines the people and environment that made krumping/clowning a reality."It's a movement because it bears all characteristics that a movement needs," Johnson says. "It has fundamentals. It is not a trend. It's a way of life. It is not a dance move. It is not a dance style.

In order for you to embody this, it is going to enhance all your characteristics. If you're timid, it will make you a more aggressive person. You're choosing a path of creation rather than destruction."The dance form is hard to describe and the movements are so difficult that director/producer, David LaChappelle included a disclaimer at the start of the film, assuring viewers that the film was not sped up.

America's Best Dance Crew Biography

QUEST CREW
Los Angeles, California
Dominic "D-Trix" Sandoval (23)
Hok (24)
Ryanimay Conferido (25)
Feng (26)
Steve Terada (24)
Brian Hirano (26)
Victor Kim (22)

A group of friends who were pretty much spending all of their time together anyway, the members of Quest are fun and entertaining. Each has substantial professional dance experience, performing on television shows like So You Think You Can Dance and American Idol to touring with the likes of Gloria Estefan and Sheila E.Claiming that dance "lets me express my life through movement," Hok says he's motivated by "beauty, intricate minds, art, philosophy and nature," as well as "weird creatures." But Feng and others note that it's the members of the crew continually push each other.

Perhaps Ryanimay sums up Quest's overall motivation in describing the crew as people who do what they love with no expectation of reward."Packed with sick tricks, the members of Quest believe that they bring something special to the America's Best Dance Crew stage.

Steve cites moves like a "triple flash kick," "T-Pike flash" and his own signature "Terada Grab" as part of the crew's arsenal of unique, acrobatic flips and tricks.With a preference for moving to the likes of James Brown, Busta Rhymes, Prince, Boyz II Men and Black Sheep, the members of Quest prefer their beats old school, although at least one member confesses moving to the futuristic sound of Daft Punk is among his favorites.

"Win or lose, we just want to be memorable and inspirational," says D- Trix. Adds Hok, "We will do what we think will entertain America the most. If the result follows, I will be happy with it!"

http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/dance_crew/crews.jhtml?crew=quest_crew

JabbaWockeeZ Workshops

Videos - JabbaWockeeZ workshops
Michibeloved attended a workshop taught by JabbaWockeeZ at the Rock Center for dance, and shares some video of the experience. Go to Michibeloved's channel for videos of a short group performance, individual dances by Joe and Phi and a question and answer session from the champions of America's Best Dance Crew Season 1. Here's Kevin's dance. Thanks for the tip, Adobostreak!
Posted by NancyT at 12:18 AM

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Monday, June 8, 2009

Contemporary Dance Legends

There are few things in the world as confusing as contemporary dance. All right! There are lots of things in the world that are a lot more confusing than contemporary dance, the popularity of celebrity chefs for one, but there is certainly a great deal in this haggard, creaky profession that confuses the brightest of minds and stumps the greatest of thinkers! So here we present for you the ultimate pocket guide to contemporary dance to impress your friends with and dazzle your nearest and dearest at those horrendous dinner parties.

Isadora who?

Most folks think it was all started by Martha Graham back in the day but this is not so. The earliest proponent of dance in the contemporary style was that oldest of sticks, Isadora Duncan back in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Back in those, almost biblical, times it was called ‘free movement’ and some have likened her particular style to what is currently known as ‘wafting about’.

Things to note: Ms Duncan died in suitably theatrical way when her scarf became entangled in the wheel of her moving car and she choked to death.

Martha Graham

Often credited as being the mother of contemporary dance. She encouraged dramatic expression through movement and created the now infamous ‘Graham Technique” endured by dance students throughout the world on a daily basis. In today’s light her works, some of which exist on film, look a little stunted and dry but back in the early part of the 20th century they were little short of revolutionary.

Ms Graham kept on working into very old age. Upon her death the company that she founded which also bears her name went through years of turmoil after some bloke called Ron Protas claimed complete ownership over anything and everything to do with the company. A judge threw out his claims a few years ago and now all is well.

Merce Cunningham

The oldest living choreographer, probably. Has created several dozens works all based around his signature themes of chance, abstract theory, bizarre music and, some would say, irritating the hell out of his audience. Loved and hated by dancers and dance makers in almost equal measure mostly disliked by dance students because they are forced to sit through badly made BBC programmes about him from the seventies during their training.

Things to Note: One of his works was famously performed on BBC radio back in the day. The BBC thought they were being very clever, nobody else agreed!

For more on Contemporary dancing;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contemporary_dance