Fashion

For the breakdancer, fashion is an important aspect of their identity. Many breakdancers dressed wearing Adidas shoes with thick laces. They also wore nylon jumpsuits which were functional as well as fashionable.

Dance

In its early form, breakdancing was divided into three distinct forms of dancing, breaking and popping. Today, each body movement has been classified into a distinct style or genre of breaking and is similar in principle to others but characteristically different.

Much of being a successful breakdancer is about having style. The constant debate between b-boys is a debate of who has the most style. Since anyone can learn to breakdance, the dancers must deviate from the set dances slightly to use their own style. In this way they can show-up other breakdancers during battles, thus winning the battle.

Future Developments of Dance

The modern world will develop more borrowing of dances among different countries, as well as creating new dance forms based on mixtures of various national styles. Modern peoples have lost the dances of the past millennia because no method existed to preserve them. Today, with film, videotape, and dance notation systems such as Labanotation, Effort/Shape, and Benesh notation, the dances of contemporary cultures can be preserved for future generations.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance)

Discussion

1. What category does Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance belong to?

2. Why did you choose ballroom dance (folk dance, ballet) as your major?

3. Speak on regional, national or international dance competitions you have taken part in.

Project Topics

1. Dance in modern society.

2. Zapovit Dance Theatre.

3. Dance categories (the criteria of classification).

Lesson 3. Dance in britain and the u.S. Quiz

1. What British (American) dancers or choreographers have you heard of? What are they famous for?

2. Name some prestigious British (American) dance festivals (competitions).

3. What is the difference between traditional and modern ballet?

Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Britain's Best

Companies from Britain and around the world pay tribute to this original choreographer with revivals, exhibitions and a major conference.

Principal UK partners: The Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, The Theatre Museum, The Royal Academy of Dance, The National Film Theatre.

Through his original choreography and often controversial choice of subject matter, Kenneth MacMillan widened the frontiers of ballet. October 2002 marks the tenth anniversary of his death at the age of 63. An International Celebration of Kenneth MacMillan celebrates his outstanding career with revivals of key works by companies all over the world, with exhibitions, film shows and a major conference.

An International Celebration of Kenneth MacMillan is co-ordinated by the Kenneth MacMillan Fund, and principal UK partners include The Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, The Theatre Museum, The Royal Academy of Dance and The National Film Theatre. Elsewhere in the world, there will be new productions and revivals by companies from Milan to Montreal, from Paris, Tokyo, New York and San Francisco.

A founder member of Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet, Kenneth MacMillan created more than 60 ballets – including five full-evening works – during a career of remarkable creativity. Besides his long association with The Royal Ballet and Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet, he also created ballets in Stuttgart, served as director of ballet at the Deutsche Oper Berlin and was Artistic Associate of American Ballet Theatre and Houston Ballet. He directed plays and worked on award winning television productions. His last choreography was for the National Theatre’s production of Carousel.

During the first night revival of his full-length ballet Mayerling at the Royal Opera House on October 29, 1992 Kenneth MacMillan suffered a heart attack and died at the comparatively early age of 63. (www.ballet.co.uk/macmillan/)

"The value of MacMillan's work today"

Hello! I'm a student in the Art and Teaching of Ballet, and have just come to the end of my second year. As a third year student, I'm hoping to write my dissertation on Kenneth MacMillan's work, as it's an area that I've got a huge passion for. At the moment I'm starting to look into the value of MacMillan's works for the choreographer, dancer and audience of today. If anybody has any thoughts on the subject, or could give me exact information on MacMillan ballets performed over various years it would be greatly appreciated! I would be interested in thoughts on some of his ballets that were rejected by audiences and critics at their premieres, but are now performed again. Were some of his works simply too far ahead of their time, e.g. in structure and theme? Thank you in advance and apologies for any spelling mistakes.

(www.ballet.co.uk/dcforum/DCForumID3/64.html)

Blackpool Dance Festival: 2004 Blackpool Open British Championship which was held during May 28-June 4 2004 in Blackpool, U.K. Same as the previous year, Christopher Hawkins & Hazel Newberry (U.K.) kept the championship title in the Pro. Modern; and Bryan Watson & Carmen (Germany) in the Pro. Latin. It is notable that Mirco Gozzoli and Alessia Betti (Italy) ranked in the 4th in the Pro. Modern, who have been Amateur Champions up to 2004. Matthew Cutler, with Charlotte Egstrand, his new partner, ranked in the 7th place. It is notable that Dmitri Timokhin & Anna Bezikova (3rd place) and Andrej Skufka & Katarina Venturini (4th place) were advanced in their positions.

Summary – UK Open Dance Championships 2004. The U.K. Open 2004 was held in Bournemouth, during Jan. 20–22 2004. In the Professional Standard, Christopher Hawkins & Hazel Newberry kept the championship title and the rankings of other competitors have not been changed from the previous year's results, except that Mirko Gozzoli & Alessia Betti (Italy) became the finalists and got the 5th place, and Alan Shingler & Donna Shingler (UK) did not enter the final being in the 7th place.

In the Professional Latin, Dmitri Timokhin & Anna Bezikova (Russia) became champions, and Sergey Riupin & Elena Khvorova (Russia) ranked in the 4th place. It is seen that the former champions and other important competitors such as Bryan Watson & Carmen, Paul Killick & Hanna Karttunen, Michael Wentink have not participated in this competition. Matthew Cutler is not seen in the list. It is noticeable that Jay Park (Korea) and Nicole Cutler, who has been the partner with Matthew Cutler, ranked in the 8th place.

In the Amateur Standard, Domenico Soale & Gioia Cerasoli (Italy) became champions, and Arunas Bizokas & Edita Daniute (Lithuania) ranked in the 2nd place, and Warren Boyce & Kristi Boyce (UK) in the 5th place. It is notable that 3 couples among the total 6 couple finalists are from Italy.

In the Amateur Lain, Riccardo Cocchi & Joanne Wilkinson (Italy) became the champions, Klaus Kongsdal & Victoria Franova (Denmark) 2nd place, and Eugene Katsevman & Maria Manusova (U.S.A.) 3rd place.

(www.danceuniverse.co.kr/news.htm)