Buddy
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Art can be Cool
Cool can be Art
“Imagination gets to the heart of what new combinations can bring. In a way, that was best epitomized not on a stage this year, but in the viral video for the song “Back on 74” by Jungle, the British electronic music band, from its album “Volcano"....I love the entire film. But the “Back on 74” video is a stand-alone masterpiece of music and dance, of funk and rhythm.” -- Gia Kourlas
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/26/arts/dance/dance-in-2023-the-cool-genre.html
Yes, here it is again -- “Jungle - Back On 74”
And the ‘Album Video.’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SU5tSF6k-m8
And once again….it makes you feel good !
And this one is also about Moves, Amazing Moves !
And speaking of Moves, give this a try — “Russian Seasons” — Alexei Ratmansky. (Bolshoi performances highly recommended). Here’s some quieter footage, an ‘official release’ glimpse from NYCB.
Cool/Art —some other dance groups come to mind. Ballet Black, Complexions….The Jabbawockeez….
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And maybe we can go in a room, turn on some music (or enjoy the quiet) and dance. It’ll probably make us feel good, or even better, perhaps make us do something good.
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This is the most charming example of ‘pure’ ‘Lyrical’ or ‘Lyrical Dance’ that I’ve yet seen. It’s performed by the granddaughter of Jacques d’Amboise, Shelby Mann, at the age of eleven. It’s ‘Lyrical’ because of its closeness to ballet without actually being ballet.
See 40:40
(thanks to Helene for posting this)
Here’s another interesting and lovely performance on the same video. It was created by Christopher d’Amboise, the son of Jacques d’Amboise. It’s ballet but has a resemblance to Christopher Wheeldon’s “After The Rain,” posted just above, which I consider the finest ‘pure’ ‘Lyrical’ work that I’ve seen. It was probably done around the time that Christopher Wheeldon (most likely with input from Wendy Whelan) created his work. It’s ballet that maintains traditional elements (feet on pointe, turns, etc.) and grace, but also reaches into a more personal and abstract type of expression. It seems to fit into the Wheeldon-Whelan-Robbins ‘Lyrical’ sort of thing that was happening then. Also, I haven’t seen much of Ashley Bouder (here with Tyler Angle), but it’s the most beautiful that I’ve seen her dance.
See 28:20
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On 11/29/2023 at 10:24 AM, Helene said:
And dad to NYCB’s Shelby Mann:
https://www.nycballet.com/discover/meet-our-dancers/corps-de-ballet/shelby-mann/
She danced in this discussion between Wendy Whelan, Jacques d’Amboise, and Christopher d’Amboise from 2015:
I guess that she decided on ballet after all. It looks like Wendy wasn’t going to let her get away.
Thanks for the video clip which I might keep on file for future use.
She’s precious here. I hope that she has great success and always has that wonderful smile, inside and out.
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I completely agree with what Gia Kourlas has written above. This dancing is first rate.
Not knowing the hip dance vocabulary, I would say that this is finely choreographed ’street dancing.’ Although the choreographer, Shay Latukolan, says elsewhere that he wasn’t actually inspired by Bob Fosse, the fact that he even mentions him implies that he knows the territory. I would call it ‘showman artistic.’
The full length video is rather amazing. It’s an entire record album of ‘pop music’ illustrated with continuous, high quality dance. Back in the early days of MTV, a new pop album might have videos of two songs at the most. As videos became less important, the quality diminished considerably.
Now comes along an excellent, *album length*, dance video. It was probably done on a very low budget. The concept in fine. The dancers are brilliant along with the choreography. The production, which I would call arthouse, is very good.
The above video of the Mariinsky dancers from Russia giving it a go, really brings back some very warm memories. That’s Konstantin Zverev, the first team Von Rothbart, doing the lead male dancing. Good job ! I don’t think that time will ever leave these amazing artists behind.
"Volcano - A Motion Picture By Jungle" is more than brilliant — It makes you feel good ! 😊
Volcano - A Motion Picture By Jungle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SU5tSF6k-m8
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“ “Maybe dance can save the world.” Maybe it’s not maybe. Maybe, under the radar, dance has already been changing the world in unassuming ways — in a street jazz class at a gym or the line dancing in the back of a Ukrainian restaurant, where movement is seen and shared through the bodies and minds of everyday dancers.
“At this moment when dance is everywhere, it’s time to give it deeper attention, to move beyond the ballet-centric surface of it all. Dance isn’t separate from life; movement is a part of life, after all. There is an urgent need not just for spreading the gospel of dance, but for recognizing it, because within its wild wingspan the art form is also this:
**** We all have a body, a body that needs to dance.****
“As the choreographer Twyla Tharp has said: “Dance is simply the refinement of human movement — walking, running and jumping. We are all experts….” ”
I don’t necessarily follow all the ins and outs of what Gia Kourlas has written, but the above, for me, is certainly worth considering.
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"What if Dance Could Save the World?"
I'd like to leave it right there for the moment.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/26/arts/dance/dance-in-2023-the-cool-genre.html
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View 1:28:50-1:34:20
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Gia Kourlas
“Looking for something new in dance doesn’t interest me as much as watching it morph and grow. As George Balanchine, the founding choreographer of City Ballet, used to say, “There are no new steps, only new combinations.”
“Imagination gets to the heart of what new combinations can bring. In a way, that was best epitomized not on a stage this year, but in the viral video for the song “Back on 74” by Jungle, the British electronic music band, from its album “Volcano.”
“The album is available as a motion picture, choreographed by Shay Latukolan, and tells a story — as far as I can tell — that loosely follows two extraordinary dancers, Will West and Mette Linturi, throughout a love affair. They move like silk — their fluidity, their precision, their pulse is devastating. Watch it, learn it, do it.
“I love the entire film. But the “Back on 74” video is a stand-alone masterpiece of music and dance, of funk and rhythm.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/26/arts/dance/dance-in-2023-the-cool-genre.html
Jungle - Back On 74 (Official Video) (19M views)
“Volcano" -- Motion Picture
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SU5tSF6k-m8
"In an interview with the LA Times, “Back on 74” choreographer Shay Latukolan revealed that he wasn't actually inspired by Fosse, but Michael Jackson, along with The Supremes and The Temptations. Overall, Latukolan says his biggest inspiration was “in the music.” "
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4 hours ago, cargill said:
In case anyone isn't aware, Marina Harss has started posting reviews on a new substack site. There are a couple of her writings on NYCB up now. This link should workl
Thank you so much for that, which led me to this, which I might really like to get into at another time and another topic.
NY Fall for Dance 2020, digital Program 1, including premieres by Jamar Roberts and Christopher Wheeldon
Marina Harss
“I was even more surprised by how moved I was by the final piece on the program, Wheeldon’s The Two of Us, for Sara Mearns and David Hallberg. The two are longtime friends but have never danced together. Both have worked with Wheeldon before. There was clearly chemistry in the room when they were making these solos and pas de deux, set to four extraordinary, wistful songs by Joni Mitchell. (“I Don’t Know Where I Stand,” “Urge for Going,” “You Turn Me On, I’m a Radio,” and “Both Sides Now.”) Something in this process seems to have freed them all; I’ve never seen a more sincere, open-hearted, grounded work from Wheeldon. Or such natural performances from these dancers, particularly Hallberg. It’s hard even to remember steps, because everything feels so organic. The dancers look like themselves, moving not so much with but through the music, feeling its vibe, letting themselves be carried away by it the way a normal person might while listening to the radio.”
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5 hours ago, MoMo said:
Thank you! This answers a lot of questions for me as to their status. ( I am a retired Banker). 😮😞
And what gleaneth thee ? 🙂
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I do too, Abatt.
I was going to add this last night but my computer wouldn't let me:
My memories from the NYC Swan Lake two summers ago would make Devon Teuscher a must see !
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5 hours ago, volcanohunter said:
Smirnova is not dancing the lead in Annabelle Lopez Ochoa's Frida this month, but on 18 February she is performing at the Dance for Ukraine gala at the London Paladium.
https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/dance-for-ukraine-in-aid-of-the-arts-in-ukraine/
And on 17 March she is scheduled to appear at the Ballet Icons Gala at the London Coliseum, although the casting for that gala is notoriously "fluid."
Thank you, Volcanohunter.
It was at the “Galina Ulanova 100th Anniversary - Russian Ballet Icons” performances at the London Coliseum, 2011 where I first saw her. I believe that she was still a student, but I thought that she was really quite special.
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So I keep wondering what’s going on today with possibly the most interesting and one of the most talented ballerinas in the world at this moment ? There’s nothing posted at her site since December about future performances.
She’s probably the ballerina that I most want to see, that I could have a chance to see. Although I’ve noticed no definitive changes in her approach, I still consider her the one ballet dancer that’s the most likely to present a significant development in/of the art form. The one thing that’s been primary in the performances of her’s that I’ve attended is that she’s always outstanding.
The only new information that I’ve found is that she was working with Wayne McGregor at the Dutch National Ballet in January. This is from the interview that follows. She also mentions William Forsythe working with the company, but I’ve seen no mention of her performing his work. I’d really like to see her doing works by these two, but what would be most exciting to me, as I’ve often said, would be for her to create a newer identity, completely her own.
The following video is from January 18 and has only audio content. There’s nothing really new except for the mention of Wayne McGregor. Still, it’s a nice summary of some of her thoughts and happenings.
An interview with Olga Smirnova | Why Dance Matters
Royal Academy of Dance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLak7u3Xm20
A few of her thoughts:
Because of videos you need to be perfect at all times.
On stage she never thinks about the technical aspects. She’s only focused on her character.
Once on stage she’s never nervous.
Immediately starting work after leaving Russia saved her emotionally. After only three weeks with the Royal Dutch Ballet she performed Raymonda. She says that the company will always will be her home.
She says that through her coach Larissa Lezhnina, former First Soloist at the Mariinsky, she hopes to help preserve the Saint Petersburg’s ballet style and tradition.
Dance is an art. “Art helps us find inspiration to exist.”
Added:
Again, a look back at something slightly different and very lovely.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cis1zRjI8UP/?hl=en
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Here are a few more. They’re all good, so I’ll rely on my totally personal response, based pretty much on “How do they make me feel?” These are all from the juniors where I continue to enjoy a youthful sense of liveliness.
Anna Haidai — Ukraine
I think that she has a touchingly, personal manner. When you factor in where she comes from and all the headlines that you read each day, it’s heartwarming to see that this exists as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNcSwhmKTCQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtBiVCKaYOA
Viktoria Papakalodouka — Greece
I might choose her just because of her eye-catching name. She also has a certain delightfulness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qvkYovHMmo
and colorful, Grecian aura.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ta4JKTIRZfk
Antônia Manrique — Brazil
And, yes, another touch of South American sunshine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NctScDJkWsQ
and embraceable expressiveness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vox0WB0oDVo
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18 hours ago, Drew said:
I didn't watch all of the contemporary solos but among those I watched did enjoy seeing this one not least perhaps because I enjoyed the music. (I also thought Lazovska actually made a bigger impression in this than in her classical variation.)
I’m glad that you enjoyed it, Drew. Yes, some of the contemporaries did perhaps shine brighter than some of the classicals and visa versa. This work was one where that might have been the case. Agreed, I really like the music too. Good job, Dancers ! Good job, Cathy Marston !
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Cruising the bottom of the list (the youngest dancers) of semi-finalists, there’s a very nice freshness along with fine ability.
This young lady leaves me with perhaps the biggest smile so far.
Sofía Davalos — Argentina
and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AzRKDOHQJQ
And with the same sentiment, may I add from the seniors, one of the big prize winners, also from Argentina. Something in the stars down there maybe.
Music -- Joni Mitchell Choreography -- Christopher Wheeldon
"If you're driving into town -- With a dark cloud above you
Dial in the number -- Who's bound to love you
If you're lying on the beach -- With the transistor going
Kick off the sandflies honey -- The love's still flowing
If your head says forget it -- But your heart's still smoking
Call me at the station -- The lines are open"
Paloma Livellara Vidart -- Argentina
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Once again, my ballet ‘rave,’
Natalie Vikner — France
And a very nice, sunshiny fineness and proficiency from this to be congratulated, young prize winner.
Crystal Huang — USA
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I’m a big fan of Cathy Marston performing her less than two minute “Traces.”
It was a selection from the Lausanne competition this year and here are four versions from the semi-finalists that I enjoyed. Cathy Marston may be untouchable but these contestants gave it a their best shot.
The first two are a pleasant surprise when you factor in cultural background. The second two also have their cultural differences, but also the fiery excitement that you would expect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXDQI5kOzVI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwiL5A0IuzU
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She didn’t make the finals, but I love her.
Natalie Vikner from France.
see 24:10
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"Take The Lead"
Apparently, somewhat removed from the reality, but still a good movie. The idea and visuals of combining street dance and ballroom (last scene, etc.) are impressive (and fun). The dancing of Katya Virshilas as Morgan, the blond, snooty, advanced student can’t be denied (see trailer). The theme of overcoming life’s challenges, particularly in an urban jungle, is always heart touching.
“Pierre Dulaine (born 23 April 1944)[2] is a dance instructor and dancer. He invented the Dulaine method of teaching dance. He also founded Dancing Classrooms, a social and emotional development program for 5th grade children that uses ballroom dancing as a vehicle to change the lives of the children and their families.
“Notably, his early works with children was fictionalized in the film Take the Lead, starring Antonio Banderas as Pierre Dulaine.
'In 1994 Dulaine founded the Dancing Classrooms program for the New York City Department of Education. He also invented the "Dulaine Method" to encourage children to dance together.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Dulaine
Trailer:
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This one is ballet, especially because of the use of pointe work with the feet, but it contains all the essence of what I’d call “Lyrical Dance.”
It’s probably one of the most beautiful works of dance ever created. In feeling and beauty of motion it’s the finest statement of “Lyrical Dance” that I know of.
“The Swan” — Mikhail Fokine — performed by Oxana Skoirk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf9AqDajr_0
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At the core of what I would call “Lyrical Dance” would be Christopher Wheeldon-Wendy Whelan’s “After The Rain.” It remains, perhaps the finest example that I’ve yet seen.
It’s as close to ballet in look and feel as you can get without actually being ballet. It’s also ‘contemporary’ in being a collection of self contained, emotional statements.
So once again, “After The Rain” — starting at 14:10.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D316-KMBU8
The other work (by Christopher Wheeldon) performed, if it weren’t for the use of pointe work in pointe shoes, would probably be just as much “Lyrical Dance.” It’s another beautiful example — “This Bitter Earth” (“…may not be so bitter after all”.) — starting at 2:00.
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This is another one from China that I like very much.
(the same video is officially posted but the video quality is better in this one)
“Do you know what a "green [countryside?]" is? The most beautiful program of the Spring Festival Gala, "Only This Green", uses dance to bring to life the ancient Song Dynasty painting "Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" across thousands of years! Breathtakingly beautiful~”
(Google translation)
Cool !
in Aesthetic Issues
Posted · Edited by Buddy
And, hopefully, this will rise to the top of the charts again someday. I really believe that it should.
View 1:28:50-1:34:20
Mariinsky Ballet
You are the night, you are the ocean -- You are the light behind a cloud
You are the end and the beginning -- A world where time is not allowed
There's no such thing as competition -- To find our way, we lose control
Remember, love's our only mission -- This is a journey of the soul
The perfect song is framed with silence -- It speaks of places never seen
Your home's a promise long forgotten -- It is the birthplace of your dreams
("Beyond" — Daft Punk)
Cool !