Lyrical Dance

[Buddy]

A Possible ‘Lyrical’ Program on Video

 

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers  — “Let’s Face The Music And Dance”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UY1seXdnIc&t=278s

 

Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse — “Dancing in the Dark”

(not officially posted)

 

Christopher Wheeldon — “After The Rain”

(Start at 14:10) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D316-KMBU8

 

Twyla Tharp — “Waiting at The Station” (excerpt or something similar)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgDkxoJCVd0

 

Mikhail Fokine — “The Swan” (on half pointe?)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf9AqDajr_0&t=39s

 

George Balanchine — “Der Rosenkavalier” from “Vienna Waltzes”

(not officially posted)

 

 

 

Edited February 3, 2023 by Buddy

[Buddy]

I think that this performance is quite fine and very artistically interesting. The video has 400k views in twelve years.

 

This first viewer comment below the video by B gives some insight.

 

“Chinese Classical dance is, undoubtedly, a kind of reconstructive dance which was established during 20th century. It employs the body training method of ballet. Most  of the  movements come from Kongfu and Chinese Opera, as well as some historical artwork….

 

 

(This is not an ‘official’ posting but since the Taoli World Dance Competition, China does post these (this is an old one) I’ll post it as well)

 

I like this one also.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Oq86KJ6_9A&t=59s

 

(posted by Taoli World Dance Competition, China)

 

Edited February 22, 2023 by Buddy

[Buddy]

I continue to like this video very much. There are many interesting styles that she uses. If I were to imagine an ideal ‘Lyrical’ solo I might feature two elements. They would be poses mixed with flowing motion and posture. The flowing posture would be a contrast to ballet’s emphasis on linear verticality.

 

 

(posted by Taoli World Dance Competition, China)

 

Here are these two elements in terms of Chinese Classical dance as described by the first viewer of the video shown in my previous post.

 

“There are generally 4 kinds of disciplines in Chinese Classical dance.

 

Dun Huang Dance 敦煌舞，which based on some ancient wall painting at 敦煌莫高窟, emphasizes static postures and a lot of time the dancer would uses silk ribbons. The most special one among these four.

Han Tang Classical dance 漢唐古典舞, which the dancer put more emphasis on their shoulder and waist, twisting their bodies to the sides, and gives an unstable, flowing feeling, this dance is Han Tang style.”

 

The other two mentioned are also very interesting.

 

“Xi Qu Classical dance 戲曲古典舞， Xi Qu means Chines Opera so the style, as you can tell from the name, is the closest to Chinese Opera. A lot of special hand postures from the Opera.

Neoclassical, 新古典舞, still preserve the esthetics of Chinese Classical dance, but more like  modern dance. The movements are not as classical and elegant as the other three, but it can express a more variety of emotion.”

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 22, 2023 by Buddy

[Buddy]

As an aside, in regard to what’s called “Lyrical Jazz,” which I consider somewhat a teenage girl phenomenon, and not ‘Lyrical,’ as I’m trying to define it, I do find these two “Lyrical Jazz” type performances to be a very charming comparison. In a way they could almost be the same person.

 

From the United States

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvHpfsfRtN8

 

From China

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fny9canjUWE

(the person posting this seems to have free access to film these classes and performances, so I will post this)

Edited February 23, 2023 by Buddy

[Buddy]

This one I would consider to be ‘Lyrical’ and I like it very much. It’s much less athletic, without the extreme body motions of “Lyrical Jazz” and has a very lovely, gentle, almost ballet-like feeling.

 

 

 

[Buddy]

Thanks, Sim.

 

I believe that you liked my reference to Ruth St. Denis awhile ago. I see a certain resemblance here to what she was doing over a hundred years ago, in terms of dance style. For me, Ruth St. Denis started a new direction that was never really followed through on. She maintained the grace, beauty and aura of ballet while using a more natural form of physical expression. I think that this video performance captures that once again, while being much more culturally authentic. I think that this a fine performance and would hope to see more of this sort of thing.

 

In regard to current “Chinese Classical dance,” it seems to be a fusion of modern and traditional, that often relies on very athletic “Lyrical Jazz” type elements, but there does seem to be a more refined approach, illustrated by the second two “Chinese Classical dance” videos that I posted in picture format. This, I would also hope to see more of. Far Eastern dance has some very beautifully refined and ‘classical’ elements that we could probably relate to and appreciate more in a more ‘universal’ styling. The examples that I’ve posted here might also be pointing in that direction.

 

Edited February 23, 2023 by Buddy

[Buddy]

Here’s another very lovely one. It does have athleticism, but it’s much more restrained than in many similar performances. I think that it’s a very beautiful effort at fusion of styles with some elegant lines and motions. The pleasant white background also helps a lot. It makes a nice comparison to the previously posted video, where the dancer has, perhaps, a more tangible inner expression and sense of poetic restraint.

 

 

 

[Buddy]

In regard to the examples of dance from China that I’ve recently posted, I’d be more inclined to call them ‘Contemporary -Traditional’ or ‘Contemporary - Classical.’ It’s also worth noting that these dancers are all, or for the most part, students, representing a new generation. And from my casual viewing of dance from China over the years, these young dancers have a level of quality that’s perhaps the best that I’ve seen for this kind of dance.

 

Getting back to one video that I posted, the more that I watch it the more that I find qualities that I really like. Although I called it “Lyrical Jazz,” if a few of the physical extremes were refined somewhat, I think that it could be a charming, more ‘Lyrical’ type performance. It has an airy and youthful lightheartedness along with technical prowess and sensitive loveliness. The use of her swirling, long gown is very effective and the music is very nice. In a way, it reminds me somewhat of Fred Astaire and his ability to combine a lighthearted  and embraceable charm with very impressive refinement and virtuosity.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fny9canjUWE

[Buddy]

Interestingly, I find some very fine resemblances, between Oxana Skorik’s “The Swan” performance and the ‘Lyrical’-“Lyrical Jazz” performance from China that I put in my previous post. Mikhail Fokine’s “The Swan” is probably one of the most beautiful works in all of ballet, perhaps in all of dance. It’s also a somewhat transitional work. The dance from China, on the other hand, is performed by a student of the Beijing Dance Academy, to a perhaps rather unknown contemporary piece. Yet, for me, there are beautiful qualities of flow and motion in both of them that somehow connect them and make them ‘Lyrical.’ These might also illustrate how similarly beautiful elements can appear in different styles and different cultures.

 

So, once again….

 

“The Swan”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIOCxhEsWZk

 

“Chinese Classical Dance - Qie Kan Xing Yun”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fny9canjUWE

 

and maybe this one again from China….

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwBmNPB0BxA

[Buddy]

Fittingly, I believe, the dance video from China that I like so much is called “Qie Kan Xing Yun (且看行云), Watching the Motion of the Clouds,” which seems like a perfect title. Created in 2012, the dance is now part of the repertoire for the important Tao Li Dance Competition and for entry exams for admission into various dance conservatories in China. (Thanks to Enya from China at Dansomanie for this information) It’s essentially a lyrically beautiful piece, a quality so important in ballet as well, with a certain amount of animated, Lyrical Jazz type, dancing, which, for me, does work here in combination.

 

As implied by this title, much dance from China has a love of nature and the beauty that can be found in simple, day-to-day life as its theme. This gives it a more natural context which translates very well into lyrically poetic and lovely dance interpretations.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fny9canjUWE

 

 

Edited March 4, 2023 by Buddy

[Scheherezade]

Buddy, many thanks for all your thoughts and posts on this topic.

[Buddy]

Thanks very much, Scheherezade.

 

In further regard to dance from China, since we’re on the subject, this is some very interesting and thorough insight posted by Enya from China at Dansomanie. Dansomanie is essentially in French focussing primarily on ballet, but it also has perhaps the most complete discussion of ballet from Russia outside of Russia. However, most of Enya’s very fine and complete description is in English on the first page.

 

*** One thing that’s very interesting is how far back dance as an ‘official’ art form goes in China — 1046 BC !

 

(“Zhou Dynasty 周朝, 1046 BC – 256 BC, the first peak period of Chinese dance, the first official Bureau of Music and Dance formed.”)

 

*** Another very important one, is that “Dance has never occupied a completely independent position as an independent form of art in the long history of China, except Tang Dynasty….”

 

Here’s some more of what Enya writes:

 

“When talking about Chinese classical or traditional dance nowadays, it refers to Chinese classical/traditional dance at present, or to say, modern Chinese classical/traditional dance, because there is no such terminology like classical dance in the old days. I think the term “classical dance” is borrowed from the Western classical ballet and is mainly applied after 1950s. Therefore I prefer to use Chinese traditional dance, still, it’s a kind of modern traditional dance.

 

“Dance has never occupied a completely independent position as an independent form of art in the long history of China, except Tang Dynasty [“Tang Dynasty 唐朝, 618 – 907, the third peak period and the summit of Chinese dance, as well as the most prosperous and unsurpassed period of Tang poetry (Tang Shi, 唐诗), calligraphy, painting, sculpture, music, etc.”] , it always attached to songs and music (before Song Dynasty), or to Chinese traditional operas (from Song Dynasty to the end of Qing Dynasty). We usually use the term Ge Wu (歌舞, means songs and dances) instead of saying dance separately when talking about performances in China.

 

“And when talking about Chinese dances nowadays, it usually refers to three main categories: traditional/classical dances(中国古典舞, mainly means the dances performed in the Imperial Court in the old ages and imitated at present), folk dances (中国民族民间舞) and contemporary dances(中国当代舞).”

 

http://www.forum-dansomanie.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4284&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

 

http://www.forum-dansomanie.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=2

 

 

[Buddy]

As somewhat more of an aside from the overall ‘Lyrical’ discussion this is an example of how ‘classical song-dance’ has been reinvented in China, since there hasn’t been a continuous ‘classical-like’ dance history. This is what it might have looked like, which is probably the closest there was to what we would consider classical dance in the West.

 

I find this video to be rather charming because it’s performed by young students. There are much more professional versions on the internet but this one is an official release, which is what I prefer posting.

 

Could Alexei Ratmansky have recreated it any better ?   😊

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpoFfo-vDIY

[Buddy]

Emeralds, if you read this, you seem to like two of the dancers from China. If I were to chose a center-reference point for ‘Lyrical’ as a dance style, it might be a slightly modified version of Mikhail Fokine’s “The Swan.” Some of the qualities that makes it so special are its remarkable loveliness, naturalness, simplicity, restraint and refinement.

 

Of the five videos of lovely solo dancers from China that I’ve posted on this page, the middle three are probably the most restrained, making them also the most lyrical. You’ve chosen two of them. Sim chose another. For me, like “The Swan,” they all contain some of the essence of what ‘Lyrical’ dance is about.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf9AqDajr_0&t=39s

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Oq86KJ6_9A&t=60s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwBmNPB0BxA&t=2s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QCmryUpt1A&t=3s

[Buddy]

Here’s another one that I like. It’s a bit more modern and original, which I think is a good sign for the future of this dance form. It still retains a beautiful lyrical quality, characteristic of classical-style dance from China, something I’m always glad to see in contemporary works. I’m also impressed by the quality of the young dancers from the Beijing Dance Academy, which seems to be China’s most noteworthy dance academy.

 

I tend to like the first ten minutes best, until the blackout. Then it changes format slightly.

 

Chinese Classical Dance - Chun Qiu Xing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPy2HZf2QKY

 

Edited March 8, 2023 by Buddy

[Fonty]

When I see modern interpretations of the Dying Swan, I am struck by how different they are from the original Pavlova one.  The choreography has changed (although I have seen a couple of different ones by Pavlova herself).  But the main thing is the feel of the piece.  Modern day dancers are far to controlled and elegant, I think.  

[Buddy]

5 hours ago, Fonty said:

When I see modern interpretations of the Dying Swan, I am struck by how different they are from the original Pavlova one.  The choreography has changed (although I have seen a couple of different ones by Pavlova herself)....

 

Yes, I’ve noticed this also, Fonty, although I’ve only been aware of seeing one Anna Pavlova version. I’m glad there are more. I’ll look for them. Anna Pavlova’s brilliance was her amazing Expression. Because of this she’s considered probably to be the greatest ballerina ever. Now, as you’ve suggested, the emphasis has shifted to control and elegance. I’m personally okay with this, especially since replicating Anna Pavlova here would be an immense feat. From my video viewing only Galina Ulanova came close. Among current performances, one that I saw by Alina Somova did combine the two qualities remarkably well.

 

This does bring me back to the video from China that I just posted. Here these two qualities are also combined very well. Expression is internalised, but it’s certainly powerful, especially in the face. The control and elegance are also very noteworthy.

 

There are a lot of impressive things that I’m seeing in this performance. I mentioned that the quality of the Beijing Dance Academy students is very high and I also feel the same about much of the material that they’re working with. One part that I like here is at the end of the major ten minute segment when the dancers throw their scarves into the air and then have to retrieve them, leaving the ending somewhat up to chance just before the lights are blackened. It seems like a rather daring and impressive thing to do.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPy2HZf2QKY

 

Edited March 9, 2023 by Buddy

[Buddy]

Another charming example of dance from China.

 

Chinese Dance Drama - Scene from Hong Lou Meng

 

 

 

[Buddy]

 

Africa Guzman´s Sweet and Bitter (Pas de Deux) - Ballet West

 

 

[Buddy]

Wendy Whelan

 

“I just want to feel good….”

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B393C_MHhhB/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=invalid&ig_rid=93b4cae3-0cd5-4f89-be40-956854b151da

[Buddy]

 

[Buddy]

The above video clip, besides being a very charming young girls’ ‘backyard’ performance, is absolutely what I would want to call ‘Lyrical Dance’.

 

Also, looking at each girl somewhat more carefully, there seems to be an impressive amount of talent. The tall blond girl does a gorgeously statuesque move balanced on one foot, at 6:22 and 8:40, that if further developed (in my opinion) could be some of the finest sculptural motion that I’ve seen. All these young girls, from my brief glances, already well instructed, could go on to be finely matured dancers. I hope that they stay with it. They're also just fine the way that they are now.

 

Edited March 16 by Buddy

[Buddy]

 

[Jan McNulty]

Wow Buddy, how lovely!

[Buddy]

15 hours ago, Jan McNulty said:

Wow Buddy, how lovely!

 

I agree, Jan. I think that they’re ‘magically’ beautiful.

 

As long as  their safety is looked after to the maximum, they don’t go higher and they don’t get too acrobatic, I’m okay. The way that they handle the demanding athleticism with such artistry is quite wonderful.

[Buddy]

 

In regard to the beautiful dance video from China posted above, or the entire "Lyrical Dance" Topic, what’s this next one doing here ?  First, these did appear a day after the post. And second, let’s just say that great works of art have to have inspirations.

 

 

 

 

And from the New York Times.

 

"100,000 Live Salmon Spilled Off a Truck. Most Landed in a Creek and Lived."

 

"The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said on Tuesday that one of its tankers was in an accident on March 29, resulting in the escape of thousands of live salmon that were being moved as part of a federal and state program to replenish stocks depleted by dams."

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/03/us/salmon-truck-creek-oregon.html?te=1&nl=the-morning&emc=edit_nn_20240404

Edited April 5 by Buddy

[Buddy]

In further regard to the dance from China posted yesterday and my latest post, I’d like again to offer this description of ‘Classical Dance’ from China.

 

 “When talking about Chinese classical or traditional dance nowadays, it refers to Chinese classical/traditional dance at present, or to say, modern Chinese classical/traditional dance, because there is no such terminology like classical dance in the old days. I think the term “classical dance” is borrowed from the Western classical ballet and is mainly applied after 1950s. Therefore I prefer to use Chinese traditional dance, still, it’s a kind of modern traditional dance.”

 

http://www.forum-dansomanie.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4284&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

 

I’d maybe call it ‘Contemporary Classical/Traditional.’ In fact, except for a couple brief periods of time in China’s long cultural history, ‘artistic’ dance didn’t exist by itself, outside song-dance, until about a hundred years ago. I do associate its refined gracefulness with Western Classical.

 

From the many videos that I’ve looked at, ‘Contemporary Classical/Traditional Dance’ from China is very much centered around the beauty in day to day life and a love of nature. I think that this shows in the dance that I just posted, which is a dance that emulates the beautiful motion of fish circling through the water. I tend to like  this overall aesthetic very much and the ‘Lyrical’ way that it’s performed in dance from China.

 

 

Edited April 5 by Buddy

[Buddy]

This one is powerful !  And it is a masterpiece !

 

It’s part of the poetry of life that says that Beauty can transcend. It does here.

 

From the video clip introduction — “In her autobiography Dancing Spirit, Ms. Jamison wrote: "Exactly where the woman is going through the ballet's three sections was never explained to me by Alvin. In my interpretation, she represented those women before her who came from the hardships of slavery, through the pain of losing loved ones, through overcoming extraordinary depressions and tribulations. Coming out of a world of pain and trouble, she has found her way-and triumphed.” ”

 

This is an officially released video clip from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. There’s also an unofficially posted one of the entire work, which I really recommend if you can’t see an actual performance or are unable to buy a compilation video (which would be great, as this company, like so many artistic ones, can really use the proceeds.)

 

 

 

[Buddy]

Sesame Street: "A New Way to Walk" with Destiny's Child (Beyoncé on our right)    😊

 

 

[Fonty]

@Buddy  Maybe I am missing something, but I don't understand what the Sesame Street clip has got to do with lyrical dance!  

[Buddy]

6 hours ago, Fonty said:

@Buddy  Maybe I am missing something, but I don't understand what the Sesame Street clip has got to do with lyrical dance!  

 

Hi, Fonty, and thanks for your question and interest. I’ll try to give you a very quick reply that I hope that I can elaborate on later.

 

This entire topic, from my standpoint, is in part an exploration of I what I would like to call ‘Lyrical Dance’. It’s an area that overlaps and derives from ballet, thus its inclusion at this Forum.

 

An essential thing that I don’t believe that I’ve really touched on is a childlike or childhood element. The Sesame Street video that I posted is intended to at least give a feeling of this and an introduction into this world of beauty, charm and wonder. The dancing that’s included loosely falls into a more quiet style that I relate to ‘Lyrical Dance’ in contrast to much more animated and gymnastic styles such as breakdancing, which for the moment, anyway, I wouldn’t include.

 

Again, at times, what I write is an exploration, which I hope might develop into more defined and developed examples. I will try to go into your question more at another time.

   

[Buddy]

 

Another quick response. Here I believe you can see the delightfully wonderful aura that a child or young person can bring, almost creating a dance form of its own.

 

I wrote this else:

 

“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.”

 

** Start at 40:40 **

 

 

 

Edited Monday at 23:02 by Buddy

[SheilaC]

Thank you, Buddy. Shelby Mann is indeed lyrical, and very impressive for 11.  I see that she is now in the corps of NYCB.

After I had watched her excerpt I watched the beginning of the clip and Jacques gives some very interesting information about Balanchine . Jacques is, as ever, irrepressible, and it's so lovely to see him, he was such an important dancer to the evolution of City Ballet, I am so glad I was able to see him dance before he retired. And, of course, after retiring he contributed a lot to dance education and opportunities for less privileged people, indeed in his talk he explains how dance helped him as a boy to avoid the risk of street crime and violence.