Barefoot dance

We are all used to seeing dancers in Czech shoes or shoes. But at the end of the 19th century, the legendary Isadora Duncan violated all the canons classical ballet when she went on stage without shoes. She wanted to revive the traditions of ancient Greek dancers, who also performed the most complex movements barefoot. Thus Duncan became the founder of " free dance" This is what became one of the components of the formation modern direction contemporary and modern.

How did ballerinas dress?

Surely for everyone the ballerina appears in a tutu. Today it has become an integral part of classical ballet. But not everyone knows that before it was finally formed, such an image passed long haul and has undergone many changes.

Yes, back in early XIX centuries, ballerinas performed on stage in outfits that were no different from those the spectators wore. Mostly they were bulky long dresses with corsets and definitely high heels. But over time, the ballerinas’ technique became more complicated and lighter clothes for the stage were required. At first, the dancers abandoned corsets, and then shortened their skirts.

Who invented the ballet tutu?

It was first sewn in 1839 for the famous Italian ballerina Maria Taglioni (she was the first in the world to stand on her toes in dance). The dancer performed main party fairy fairy in the ballet La Sylphide, for which she needed an appropriate outfit. It was invented by her father. It was a dress that gave the heroine's image airiness and grace. The skirt for him was made from several layers of tulle, although it was longer than a modern tutu. This outfit caused great delight among the audience. Further, the fashion for the image of a ballerina was constantly changing and in the twentieth century short, fluffy and wide tutus had already become popular.

Dance as a “sport”

Numerous studies have shown that a ballet performance that lasts for three hours is equivalent to a 30-kilometer run or two. football matches 90 minutes each. And one activity that is popular today is social dancing equals a 6-7 km walk at a brisk pace. Therefore, dancing is undoubtedly beneficial for your figure and health. In addition, they bring much more pleasure than grueling workouts in the gym.

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Did you know what exactly American singer, dancer and choreographer Michael Jackson made dancing an important element of modern pop music. His moves have become standard lexicon in pop and hip-hop dances and can be seen in many videos and concerts of cutting-edge artists around the world.

We hope you found our article useful. IN dance world there are many more interesting things that you can learn about on our website.

Briton H. Ellis, who specializes in gender relations, believes that dance is just a way to convey a powerful physiological impulse to each other. But many choreographers do not agree with such a purely biological interpretation. And they believe that behind the movements of the body lies the true movement of the soul.

It is much easier for a woman to dance salsa than for a man. After all, the initiative comes exclusively from the partner, and the lady can only be led and repeat. This one was born fiery dance, long considered prohibited, in no less prohibited establishments: the underground gambling houses of Cuba.

If you have ever heard the name Italian dance tarantellas, you probably noted the similarity of this word with the word “tarantula”. They are truly relatives and close ones. In the 15th century, Italian doctors “invented” such a disease as tarantism - the insanity of a person bitten by a tarantula. It was believed that it was possible to recover from illness with the help of special body movements accompanied by music. Later they became a dance.

Our contemporaries, being heavily drunk, love to climb festive tables and perform what they think are very seductive dances on them. This tradition began in 1894 in France. On March 13, two young Parisian artists were feasting in their apartment with two models. The wine flowed like a river, and the girls, who had “reached the point of perfection,” suddenly climbed onto the table and began performing indecent steps on it, throwing off their clothes. According to legend, the same date is considered the official birthday of strip dancing.

One of the most beautiful and emotional dances– tango – was born in the dens of the Argentine capital. There was a time when it was danced mainly by men: alone and even in pairs. Moreover, the macho men dancing side by side did not cause any giggles or obscene jokes. After all, they were just dance partners, nothing more. And they united because partners - as a rule, women of non-serious behavior - were in great short supply. While the dancers were honing their skills, the lady watching them chose the best one and then danced with him. Quarrels and fights often broke out on the dance floors, and even murders occurred.

Choreographers borrowed movements for many elegant aristocratic dances from folk dances. And the first dance teachers appeared only in the 15th century.

The legendary Isadora Duncan violated all the canons of classical ballet when she went on stage barefoot. She wanted to revive the traditions of ancient Greek dancers, who also performed the most complex movements barefoot.

The sirtaki dance, which we strongly associate with Greece, was actually invented American actor Anthony Quinn. In 1964, he starred in the film “Zorba the Greek” and decided not to stop working, even when he broke his leg outside film set. In one of the scenes, the actor had to dance. Resourceful Anthony came up with steps that allowed him to move naturally, and asked composer M. Theodorakis to write slower music for them. So if sirtaki can be called Greek dance, then only half.

Interesting facts about dancing The word “dance” comes from the German “Tanz”, but since it was borrowed from Polish language, the characteristic suffix “-ets” was added to it. The word “dance” entered the Russian language only in the 17th century. Until then, the common Slavic word “dance” was used. The Christian religion initially recognized and allowed sacred dances. Even in Old Testament it was said: “Glorify the Lord with the sounds of trumpets, glorify him with harps and tympanums, glorify him in songs, glorify him with dancing!” Initially, Christians performed mysteries in churches, danced in honor of God, and even danced in cemeteries, wanting to honor the memory of the dead. But gradually most religious dances disappear, although some of them still exist. Renaissance dances were often performed during feasts and were closely related to the menu. For example, a dance telling the story of the ancient Greek hero Jason and the Golden Fleece preceded the roast lamb. The first Dance Academy in Europe was opened in Paris by the King Louis XIV, who was a passionate dancer, in 1661. And it was at that time that the first professional dancers appeared. At the same time, ballet also received its full development, despite the fact that its birth occurred in the 15th century in Italy. In the XVI – XVII centuries universally recognized example of salon dance art was a minuet, the main features of which were ceremoniality, gallantry and solemnity. Dance historians consider the minuet to be the dance of kings and the king of dances.” At the turn of the 18th century, in aristocratic society it was believed that whoever dances the minuet well does everything well. Polonaise - a ceremonial dance-procession in moderate pace having Polish origin. It was usually performed at the beginning of balls, emphasizing the sublime nature of the holiday. In the 17th century, polonaise became popular throughout Europe and received its current name. It was the polonaise that was the first European dance that existed in boyar Rus'. It also became the first dance that Peter I learned in the German settlement. Polka dance has nothing to do with Poland. This is a Czech dance, and its name comes from the Czech word for “half”, since the size of the polka is 2/4. In Italy, the tarantella dance was considered the best and even the only cure for “tarantism” - madness caused by a tarantula bite. In connection with this, in the 16th-17th centuries, special orchestras even traveled around Italy, to the music of which patients with tarantism danced. The cha-cha-cha dance is called the “coquette dance” because it is characterized primarily by expressive movements of the hips. Michael Jackson made dancing an important element of modern pop music. Jackson's moves have already become standard vocabulary in pop and hip-hop dances. Hip-hop originated in the South Bronx, New York City in the 1980s. TO musical direction Hip-hop includes rap, funk and beatbox, fine art includes graffiti, and dance includes breakdancing, krump, C-Walk and waving. First World Championship ballroom dancing, organized by Camille de Rinal, took place in 1909 in Paris. Modern competitive ballroom dancing has two main programs: European and Latin American. Each of them contains five standard dances. IN European program(standard) includes five classic European dances: slow waltz, tango, Viennese waltz, slow foxtrot and quickstep.. The Latin American program includes samba, cha-cha-cha, rumba, paso doble and jive. Among wedding traditions In many countries there is a “money dance”. In Greece, for example, during the “money dance,” guests, dancing with both the bride and the groom, attach money to their clothes; in other countries there is a custom to dance with the bride, having first put money in the exposed shoe. Dancing and dancers are captured on banknotes and coins. Dance on banknotes and coins So in 2011, a series of new banknotes was released in Sri Lanka, called “Development, Prosperity and Dancers of Sri Lanka”. The dancers are also depicted on the 1997 Portuguese 1000 escudo coin. A group of three dancers is depicted on the Cambodian 50,000 reais coin (1974). Coins are also issued with images of ballet, for example, Ukrainian mint released gold coin"Ukrainian Ballet". There is a similar coin in Belarus. A series of coins “Russian Ballet” was issued in Russia. And this is not a complete list... In the operetta “Wedding in Malinovka,” one of the characters playfully distorted the name of the two-step dance, calling it “To that steppe.” Hence, the expression “to the wrong steppe” spread among the people, meaning “to go in the wrong direction” or “to speak inappropriately.” The twist dance appeared in 1961. Chebby Checker shown on television new dance, invented by him personally. This dance did not require a partner, you could dance alone, and the movements seemed simple and easy to do. Chebby Checker's hit "Let's Twist Again" eclipsed all other American rhythms with its appearance, and after a while it also hit European countries. The Sirtaki dance, which symbolizes Greece for us, is not a Greek folk dance at all. It appeared only in 1964 in during the filming of the film "Zorba the Greek". The music was composed by composer Mikis Theodorakis. The world record for the longest conga line was set in Miami in 1988 when 119,986 people lined up. Cuban dance. The dancers line up in a long line. In 2008, the world's first unusual dance floor opened at the Watt Club in Rotterdam, Sweden. Springs were built into the floor tiles, connected to generators. How stronger people danced, the more the springs compressed, generating energy that fed into the LED lights in the floor. The largest pillarless dance hall in Europe is located in St. Petersburg. According to dream books, seeing a dance hall or being in it in a dream means good news or a pleasant meeting. Seeing a study hall in a dream or being there during classes means news. One of the most important divisions of the French Cinematheque is the Cinematheque of Dance. The formation of the dance section began in the late 30s, the official opening took place in 1982 on the wave of rapid development modern dance in France. Cinematheque of Dance has unique collection films and video documents, from the earliest depictions of dance and movement in silent films to the video dance films that appeared in the late eighties and early nineties. The Cinematheque of Dance not only collects film archives, but also creates new projects in the field of dance in collaboration with French television. Silent disco or silent disco has become popular ( Silent disco), that is, a disco where people dance to music using wireless headphones, and the music itself is broadcast through an FM transmitter to wireless receivers built into the headphones. In Russian there is catchphrase“the second part of the Marlezon ballet”, indicating an unexpected development of events, or a development that is spoken of with irony. This expression arose from TV movie"D'Artagnan and the Three Musketeers." Sometimes the expression “Marlezon ballet” is used in figuratively to denote a series of events of a grotesque nature. Sometimes this expression is used to denote a long and boring event. In 1953, the Museum of Dance was opened in Stockholm, Sweden. Now there are several dance museums, including museums of tango, flamenco, belly dance, Irish dance, etc. April 29 is celebrated as International Dance Day. Other dances also have their own holidays - International Tango Day, Paneurhythmy Dance Festival, etc. Every year on International Stage Dance Day Bolshoi Theater awarded the Benois Dance Prize, established in 1991 by the International Association of Choreographers. At the beginning of 2006, the project “Dancing with the Stars” was launched on the Russia channel, this is the Russian version of the British BBC channel program “Strictly Come Dancing”, and in the same year dance show became very popular and received the TEFI award. World Dance Meetings (INTERNATIONAL DANCE GAMES) are held annually. The competition takes place once a year, moving from country to country. In June 2012, the World Dance Meetings started in Spain on the famous La Siesta stage. In 2013 the competition was held in Italy, in 2014 the competition will be held in Paris, France. In online role-playing game World of Warcraft trolls, after the command to dance, begin to perform movements of capoeira, Brazilian martial art, which combines elements of acrobatics, dance and acting.

Briton H. Ellis, who specializes in gender relations, believes that dance is just a way to convey a powerful physiological impulse to each other. But many choreographers do not agree with such a purely biological interpretation. And they believe that behind the movements of the body lies the true movement of the soul.

1. Officially presented in the Guinness Book of Records, such a world record as the 37-year-old Kalamandalam Hemalente dancer from India danced folk dance 123 hours and 15 minutes. As Hemalente herself said, she set such a record because national dance her country was in a worthy place and would always be remembered.

2. A dance like " belly dance"appeared in the Middle East thanks to the same India; around the 10th century, the Ghawazi gypsies brought it there. And today there are already more than 50 different styles of oriental dances.

3. Dance " Tango"spread from African communities in Buenos Aires. The very name of the dance came from the Nigerian Ibibo people, which meant “dance to the sound of a drum.” And initially this dance was danced only by men who sought the favor of women.

4. Dancing in the barn" Barn dancing" - have always been in fashion in the USA. You can get your idea of ​​what barn dancing "Barn dancing" is by watching the video of the group Rednex Cotton Eye Joe.

5. Impromptu dance for everyone famous name Salsa, - this is when the partner improvises the entire dance, and his partner obediently obeys his movements and enjoys it. If you believe the legend about this dance, they started dancing Salsa after the revolution in Cuba, and they danced it in gaming establishments that were closed by the authorities.

6. Founder tribal Jamila Salimpour is considered, as well as her students Masha Archer and Carolina Nericchio. They developed a style that was later called American Tribal Style. To form this oriental dance influenced Indian dance, flamenco, African dance, noticeable participation of yoga, modern, even hip-hop. The music for this style is mainly used from the Middle Eastern regions, North Africa, sometimes Indian trance.

7. Basic dance movements merengue- resembles a limping gait. And the main highlight of this dance is the light presence of erotic movements. You can learn to dance merengue right on the dance floor.

8. The cha-cha-cha dance, which was compulsory in many Soviet schools, is called the “coquette dance” because it is characterized primarily by expressive movements of the hips.

9. Dance reggaeton originates in Panama and Puerto Rico. To perform this dance you need to be in good physical shape. The movements of reggaeton dance may resemble the courtship behavior of some animal species.

10. Hip-hop originated in the South Bronx, New York in the 1980s. The musical direction of hip-hop includes rap, funk and beatbox, the visual direction includes graffiti, and the dance direction includes breakdancing, crumpet, C-Walk and waving.

11. They say that if you have never danced bachata, then you didn’t dance at all. Main goal in this dance there is close contact between partners. There are few turns in the dance, but there are many side passages and “throwing” of the lady from side to side.

12. If you have at least once heard the name of the Italian dance tarantella, you probably noticed the similarity of this word with the word “ tarantula" They are truly "relatives". In the 15th century, Italian doctors “invented” such a disease as tarantism - the insanity of a person bitten by a tarantula. It was believed that one could recover from illness with the help of special body movements accompanied by music. Later they became a dance.

13. Dance sirtaki, which we strongly associate with Greece, was actually created by American actor Anthony Quinn. In 1964, he starred in the film “Zorba the Greek” and decided not to stop working, even when he broke his leg off the set. In one of the scenes, the actor had to dance. Resourceful Anthony came up with steps that allowed him to move naturally, and asked composer M. Theodorakis to write slower music for them. So if sirtaki can be called a Greek dance, then only half.

14. In order to get to the well-known Viennese Christmas ball, or charity ball You must know how to dance waltz. Such skills are determined at special rehearsals.


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Sports clubs can offer quite a few dance styles, but before you choose something specific, you need to understand what awaits you and whether you have.

How to get started

Standard set: strip dance, belly dance, Latin American social (salsa, bachata, mamba, kizomba) and classical dancing(rumba, cha-cha-cha, jive, samba), Broadway, jazz-funk, hip-hop and contemporary. In addition, to dance styles This includes step dance (step choreography, or step dance) and dance aerobics.

Typically, classes are divided by difficulty level: for beginners and advanced. First, you should try a lighter option and understand whether such a load is suitable for you or if you are capable of more.

In addition to standard classes, there are so-called preparatory classes that will help you master the basic elements and learn (or remember) elements classical choreography, - body ballet and Port de Bras.

Port de Bras is an original technique created by choreographer and coach Vladimir Snezhik. No preliminary choreographic preparation is required. Here you can find elements of yoga, Pilates, strength aerobics and stretching. The program combines strength and aerobic exercise, classes are held to relaxing music. The classes are safe for people with spinal problems and are aimed at rehabilitation rather than serious muscle training.

If you still think the benefits of dance training are dubious, we bring to your attention interesting facts, backed by research.

Facts and scientific research about the benefits of dancing

Fact No. 1. The muscle effort and respiratory rate of competitive dancers are equivalent to those of Olympic-level swimmers, cyclists and 800m runners.

Fact No. 2. During dancing, the joints are better lubricated, which is a good prevention of arthritis.

Fact No. 3. In one minute of dancing, depending on the intensity of the workout, you burn from 5 to 10 kcal. Swing and mambo burn more calories than a slow waltz.

Fact No. 4. Dancing helps our body manage lipids. As a result, the level of “good” cholesterol in the blood increases and the amount of “bad” cholesterol decreases. This type of activity will also benefit diabetics, as it helps control blood sugar levels.

Fact No. 5. Dancing improves memory by forcing us to remember complex steps, which are then combined into entire sequences. The load is such that our brain has no time to get bored, and at the same time, while getting rid of extra centimeters, we develop mental abilities. This allows us to maintain a quick reaction and helps our consciousness remain young, flexible, and open.

Fact No. 6. Maintaining balance in one static position is quite simple. It's another matter when you have to freeze for a split second in the most incredible positions. Dancing strengthens stabilizing muscles and helps avoid injuries in everyday life. In addition, this type of physical activity improves coordination and reflexes - it is a great way to maintain central and peripheral nervous systems in good shape.

Fact No. 7. Physical form seniors who take dance classes perform three times better than those who participate in a standard senior health program. Fifty-seven participants aged 65 years were recruited for the study. Some of them were engaged in dance program(salsa, bachata, meringue, etc.) for 4 months, twice a week (hour classes). The rest completed a standard physical activity program for retirees. At the end of the experiment, tests were carried out, as a result of which it turned out that dance group surpassed her opponents with a regular training program in terms of physical condition.

Fact No. 8. Dancing can be considered a cure for depression and anxiety. Analysis Effects of dance movement therapy and dance on health-related psychological outcomes: A meta-analysis. 27 studies on dancing showed that dancing can indeed be prescribed to people suffering from depression and excessive anxiety.

Fact No. 9. Tango can be equated to meditation. In one of the studies Argentina tango dance compared to mindfulness meditation and a waiting-list control: a randomized trial for treating depression. compared physical and psychological state volunteers who practiced meditation and subjects who practiced tango. As a result, the researchers concluded that both types of activity help fight depression, but tango also reduces stress levels.

Examples of workouts

Port de Bras

Body ballet

Jazz-funk

Step choreography

Dance aerobics

Zumba

Bachata

Samba (solo)

Strip plastic

Belly dance

Contemporary

Hip-hop

Personal experience

I've always liked to dance. As a child, I tried not to miss a single ballroom dancing competition and watched them with my grandmother. But I didn’t manage to get into these classes for a number of reasons that didn’t depend on me at the time. Sports aerobics was chosen as a substitute in adolescence. At the university, I continued training in the sports aerobics team. And even if it wasn’t exactly dancing, but still!

After finishing my studies, I tried, whenever possible, to attend any classes that included elements of dance (step aerobics, Zumba, dance-mix, and so on). Due to the busy work schedule, it turned out poorly, but going to Latin American dances there was no point without a couple. Then I didn’t yet know that in Latin there was such a thing as a solo performance.

The most interesting thing is that I learned about all this in the simplest sports club. I accidentally wandered into a Latin class, where the girl trainer was energetically encouraging her group: “Come on, girls! Work your hips! I’ll definitely teach you, and in the spring we’ll all go dancing in the park together!” Ignore her ringing voice it was difficult, and I decided to try.

nikitabuida/depositphotos.com

Then there was the first attempt at classical Latin. It was much more difficult than the social one. Straight knees, chest forward, neck elongated, straight back and at the same time, a retracted stomach, sharp fast movements, which were immediately replaced by pauses and smoothness, a look “you are all plebeians, I am the only queen” - all this was quite difficult for me. But I still decided to bring the matter to the end (perhaps to the parquet floor).

Then I changed the club following my dance coach, and there, in addition to Latin classes, jazz-funk and contemporary classes were added, as well as choreography classes (body ballet). I used to think that they were like this different styles the dance will only get in the way. I will start to get confused and won’t be able to finish what I set out to do. It turned out that this does not interfere, but, on the contrary, helps me develop in different directions and improve your dancing skills.

Gradually, I added strength and dance classes to the usual ones. When it turned out that it was difficult for me to keep my body in full tone and control all parts of the body for clear movements for some unfortunate one and a half minutes (the duration of a standard session), the trainer sent me to.

It turned out that I went to dance, and learned a lot of other skills. My body finally began to develop harmoniously, without any distortions. My back and hands stopped hurting (working at the computer and typing texts). a huge number). Along with back and neck pain, the headaches went away and my posture improved significantly. I stopped feeling dizzy after three quick turns.

But all of the above is not the main thing.

Dancing doesn't just reveal the physical capabilities of the body. They show his beauty and harmony of movements. They teach you to be graceful, feel your body, accept and love it.

Dancing is incredible therapy! Even if you go to class in a terrible mood, with every beat of music it will disappear and after just 10 minutes there will be no trace of irritability, despondency and stress.

Latin is a light flirtation (cha-cha-cha and jive), passion (samba) and tenderness (rumba). Jazz-funk is an explosion of positive emotions and slight foolishness. Contemporary is an almost theatrical performance that allows movements to express all emotions, from joyful to negative. Strip plastic helps to relax, gets rid of complexes, teaches sensuality and sexuality.

And never say that dancing is too easy and that it will never replace the “real” physical activity. Just go to one of the classes, for example, on practicing the technique of the basic step of the cha-cha-cha, samba or acrobatic elements contemporary Believe me, after this you will have pain in muscles that you didn’t even know existed. ;)