Favorite Dance Films

Mao’s Last Dancer, directed by Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy, Bride of the Wind, Breaker Morant, Double Jeopardy), this is the true story of Li Cunxin, who was plucked from his village school room  and brought to Bejing to train as a classical ballet dancer, in accordance with Chairman Mao’s great vision. The story unfolds as the boy is taken from his family and subjected to rigorous training by mostly cold-hearted instructors. His hard work and persistence pay off and  he develops into a dancer with enough promise that he is noticed by Houston Ballet choreographer Ben Stevenson and invited to come to America as a guest dancer.

Thus begins a new chapter of Li Cunxin’s life. After spending some time in America, he chooses not to return to China.

The dancing by Chi Cao in this movie is truly beautiful –  Cao  joined Birmingham Royal Ballet in 1995 and was promoted to Principal in 2002.He trained at the Beijing Dance Academy and the Royal Ballet School. The movie is based on the book. Either are worth the time.

Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing and Charm School is an unexplored gem. We happened upon this movie by accident, but it’s got an all-star cast (Robert Carlyle, Marisa Tomei, Donnie Wahlberg and John Goodman) and is worth watching more than once. Frank Keane (Robert Carlyle), recently widowed, is driving his bakery truck along a deserted stretch of highway when he comes upon the scene of a horrible accident. He calls 911 and is told to keep the injured motorist talking until they arrive. The name of the injured driver is Steve Mills (John Goodman) who was rushing to an important appointment made thirty-five years ago with his grammar school sweetheart. Steve finally realizes he’ll never be able to keep his promise he asks Frank to keep the appointment for him.

Frank honors Steve’s request and the course of his life is altered forever.

For anyone who loves dance… or has suffered through childhood social dance classes, the movie will have you laughing, crying, or both.

Cynthia Leitich Smith’s “Jingle Dancer”: A Review

Author: Smith, Cynthia Leitich

Title: Jingle Dancer

Publisher: Morrow Junior Books, 2000

ISBN: 0688162428

Ages: 4-8

Jenna lives for jingle dancing. Watching her grandma dance to the brum brum brum of the powwow drum, Jenna asks if she can dance at the next pow wow. “Next powwow, you could dance Girls,” Grandma answers. “But we don’t have enough time to mail-order tins for rolling jingles.”

But Jenna wants her dress to sing. She loves the tradition that has been passed down through many generations of family. She puts on her thinking cap to solve her problem. Her days are soon filled with visits to other family members and friends, like Aunt Sis, Mrs. Scott and Cousin Elizabeth. Jenna hears stories from each and asks them to help her collect enough jingles for her dress. With a little extra help from Grandma, Jenna’s dress is ready to sing at last.

When the big day arrives, Jenna remembers each person who helped her and dedicates her dance to each of them, since they are not able to dance themselves.

Cynthia Leitich Smith’s lyrical prose relates the story of how a contemporary Native American Girl turns to family and friends for help. Watercolor illustrations by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu bring the story to life.

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Book Review: My Friend Maya Loves to Dance

title: My Friend Maya Loves To Dance

author: Cheryl Willis Hudson

illustrator: Eric Velasquez

ages: 4-8

publisher: Abrams Books For Young Readers, 2008

ISBN: 9780810983281

A young narrator describes her friend Maya’s love of dance, which is visibly present everywhere Maya goes. Whether she’s at the local mall, performing during worship at her church or pretending she’s dancing for a queen, Maya’s passion for dancing is contagious- for her friend the narrator, and all the other people she meets. Indeed, Maya, a young African American girl, is the picture of grace, dancing to every kind of music she hears; jazz, blues, rap, Bach or blues. Her lithe, willowy form is portrayed across every page in different settings and costumes. She is just as comfortable in a tutu or jeans… she’s even shown wearing Kente cloth.

This lyrical story is a pleasurable read. Ms. Hudson’s flowing verse echoes Maya’s graceful movements:

My friend Maya loves to dance

Wherever there is music,

Maya takes a stance,

She points her toes,

Then away she goes.

Dancing is fun.

Maya Knows!

In the closing lines, it is revealed that the narrator is confined to a wheelchair, yet she is still inspired to dance by her friend:

Maya dances strong, and free

With joy all can see.

Dancing is magic for her and for me.

Colorful photo-realistic illustrations by Eric Velasquez, a recipient of the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for new talent, bring the story to life. This book is a great pick for anyone who loves to dance or dreams of being a dancer one day. Perfect for story time, bedtime and anytime in between, readers 4-8 and their caregivers will fall in love with Maya and dance by the time they reach the final page.

Workout Gear: New Favorites

Like most dancers, I look for workout clothing that is comfortable, well-designed, and built to last. Zobha, based in Northern California is currently in the running as a top contender for workout wear because their products satisfy on every level. “Zobha” is a Sanskrit word meaning grace, beauty and brilliance. Zobha’s founder and CEO, Jamie Hanna, is a Yoga Alliance certified instructor with a business background in apparel and sourcing, and a life-long interest in fashion, design and art. She obviously knows her stuff.

Key reasons to choose Zobha workout gear:

• Fabrics are high quality and durable. I love the feel of good fabric, especially rich, thick cotton that has a lot of give. Built-in support is always a plus.

• Colors and prints are unique and pleasing.

• Styles stand out above the rest. Many are unusual and quite artful. They can just as easily be worn out in the world when you’re done in the studio.

• Zobha gives to the community by donating to Headstand,  a program that brings yoga to the classrooms of children at risk, and other programs.

I like feeling stylish, even when I’m getting ready to sweat.

Dancers Are Different: DNA Study Confirms

Dancers really are different than the average human. In a study published in the American Journal, Public Library of Science Genetics, Psychology Prof. Richard P. Ebstein, head of the Hebrew University Psychology Department’s Scheinfeld Center for Human Genetics in the Social Sciences and his research associates have shown, through DNA examination, that dancers show consistent differences in two key genes from the general population.

Consistent differences were noted in these two key genes: genes that provide the code for the serotonin transporter and arginine vasopressin receptor 1a. Both genes are involved in the transmission of information between nerve cells. The serotonin transporter regulates the level of serotonin, a brain transmitter that contributes to spiritual experience and feelings of well-being, among other behavioral traits. The vasopressin receptor has been shown in many animal studies to modulate social communication and bonding behaviors.

Dancers were compared with athletes as well as those who were both non-dancers and non-athletes. (Athletes were chosen for comparison since they require a good deal of physical stamina like dancers.)
When the results were combined and analyzed, it was clearly shown that the dancers exhibited particular genetic and personality characteristics that were not found in the other two groups. The dancer ‘type’, says Ebstein, clearly demonstrates qualities that are not necessarily lacking but are not expressed as strongly in other people: a heightened sense of communication, often of a symbolic and ceremonial nature, and a strong spiritual personality trait.

The obvious question remains: will science soon prove that dance makes humans happier and more cooperative? If so, it might just be America’s next big thing. Which might not be such a bad thing, after all.

More about DNA:

Just Dance: Wii teaches dance choreography

Because: A book by Mikhail Baryshnikov

Author: Baryshnikov, Mikhail,
Illustrator: Radunsky, Vladimir
Title: Because.
Publisher: Atheneum Books For Young Readers, 2007
ISBN: 9780689875823

Each time a young boy witnesses his grandmother’s wacky antics, he asks “Why?” The answer to this question remains a mystery throughout the course of a week, during which grandma leapfrogs, breakdances, spins, gallops and flies. At the end of the week, the secret is revealed at last, when grandma says, “I-am-a-dancer”. She does these things because she simply must; it is who she is and she makes no apologies about it.

Mikhail Baryshnikov wrote the book to encourage young children to reveal their talents to the world without being afraid of ridicule. He believes that if everyone lived this way the world will be a better place- and much more fun. Certainly he has has made a name for himself and brought joy to many by sharing his own talents. Besides being a world-famous ballet dancer (perhaps the best-known male dancer in the world), he is a renaissance man, with writer being the newest addition to his list of accomplishments.

Vladimir Radunsky- recipient of the 2004 NY Times Best Illustrator Illustrated Book of the Year Award- illustrates with sweeping, colorful images that flow throughout each page.

Watch Baryshnikov in White Nights:

Tags: book, breakdance, dance, grandma, Mikhail Baryshnikov, NY Times Bestseller, talent, Vladimir Radunsky, White Nights, why

Happiness First, For a Change

February 26, 2010 by admin  
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Recently, during a group conversation, each member was asked to describe what makes them happy. In Spanish. After all, it was a Spanish language group, although the response would have been the same in any language. My own answer came quickly to mind: salsa dancing. It has been an ongoing source of entertainment and joy for quite some time. Another thought soon followed: if certain things make us feel that happy, shouldn’t we do them as often as possible?

It can be difficult to find time to set aside for things that aren’t work or family-related, but if they are essential components for our ongoing happiness, then it seems like we can’t afford not to set some time aside. The reality is that there will always be a million excuses, a million reasons why not. Maybe it’s time to make a different mental list, a list that instead spells out all the reasons why.

Ask yourself simply, “What makes me happy?” and see what comes to mind. Follow it with the next obvious questions, “Am I setting enough time aside to do this activity?” and “What are some creative ways to add a little bit more of it into my week?” For instance, you may also be a salsa dance addict, and while it is not always possible to get dressed up and dance the night away, it probably is possible to blast your favorite tunes in the living room and dance your heart out.

Whatever it is that puts a smile on your face is important. A sense of happiness is important. Isn’t it worth putting happiness first?

Tags: dance, happiness, priority, salsa dance, why, why not

Pain is a message

February 8, 2010 by admin  
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Pain of any sort is a message that there is something requiring our attention. Whether it is emotional or physical pain, we have to stop, check in, and decipher the clues in order to come to full comprehension of what the pain is trying to tell us. If the pain is emotional, dance can be a wonderful way to release those feelings and experience catharsis. If the pain is physical, then we need to take a close look at how we are treating our bodies.

Every so often, students mention feeling pain after doing certain movements. My response is that pain is a very clear voice that is instructing us to do less, proceed more slowly and gently, or maybe not do a certain movement at all. The most common reason for physical pain is forcing. This might mean forcing the body too far in a certain pose, or moving too quickly or strenuously. Remind students that we have an ongoing dialogue with our bodies; they speak to us all the time, letting us know what is needed. For instance, when our body needs water, we feel thirsty. It is our job to listen carefully and take the very best care of our bodies that we can. They are containers for the mind and spirit; we only get one, so we’d better keep it happy and healthy.

Emotional pain is a different type of message, and dance can be helpful as a means of exploration. If we can approach dance as a form of moving meditation, allowing ourselves to simultaneously feel powerful emotions and explore their underlying causes, we can come to a place of clarity and release. It is quite amazing to experience the feet moving rhythmically and the mind circling in an ongoing state of inquiry, sifting through thoughts and ideas. If it is something you have never tried before, you might find it to be incredibly liberating and helpful. It can be incredibly beneficial to children to have a means of understanding, naming, accepting and expressing their feelings. It is an incredibly empowering tool they can carry for the rest of their lives.

Sometimes the “small, quiet voice” of our subconscious, or inner guidance system gets easily drowned out by the many other competing voices and projects. Pain, however, is not so easily ignored. Its message is clear; it is time to listen and adjust. It’s in our best interests to do so.

Today is the final day of the blog chain; please feel free to enjoy it:http://www.terri-forehand.blogspot.com/

Tags: body, catharsis, dance, emotions, exploration, pain

Breathing For More Power in Your Dance

February 5, 2010 by admin  
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Breath is not only life, it is also an important component of dance. Consciously linking breathing to our dance enhances each movement and makes them more powerful. Breath evenly also gives us another way to maintain a rhythm while we move.
The simplest way to test this theory is to begin with focusing on the breath, focusing our attention on each cycle of inhaling and exhaling. After following a few cycles, begin to move one way on the inhale, and a different way on the exhale. For example, rise on tiptoes with the arms reaching toward the sky while inhaling, and then bend the knees and let the body sag on the exhale.
As always, experimenting with a new technique will help you gain mastery. In general, inhaling makes us more buoyant, so this part of the breath brings more power to expansive poses, like stretches and jumps. Exhaling brings power to poses that involve contraction, or folding parts of the body together, such as bending, kicking.
To teach the technique to children, begin slowly and simply. Have them come into a standing position, and close their eyes so they can begin to focus on their breath. After a few breaths, have them open their eyes, and move the arms first, reaching them up to the sky, fingers spread wide while inhaling, then letting them float down to their hips on the exhale. From there, you can make it into an inhale/exhale breathing game. The teacher will be the first leader, showing one pose for inhale and a different pose for exhale. Switch leaders every few minutes until everyone has a turn.
Breathing brings oxygen to our muscles and power to our dance. Take a deep breath and begin.

Tags: breath, contract, dance, exhale, expand, inhale, power

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