Modern Ballet

La’Kietha Hall
English 1301-81420
September 13, 2014

Modern Dance Ballet

The inspiring Dallas Black Dance Academy, is the official dance training school offering dance classes from ages 4 and up. The academy inspire boys and girls to appreciate dance as an art form, particularly Modern Dance Ballet. Although there are different ballet styles. I chose the Modern Dance Ballet because it is more of a freestyle dance unlike the stylize placement ballet. A typical ballet dancer day consists of warming-up, pre-practice and ending with a performance full of emotion that will always be remembered.

The Warm-up
On stage, there was an array decorative flowers on each corner, a soft scent of white linen, reminding me of a glade candle, bringing a sense of relaxation. All ages of young adults, soft glowing faces and different physiques begin stretching their physical fit bodies in ways one can only imagine, showing their flexibility, strength and endurance. I observed the lean contraction of muscles shown in the arms and legs, absolutely amazing! Modern dancers are barefoot, mostly using the toes. I saw small feet, long feet, all of which had to be strong enough to hold bodyweight. The dancers are in simple costume wear, leotards and tights. It seems with this wear, im able to see more movement and freedom of the bodies. Now that the dancer’s muscles are warmed up, they move on to pre-practice.

The Pre-Practice The dancers had a serious look about them, listening closely, the hair buns are bobbing up and down as they nod. The Choreographer stating how every move should flow with the body, challenging the dancers to be more impulsive and alert in their movement choices, preparing them for the highest degree of performance. The student dancers cooperated with one another, memorizing choreography combinations as they prepared themselves for the practice performance.

Practice Performance As i take my seat in the darkness, quietness for seconds that seems minutes. The Practice performance opened with soaring music, then suddenly four couples erupted from the curtains, men dressed in dark pants, women in short flaring skirts that seem to blow in the wind, hair in neat buns. The soft light casts a warm glow on their skin. The dancers paired off, unison-dancing to the music. One couple after another running into each other’s arms, with each woman lifted high and swung low in a slow, movement. The dancers moved across the floor as if their bodies were locomotive, having no time to let his/her mind wander; every movement and every second count. Being tightly coordinated, each movement seemed to coincide exactly with the rhythms in the music. As i watched, i was astounded. Throughout the piece, they continued to reassemble upstage moving into deep plies and hip undulations. They used emotions and facial moods as they performed, different from Classical Ballet. The other dancers were scampering in and out of the wings going into lots of tight spins and hops with verve and precision, ending the practice performance solid with gazing eyes into the sky.

In watching Modern Ballet dancing, both the choreographer and the dancers put every ounce of energy in conveying their story, it is a form of Art and very appealing to the eye. As i watched the Modern Ballet dancers, i asked myself “What does it feel like to move like that”? The creative dancing, the movements, the expression of emotions, and the music will stimulate one’s imagination. The appreciation of Modern Dance Ballet begins with the warm-up, the pre-practice and ending with the greatest performance that will always be remembered.