Strictly Ballroom
NOTES FOR STRICTLY BALLROOM
Themes * Individuality and freedom vs conformity and authority * Courage over fear * Passion over restraint * Multiculturalism
and the ultimate quote
to live a life in fear is a life half lived ( said by Fran to Scott)
Link Scotts deepened belonging to the Spanish community, contrasted against the world of the ballroom federation. He finds a way to not live a life in fear and dance from his heart. He therefore truly finds his identity by belonging with the Spanish community and rebelling against his old conformed world.
I talked about Barry Fife and how he only finds a sense of belonging within the ballroom context (place). Once he is removed from that context, he is lost and faces a sense of isolation and derision. He is then marginalized.
The whole movie is based on belonging to place. The dance floor is the place in which all the dancers belong to. However, without the connection to people and groups (the Dance Federation), belonging to place cannot be established.
“The Anglo world took the Paso Doble, which is a dance of expression, and put a whole lot of rules on it, and made it about winning. Whereas in Fran’s family, dancing is a tradition, it comes from life, it is an expression of life.”
RELATED TEXT
The Things That Haven't Been Done Before
Edgar Guest
The things that haven't been done before,
Those are the things to try;
Columbus dreamed of an unknown shore
At the rim of the far-flung sky,
And his heart was bold and his faith was strong
As he ventured in dangers new,
And he paid no heed to the jeering throng
Or the fears of the doubting crew.
The many will follow the beaten track
With guideposts on the way.
They live and have lived for ages back
With a chart for every day.
Someone has told them it's safe to go
On the road he has traveled o'er,
And all that they ever strive to know
Are the things that were known before.
A few strike out without map or chart,
Themes * Individuality and freedom vs conformity and authority * Courage over fear * Passion over restraint * Multiculturalism
and the ultimate quote
to live a life in fear is a life half lived ( said by Fran to Scott)
Link Scotts deepened belonging to the Spanish community, contrasted against the world of the ballroom federation. He finds a way to not live a life in fear and dance from his heart. He therefore truly finds his identity by belonging with the Spanish community and rebelling against his old conformed world.
I talked about Barry Fife and how he only finds a sense of belonging within the ballroom context (place). Once he is removed from that context, he is lost and faces a sense of isolation and derision. He is then marginalized.
The whole movie is based on belonging to place. The dance floor is the place in which all the dancers belong to. However, without the connection to people and groups (the Dance Federation), belonging to place cannot be established.
“The Anglo world took the Paso Doble, which is a dance of expression, and put a whole lot of rules on it, and made it about winning. Whereas in Fran’s family, dancing is a tradition, it comes from life, it is an expression of life.”
RELATED TEXT
The Things That Haven't Been Done Before
Edgar Guest
The things that haven't been done before,
Those are the things to try;
Columbus dreamed of an unknown shore
At the rim of the far-flung sky,
And his heart was bold and his faith was strong
As he ventured in dangers new,
And he paid no heed to the jeering throng
Or the fears of the doubting crew.
The many will follow the beaten track
With guideposts on the way.
They live and have lived for ages back
With a chart for every day.
Someone has told them it's safe to go
On the road he has traveled o'er,
And all that they ever strive to know
Are the things that were known before.
A few strike out without map or chart,