Dancing for arts group

Shanazel · 07-31-2007, 04:13 AM

Day after tomorrow, some of the dancers from my continuing class are going to begin practice for a program to be presented to a fines arts group in September. The group we are dancing for consists of musicians, visual artists, actresses, writers, and a dancer or three. Ages of the members range mostly from early fifties to about 90, with one baby in her forties.

Most of my students have never performed except on stage in Parks and Rec recitals, so an intimate setting with an audience of maybe two to three dozen women will be a new experience for them. There will be a choreographed group dance, a veil dance (I do teach AmCab, you know

), a cane dance, maybe a khaleeji, and a group improvisational finale, which is essentially a series of short solos with doo-wop girls in a half circle around the soloist.

I am soliciting comments, suggestions, and true life stories from those of you who have danced or had students dance in a similar situation.

slinks · 07-31-2007, 07:04 AM

I wasn't in this group of dancers that I'll be refering to, as my teacher taught a few classes, at that stage I was a 6 week beginner and these were advance continuing .. but what they did was dance this choreographed dance (the music was live) in a semi cirlce around the dance floor, then the music would change and one dancer from each side of the group would dance (various travel steps were used) and meet up in the middle, do their bit of choreograph (that, that pair had choreographed themselves) and then danced back to their spots, then they all would do the refrained choreographed bit again, then the next two from either side would meet up in the middle, dance their peice then they too would go back to their places and the refrain would start up again ... I was very awe inspired by the work they put into it :-) it was fantastic and still sits on my mind some 8 years later

I hope this helps ...

Maria_Aya · 08-09-2007, 11:06 AM

Good luck !! and you will have it and a great result as whatever style you are teaching there is soul in it.

Love Maria Aya

Shanazel · 08-09-2007, 02:31 PM

Thank you both. Two of my students will perform and both are working very hard. I can always tell the ones devoted to dance- they're the ones who rearrange their schedules and turn up at all practices, no matter what. They are also the ones who, when I say "I am going to start demanding a lot more of you," clap their hands and grin like I've just given them a big present.

Yshka · 08-09-2007, 06:40 PM

Wow Shanazel, have they danced already? How did it go? I think you have a nice programme planned to show different aspects of the dance, which I'd say is very good to show to a fine arts committee. I wish best of luck to you and your dancers, sounds like you're all prepared and ready!!

I've only danced once for a group that small. There was one time at a workshop for a women's bachelor party at a Turkish restaurant. The group consisted of about 12 women. I was more nervous than I would have been for any large audience performance. I can't really say if Id be like that always, since I've only done one performance for so few people. I liked it a lot though, it was a very good experience I think would be helpful to any dancer/student/performer.

Again, best of luck to you and your dancers, and let us know how it went!!

P.s.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shanazel

I can always tell the ones devoted to dance- they're the ones who rearrange their schedules and turn up at all practices, no matter what. They are also the ones who, when I say "I am going to start demanding a lot more of you," clap their hands and grin like I've just given them a big present.

Gosh, maybe I am addicted, that DOES sound an awful lot like me

...

Aniseteph · 08-09-2007, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yshka

Gosh, maybe I am addicted, that DOES sound an awful lot like me

...

Me too.

slinks · 08-09-2007, 08:05 PM

Here where I live "the boonies" they are going to open up an "arts place" to try and get the kids off the streets .. just a place where they can come and do some things they'd like, from fixing their bikes and skateboards to painting a picture .. I really don't know how sucessful it will be, my 15 year does not like the idea so therefore his mates wouldn't be so keen either ... Anyway I have been asked if I'd like to do some bellydancing down there, so if it gets up and running, I'll be giving it a go :-) should be fun ..

I think they would have a better chance if they opened something like a skating rink and bowling alley, those sorts of things ... we have NOTHING for them at all, we have a gym centre down there that has not opened it's doors in 15 years !! The old picture theater was turned into a shop for gods sake .. what is wrong with this town !! grrr I just get angry when I think about it, I walk into this shop and see the stage all block in with fake walls and boy was I mad when they took the ticket booth away !! *sigh* okay back to topic ...

Hope all goes well Shanazel :-)

Shanazel · 08-10-2007, 02:35 PM

They dance the second Monday in September, and I know they'll be just fine.

Tell us about your town, Slinks. How large is it, approximately where in Australia (do I get to use the term "Oz", or is that just for natives?

), what keeps the economy going... I hear kids where I live complain about nothing to do, but I am not the least bit sympathetic, having grown up in towns where one has to travel thirty miles to go grocery shopping. My husband is from a town of 900 people in North Dakota- the big attraction there is the local Dairy Queen. He would love to take a trip to Australia, by the way- says the pictures look like Wyoming with less water and different wildlife.

slinks · 08-10-2007, 10:00 PM

^^^^^ hahahaha .. lol, yep I'll let you say Oz,

we are not far from the nearest big towns 35 - 40 mins both ways, Lowood is planted in the middle of them and back aways surrounded by bushland. The first settling farmers from Germany settled here but now as farming is being outdated, the heirs are selling off so it's growing, it will get better .. at the moment there is a population of about 1500 people, probably 900 when I first moved here 4 years ago .. they ripped up the railway 15 years ago, and now regret it, it was used to transport farming goods to the city which is about an hour or so away .. we have a bus two times a day, once in the morning and once in the evenings .. the only activity we have for kids is the skate park which was built 3 years ago, oh and a play ground, that's it .. two pubs !!!! 20 old shops (might be more, not all used) all with asbestoes, two new buildings a chemist/doctor and an IGA (corner shopping place that cost twice as much as normal shopping centers, and they order only the small jars !!) As I said we have a gym that could easily be opened and used for things that would keep the kids off the streets, they're vandilising the place .. I swear we have the biggest pot smoking population in the whole of QLD !! Parents that let their kids out after 6PM .. every second house is either gay or a drug dealer !!

Lowood and it's surrounding area is a water catchment, 30 mins the other way are the dams which are drying out fast, we really need a flooding to fill them up, I think there are 4 dams .. the main dam Wivenhoe is a gorgeous place, when green and full, it's got BarBeQues placed all around and two playgrounds with lots of oval space for cricket, football and frizby throwing .. We have all kinds of native birds there and seagulls

the nearest seaside is 3 hours away .. we're inland

Anyway it's a very nice little town if we could just occupy the dropouts, which is something that didn't happen before with such a small population. I agree with you Shanazel that there is plenty to do on a normal basis but the river in which you could go fishing or swimming from is almost non-existence, the surrounding bush land in which for hiking is all private property "Keep Off" And both the high and primary schools have banned shcool discos because of booze and drugs being bought onto the premises *sigh* I mean gees wasn't that the case in our day too .. they weren't banned !! but on the other hand these dropouts are out of control .. You know we have a cop shop but they are only there at certain hours on certain days .. oh and I forgot we do have a pool a stones throw away open 4 months in the year ..

Well that's my place .. I'll take some photos and put them up in the "off topic" thread

you'll see how dry it is .. and the vandalism

Shanazel · 08-12-2007, 10:27 PM

Boy, and we think we've had a bad drought for the last ten years! Well, we have, but sounds like yours has got ours beat! We also have four dams upstream; at one time this was the most intensively dammed stretch of river in this part of the country, but I don't know if that is still true. Central Wyoming is semi-arid, getting about ten inches of moisture a year if we are lucky. Lots of grass and sagebrush and greasewood and not a lot of trees except in the mountains and some river bottoms. I love it. Southern Ireland nearly drove me insane with all that green vegetation and moisture. I felt much more comfortable when I got to the open country in Connemara and coastal Mayo, and could see a bit more brown!

07-31-2007, 04:13 AM	#1 (permalink)
Shanazel Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rocky Mountains USA Posts: 4,563	Dancing for arts group Day after tomorrow, some of the dancers from my continuing class are going to begin practice for a program to be presented to a fines arts group in September. The group we are dancing for consists of musicians, visual artists, actresses, writers, and a dancer or three. Ages of the members range mostly from early fifties to about 90, with one baby in her forties. Most of my students have never performed except on stage in Parks and Rec recitals, so an intimate setting with an audience of maybe two to three dozen women will be a new experience for them. There will be a choreographed group dance, a veil dance (I do teach AmCab, you know), a cane dance, maybe a khaleeji, and a group improvisational finale, which is essentially a series of short solos with doo-wop girls in a half circle around the soloist. I am soliciting comments, suggestions, and true life stories from those of you who have danced or had students dance in a similar situation.

07-31-2007, 07:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
slinks V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Australia, Sunny Queensland Posts: 1,195	I wasn't in this group of dancers that I'll be refering to, as my teacher taught a few classes, at that stage I was a 6 week beginner and these were advance continuing .. but what they did was dance this choreographed dance (the music was live) in a semi cirlce around the dance floor, then the music would change and one dancer from each side of the group would dance (various travel steps were used) and meet up in the middle, do their bit of choreograph (that, that pair had choreographed themselves) and then danced back to their spots, then they all would do the refrained choreographed bit again, then the next two from either side would meet up in the middle, dance their peice then they too would go back to their places and the refrain would start up again ... I was very awe inspired by the work they put into it :-) it was fantastic and still sits on my mind some 8 years later I hope this helps ... Last edited by slinks; 07-31-2007 at 07:06 AM.

08-10-2007, 02:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
Shanazel Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rocky Mountains USA Posts: 4,563	They dance the second Monday in September, and I know they'll be just fine. Tell us about your town, Slinks. How large is it, approximately where in Australia (do I get to use the term "Oz", or is that just for natives?), what keeps the economy going... I hear kids where I live complain about nothing to do, but I am not the least bit sympathetic, having grown up in towns where one has to travel thirty miles to go grocery shopping. My husband is from a town of 900 people in North Dakota- the big attraction there is the local Dairy Queen. He would love to take a trip to Australia, by the way- says the pictures look like Wyoming with less water and different wildlife.

08-09-2007, 11:06 AM	#3 (permalink)
Maria_Aya Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 2,221	Good luck !! and you will have it and a great result as whatever style you are teaching there is soul in it. Love Maria Aya

08-09-2007, 02:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
Shanazel Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rocky Mountains USA Posts: 4,563	Thank you both. Two of my students will perform and both are working very hard. I can always tell the ones devoted to dance- they're the ones who rearrange their schedules and turn up at all practices, no matter what. They are also the ones who, when I say "I am going to start demanding a lot more of you," clap their hands and grin like I've just given them a big present.

08-09-2007, 08:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
slinks V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Australia, Sunny Queensland Posts: 1,195	Here where I live "the boonies" they are going to open up an "arts place" to try and get the kids off the streets .. just a place where they can come and do some things they'd like, from fixing their bikes and skateboards to painting a picture .. I really don't know how sucessful it will be, my 15 year does not like the idea so therefore his mates wouldn't be so keen either ... Anyway I have been asked if I'd like to do some bellydancing down there, so if it gets up and running, I'll be giving it a go :-) should be fun .. I think they would have a better chance if they opened something like a skating rink and bowling alley, those sorts of things ... we have NOTHING for them at all, we have a gym centre down there that has not opened it's doors in 15 years !! The old picture theater was turned into a shop for gods sake .. what is wrong with this town !! grrr I just get angry when I think about it, I walk into this shop and see the stage all block in with fake walls and boy was I mad when they took the ticket booth away !! sigh okay back to topic ... Hope all goes well Shanazel :-)

08-10-2007, 10:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
slinks V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Australia, Sunny Queensland Posts: 1,195	^^^^^ hahahaha .. lol, yep I'll let you say Oz, we are not far from the nearest big towns 35 - 40 mins both ways, Lowood is planted in the middle of them and back aways surrounded by bushland. The first settling farmers from Germany settled here but now as farming is being outdated, the heirs are selling off so it's growing, it will get better .. at the moment there is a population of about 1500 people, probably 900 when I first moved here 4 years ago .. they ripped up the railway 15 years ago, and now regret it, it was used to transport farming goods to the city which is about an hour or so away .. we have a bus two times a day, once in the morning and once in the evenings .. the only activity we have for kids is the skate park which was built 3 years ago, oh and a play ground, that's it .. two pubs !!!! 20 old shops (might be more, not all used) all with asbestoes, two new buildings a chemist/doctor and an IGA (corner shopping place that cost twice as much as normal shopping centers, and they order only the small jars !!) As I said we have a gym that could easily be opened and used for things that would keep the kids off the streets, they're vandilising the place .. I swear we have the biggest pot smoking population in the whole of QLD !! Parents that let their kids out after 6PM .. every second house is either gay or a drug dealer !! Lowood and it's surrounding area is a water catchment, 30 mins the other way are the dams which are drying out fast, we really need a flooding to fill them up, I think there are 4 dams .. the main dam Wivenhoe is a gorgeous place, when green and full, it's got BarBeQues placed all around and two playgrounds with lots of oval space for cricket, football and frizby throwing .. We have all kinds of native birds there and seagulls the nearest seaside is 3 hours away .. we're inland Anyway it's a very nice little town if we could just occupy the dropouts, which is something that didn't happen before with such a small population. I agree with you Shanazel that there is plenty to do on a normal basis but the river in which you could go fishing or swimming from is almost non-existence, the surrounding bush land in which for hiking is all private property "Keep Off" And both the high and primary schools have banned shcool discos because of booze and drugs being bought onto the premises sigh I mean gees wasn't that the case in our day too .. they weren't banned !! but on the other hand these dropouts are out of control .. You know we have a cop shop but they are only there at certain hours on certain days .. oh and I forgot we do have a pool a stones throw away open 4 months in the year .. Well that's my place .. I'll take some photos and put them up in the "off topic" thread you'll see how dry it is .. and the vandalism

08-12-2007, 10:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
Shanazel Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rocky Mountains USA Posts: 4,563	Boy, and we think we've had a bad drought for the last ten years! Well, we have, but sounds like yours has got ours beat! We also have four dams upstream; at one time this was the most intensively dammed stretch of river in this part of the country, but I don't know if that is still true. Central Wyoming is semi-arid, getting about ten inches of moisture a year if we are lucky. Lots of grass and sagebrush and greasewood and not a lot of trees except in the mountains and some river bottoms. I love it. Southern Ireland nearly drove me insane with all that green vegetation and moisture. I felt much more comfortable when I got to the open country in Connemara and coastal Mayo, and could see a bit more brown!