The Arts in Arizona
Sep. 23rd, 2006 05:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rebeccmeisterLast night I went with D and A to see "Ballet Under the Stars," a free performance by Arizona Ballet that was held at Tempe Beach Park [I should mention that there's actually no beach at Tempe Beach Park, which is in keeping with the way places are named here--there are lots of planned communities with names like "Lakewood," for instance. Umm. Not many lakes or woods in this part of Arizona, people!].
Anyhoo, there was lots of gratuitous spandex, which was rather amusing. It makes sense in context--ballet is about movement of the human form, so one must be able to see the human form to observe it moving. There were also a ton of small children, and there was some splendid dancing. A good time was had by all.
But I was reminded of one of my dilemmas about ballet and other forms of dancing. Part of what makes ballet so appealing is the uniformity of it all--all ballerinas must hold their hands just so and have extremely little body fat, etc. etc. The attractiveness of ballet is clear in the popularity of Degas' art, for instance. But of course the uniformity also makes ballet a little bit disturbing as well. Ballerinas are incredibly lucky if they don't have to think about what they eat all of the time. I just can't imagine having to live like that. Or what it must be like when a ballerina gets to be too old and retires from ballet and then has children that inherit her abnormal relationship with food.
The real challenge is that pretty much every time I have seen shows that try to incorporate body forms that deviate from the ballerina ideal, they fail. Other body forms can be completely successful in other areas of art and in life in general, but dance seems to pose a greater challenge.
Anyhoo, there was lots of gratuitous spandex, which was rather amusing. It makes sense in context--ballet is about movement of the human form, so one must be able to see the human form to observe it moving. There were also a ton of small children, and there was some splendid dancing. A good time was had by all.
But I was reminded of one of my dilemmas about ballet and other forms of dancing. Part of what makes ballet so appealing is the uniformity of it all--all ballerinas must hold their hands just so and have extremely little body fat, etc. etc. The attractiveness of ballet is clear in the popularity of Degas' art, for instance. But of course the uniformity also makes ballet a little bit disturbing as well. Ballerinas are incredibly lucky if they don't have to think about what they eat all of the time. I just can't imagine having to live like that. Or what it must be like when a ballerina gets to be too old and retires from ballet and then has children that inherit her abnormal relationship with food.
The real challenge is that pretty much every time I have seen shows that try to incorporate body forms that deviate from the ballerina ideal, they fail. Other body forms can be completely successful in other areas of art and in life in general, but dance seems to pose a greater challenge.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
Re: rambling from a former ballet dancer.
Date: 2006-09-24 02:21 am (UTC)I should also say that I really, really respect ballerinas for their athletic ability. My best friend used to be a gymnast, and always said that rhythmic gymnastics was much harder than traditional gymnastics--watching the ballet last night got me to thinking that HERE was a group of rhythmic gymnasts who were working together instead of competing for individual glory. It's a much more interesting process to see.
Where would one find performances by Mark Morris? Again, I'm a relative newcomer to ballet.
Re: rambling from a former ballet dancer.
Date: 2006-09-24 02:29 am (UTC)his version of Nutcracker (called Hard Nut) is on VHS. That is kind of cool.
this is kind of cool because Yo-Yo Ma was involved.
His stuff is on PBS every so often and his dance group will tour now and then.
Re: rambling from a former ballet dancer.
Date: 2006-09-25 03:08 am (UTC)Re: rambling from a former ballet dancer.
Date: 2006-09-25 04:11 am (UTC)