Waltz

Hat Dance. The word jarabe comes from Arab word xarab which means herb mixture and the word Tapatío represents the people in Guadalajara. The meaning behind the mixture of herbs is the mix of influences that made the dance style which includes the waltz, polka, and indigenous American dances. In the book Dancing With the World Part I the the meaning of the word jarabe is syrup or mixed sweet drink which was consumed in fiestas and parties. The Jarabe Tapatío dance is popular in the central and…

Dance is defined, by Merriam-Webster, as movement of “your body in a way that goes with the rhythm and style of music that is being played.” Throughout history it has evolved to fit the ever changing world around us. From Native Americans to Miley Cyrus, dance has remained a popular activity, whether for religious aspects or entertainment purposes. It seems no matter the style of dance, regarding the past century, there is always disapproval somewhere. Usually this disapproval comes from older…

The short film titled “Alike” by Daniel Martínez Lara & Rafa Cano Méndez, is a quick prologue or view into, the ever changing values of a young boy, and his father. Struggling between work and developing his sons comprehension of the world, and how things may seem different or bright for his son, but is a stark contrast between his father who is in the chain or working machine of work itself. That his son sees a ‘violinist’ in the park while his father and himself are walking, he notices how…

I approached the doors of the Great Hall and my heart was practically beating out of my chest. All I could hear was “left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot.” Everyone seemed to know what they were doing, except me. I decided to sit and watch, but deep down inside I was trying to build up the courage to join in and accept the fact that I have two left feet. I felt like all eyes were on me because I was the only person in the entire room sitting, but I did not care. Nothing was more…

Country Line Dancing is the American Cowboy Country line dancing is a form of dance in which groups of people no matter their size, age or gender dance in lines while executing the same movements. The costumes associated with this dance are of a western style. The idea of the “American Cowboy” is often paralleled with line dancing. The sex of the “American Cowboy” is male and has the gender identity relating to masculinity; this figure is often highly romanticized. Although this dance is…

The Castle (1997), directed by Rob Sitch and Strictly Ballroom (1992), directed by Baz Luhrman both succeed in displaying the idea of Australian dreamers. They both to show that Australia is a land where working hard can make dreams come true. Scott, from Strictly Ballroom, dreams to win the Pan Pacific’s, and more importantly, to dance his own steps. Darryl, The Castle, just wants to keep living his simple life in his house with his family. While both ideals and characters vastly contrast, they…

The early Greeks developed order and form within dance that was called choral dance. It was a more communal form where the lines of dancers would move circularly or straight within ranks. These dances would be performed at events such as Athenian festivals and were accompanied by procession, sacrifices and games. The Greeks would also dance at religious ceremonies; they would perform fertility dances to ensure fertile fields as well as fertile women. They would dance in preparation for war and…

“The whiskey on your breath could make a small boy dizzy; but I hung on like death: such waltzing was not easy.” Says Theodore Roethke from the short story “Under the influence” a sentimental and hot- blooded story by Scott Russell Sanders.revolves around the son of drunken father, a boy that felt insufficient and weak. “A man consumed by disease rather than by disappointment” an endless journey down the path of a drug- a drug that took the life of his father. Affected by the lies that clouded…

Dancing and sports are fun activities that have been practiced for centuries around the world. The Oxford Dictionary defines a sport as, “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment”. By using this definition, many would consider dance to be named a sport. However, society labels all dance styles as a club or extracurricular activity. At first glance, dancers would say dance should be named a sport. But on…

Scott Hastings is an Australian Ballroom dancer who has dreams of winning the Pan Pacific Grand Prix 5 dance Latin American championship. While he is a great dancer, he has become frustrated with the restrictions placed on the dance steps, which are far removed from The Passionate American dance styles that originally inspired the ballroom steps. The film opens with a dance competition, a montage of shots showing beautiful dance couples taking the floor, this is cut with close up shots of Miss…