Category: dance

“As dancers, we are taught to problem solve in real-time, so it came as no surprise when,” once the coronavirus pandemic led to the cancellation of almost all live dance, “streamed performances and classes began popping up almost immediately. Dance Magazine asked six voices from our national dance community to share their thoughts regarding the swift distribution of online content.” – Dance Magazine

“Decades before Cecil B. DeMille sent horse-drawn chariots thundering through the desert, the world’s most famous ballet choreographer created an epic version of Egypt for the stage, and paraded live camels, monkeys and lions through a glitzy Russian opera house. With that ballet — titled The Pharoah’s Daughter — Marius Petipa was just getting started.” – The Washington Post

“To continue offering dance despite the pandemic,” Melissa Turnage, a dance artist in residence at several hospitals in Birmingham, Alabama, “[has] made DVDs for each of the units she works with, and has left a ‘dance mobility toolkit’ — a box of scarves, ribbon sticks, balls, streamers and other props — so that hospital staff can lead classes.” – Dance Magazine

“Of course, people are doing everything possible to avoid that fate. But fears of folding are, understandably, creating major anxiety right now. To gain some perspective, [we] spoke to a few people who’ve been through company closures in the past, and proven just how resilient dance artists can be.” – Dance Magazine

The organizer said, “Lockdown Maypole dancing is still possible,” and, in their own gardens or even inside, many agreed. – BBC

The dancers rehearsed at home and performed on streets and beside canals. “I like this project because we can show what we want to do, and what we’re waiting to do again. … Art, right now, is really important for everyone,” says one of the Dutch National Ballet dancers. A video of the dancers is being edited for release later this month. – Yahoo

Online platforms are not equally useful, and the class options are dizzying, especially when the “I don’t want to humiliate myself” barrier is gone. (Who’s looking?!) – Dance Enthusiast

“Since its release in 2017, TikTok has become a wildly popular global platform for dance, especially among teens, with tools that make it easy to film yourself dancing to music, integrate special effects and share the results. … In recent weeks, the app has attracted a small but growing contingent of professional dancers in their 20s and 30s, who … are tapping into its joys and questioning how TikTok might shape the future of their field.” – The New York Times