for all of your DANCER needs!
Dance is an artistic form of nonverbal communication. Dancers combine movement, emotion, and music to produce their "dance". Whether for personal pleasure, practice, competition or performance, the dancer must commit themselves totally to reap the true benefits of dance. When committed totally the dancer is rewarded both physically and psychologically. Physically, dance is a strenuous, cardio activity that uses almost every muscle in the body. Psychologically, it can relieve stress and express emotion. The history of dance can be traced back until the beginning of time, but this lens is focused more on today's dance society. This lens is here to help dancers out there find just about anything dance related. Dance Photos
curated content from Flickr
Before the competition comes PRACTICE
"Practice is a means of inviting the perfection desired." Martha Graham
"Practice is a means of inviting the perfection desired." Martha Graham
The quote above, from Martha Graham describes dancers perfectly. As you can see by watching this video, dancers give it there all not only during competition and performance, but also in practice. Dancers strive for perfection, although within dance there is no such thing. Dance is ever changing and evolving into new forms and styles. To be a versatile dancer, you must keep your mind open and take in everything you possibly can.
There are many different styles involved with dance. Modern, ballet, point, jazz, lyrical, tap, clogging, hip hop, and character are just a few of the most common. ALL forms of dance derive from ballet. For non-dancers this may be hard to believe, but dancers focus on ballet as their basis for training.
The quote above, from Martha Graham describes dancers perfectly. As you can see by watching this video, dancers give it there all not only during competition and performance, but also in practice. Dancers strive for perfection, although within dance there is no such thing. Dance is ever changing and evolving into new forms and styles. To be a versatile dancer, you must keep your mind open and take in everything you possibly can.
There are many different styles involved with dance. Modern, ballet, point, jazz, lyrical, tap, clogging, hip hop, and character are just a few of the most common. ALL forms of dance derive from ballet. For non-dancers this may be hard to believe, but dancers focus on ballet as their basis for training.
Popular Dance Studios and Conventions
If you are a dancer and want to expand your knowledge as a dancer, here is a list of links that may lead you in the right direction. The conventions included in this list are some of the newest and hottest conventions in the US. On the sites themselves you can find dates and locations for upcoming events, along with some basic information on the styles and backgrounds.
Competition
Dance competition is a contest, an occasion on which a winner is chosen. Today's dance competitions are split up into categories and then judge along a score sheet. The dancers are judged on costumes, musicality, technique, appropriateness, and overall performance. Most competitions reward winners with trophies, ribbons, plaques, and medals, but some competitions give something more. Money and scholarships can also be presented at the more popular competitions. Here is a video from a popular dance competition. It shows how all of the components of dance fall together.
Dance Competitions
"All great stars are competitive. That's a sign of a true artist-if you don't have the fire of competition deep down inside, you're never going to achieve anything. You have to want to be king of the heap" - Camille Paglia
Competition is were the claws come out. Dancers are extremely competitive. Most dance studios only cheer on their studio at competitions. Every once and a while a studio may support an outstanding dance or friendly studio. Over time studios seem to build up local rivalry just like any other sport. Competitions are not only fun for the dancers, they are also fun for the audience. They allow the audience to show their support and opinions on the different dances, studios, and styles of dance.
- Hall of Fame Dance
- Hall of Fame is a great site to watch actual dance competition video footage.
- Star Systems
- Showstopper
- Starquest
- Thunderstruck
- Starpower
Performance
Performance dance, also known as concert dance, is where the audience is simply that... an audience. The audience watches while the dancers perform. This form of dance is where the dancer can let go of everything, not worrying about technique as much as the overall picture.
the BEST part of dance... Performance!
"Dance from your heart and love your music, and the audience will love you in return" - Maria
For some, dance isn't about winning or losing, it is about performing. Performing is where the true dancer in a person comes out. It allows the dancer to dance through his/her emotions and give it all he/she's got without thinking about another group or dance. The main goal of a performance dancer is to entertain the audience.
- Berkeley
- Performance Dance
- Alvin Ailey
- Dancer Links
- This website is great! It is full of dancer links that will lead you to performance group sites. On the links list you can find the most popular dance companies across the world.
Books and Magazines
Amazon is a great place to find dance related books and magazines. By a simple topic search you can find hundreds of different resources on any topic. Below are a few good magazines for dancers to subscribe to and books for not only dancers, but anyone interested in dance.
Bob Fosse (The Library of American Choreographers)
Amazon Price: $13.86 (as of 12/30/2009) 
Dance Spirit
Amazon Price: $16.95 (as of 12/30/2009)
Dance Magazine
Amazon Price: $34.95 (as of 12/30/2009)
Dance Imagery for Technique and Performance
Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 12/30/2009)
Competition or Performance?
Loading poll. Please Wait...
Explore related pages
Flamenco Glossary- Flamenco is a very special world, which has not only its traditions and customs...
Remergence Electronica Duo- We've landed on Squidoo, come on over and check us out. We are an electronica du...
Archbishop Murphy High School (WA) Pants, Shorts, Boxers, T-shirts, and Spiritwear Apparel- Archbishop Murphy High School Wildcats love things that are new and different. B...
Sound Recording, Music Composition and Audio Production with RhythmCreation.com- Welcome to my squidoo lens for Rhythm Creation, here you will find info about Rh...
