Want to Dance – Character 101
I absolutely love traveling. Meeting new people, learning new languages, taking in cultures and customs is a thrill. The only downside of course is the cost of it all. If you haven’t the budget for a world wide expedition, why not get your dancing shoes on and jump right into the action…. It’s all right here at home.
Heritage dancing can be divided into three different categories, the most authentic forms being folk and national dance. Folk dancing has been passed on through the generations and, in addition to being a very social activity and lots of fun to do, gives great insight into a particular group of people, their ideals and history, as well as the country of origin and its even its geography. One example is the Hora found Israel. This circle dance was adapted from similar forms in Romania and other Balkan countries because it fit the ideals of the newly formed state of Israel; those of solidarity, communal living and equality. A linking circle unites the dancers and simple repetitive steps are performed so that everyone feels an equal part of the group. Another example is Clogging which can be found in England. Clogs were worn in northern industrial towns until the end of WWII. In order to pass the time, workers during the Industrial Revolution developed clog dancing as a form of enjoyment and competition.
Character Dance, which was developed at the end of the 20th century, is Western Theatrical Dance’s (classical ballet) interpretation of folk and national dance. In order to place variety into a ballet production, choreographers would borrow a particular country’s music, style of movement and steps and revise them to fit the stage. It is important to note that travel and exoticism were popular trends at the time and therefore one might find an entire ballet choreographed in Paris, such as Paquita, in a Spanish style. Russian dance in particular has taken on a very theatrical form. One advantage to living in such a vibrant multicultural country such as ours is the wide opportunity to enjoy dances of other cultures. Community and heritage centres, cultural festivals, folk dance associations and dance schools across the country offer classes and workshops in dances from around the world.