dancers are turning into gymnasts...all tricks and no feeling?

Question

have u noticed? like every second of a dance is either filled with a leap...pirouette..or jump. wheres the dancing?? if thats all it is is just a show of "look what i can do" then iguess its not as special anymore? am i right? whats up with that? its turning into less of an art form and more of a....play. a show.

WOW YOUR PIROUETTE REALLY MOVED ME!!!!

*sigh* am i right?

Answer 1

That is so true!

I saw a video on youtube of a nine year old girl doing 10 pirouettes. Sure, it was amazing, but she had NO feeling. She was just going through the motions! I think that dance is all about switch split leaps and axels these days- not about truely feeling your soul in your dance with the music!

Answer 2

Yes, I noticed it too, but it's not very high level of professionalism. Those dancers have learned a lot of tricks and technique, but haven't moved beyond it into the stage of why did they learn all these tricks and technique. If you watch a ballet performance at a decent theater you will notice that the soloists are dancing, the rest could vary - some are dancing, some are just doing the moves.

Have you noticed how many dancers ask "Is dance a sport?" and really want to hear a positive answer and give thumbs down to those who say it's art? I think it's the same things - dancers who haven't grown past sertain stage.

Good dancers are dancing, always. Yeah, now there is a stronger requirement to be insanely flexible and technically perfect, now than there was 50 years ago. So it is just harder to do both.

Answer 3

i definitely agree. i'm a bgirl and things are very similar when it comes to breakin'. A big part of breakin' is the toprock where you show your style and then you do some footwork where you show some more style. The other two elements of the dance are power moves and freezes. Those are the more "trick" moves. People that focus all their energy on power moves tend to be known as "power heads"/"urban gymnasts". They're generally looked down upon for ignoring the original aspects of the dance. Don't get me wrong, power moves take A LOT of work to master but there isn't much room for originality with them. I'd much rather watch a "stylist" (someone who places more emphasis on toprock and footwork) than a "power head" because they are often so much more original and unique. Power moves are impressive, sure, but they become repetitive. I totally agree with you about all this in any form of dance really though. unfortunately, dance is becoming less of an art and more of a sport.

Answer 4

Thats competition dance for you. Thats just what competition is about. If you are trying to win then most of the time you are going to put long turn combinations and tricks in ti. I know that isn't the whole purpose of dance but it is competition. Its like that a lot in jazz and open dances but not as much in lyrical and contemporary. I mean if it is a competition dance it is going to have some turns and leaps and "tricks" in it but there are many amazing lyrical competition dances and dancers that use emotion. I don't know if you have ever seen shauna noland on the show so you think you can dance. She does amazing tricks but she also dances with more passion than I have ever seen. (look her up on you tube if you haven't seen her b/c she is incredible). So I guess what I am trying to say is that there is a medium between tricks and dancing but the for a lot of studios it is all about the competition.

Answer 5

Well this is debatable. But, technically, leaps, jumps and ESPECIALLY pirouettes (this is a ballet term!) are all parts of dance! Leaps (grand jetes) and pirouettes are actually a beautiful part of dancing. But i think you are talking about competition dancing.

It is true that cartwheels, walkovers, tumbles, etc. are included in routines like jazz etc, but certainly not ballet. Splits are also included. I think that splits are included because many dancers can do them (think of leaps and arabesques, where the split position is used) and they are actually a very beautiful thing to see done. Walkovers and cartwheels are used to add extra dynamics.

Gymnastics is really different to dancing. Even floor. Gymnasts prepare, and do many flips etc. Dancers don't do as many, and it is usually slower and more graceful. Gymnasts are amazing, and so are dancers. Dancers show more emotions when dancing, gymnasts try and perform death defying tricks.

I think dancing is great as it is. Part of dancing is leaping and pirouetting, and the little bit of gymnastics that is used makes routines more dynamic and exciting. Just think, without the "leap...pirouette...or jump" what would be left of dancing?

Answer 6

Sadly i do agree with you. When i go to competitions most of the dances are either kick kick leap turn leap kick turn turn turn or rub up on this guy practically get it on with this guy oh and have a shook my butt in the last 30 seconds? Dance is changing and i wish we would stop letting some of the old ways die.

Answer 7

Yeah, a lot of competition dancers are like that. But, I'm completely obsessed with So You Think You Can Dance, and all of the dancers on there, every season, are the opposite of that. And Mia Michaels, one of the world's greatest choreographers creates dances with none of those elements that are still fabulous. I mean- Lacey and Kameron's contemporary to "Dancing". HOT.

Answer 8

I know! Dance is supposed to be an art, not a sport. As dancers we're supposed to be artists before we're athletes. I'd much rather be able to do a simple movement, and put enough emotion and expression into it to make people cry, then do 50 fouettes and just have crazy applause.

Answer 9

I went the oppsite way, rhythmic gymnastics to dance, and I really think the expressive side is somehting you're born with. There are as many expressive gymnasts as there are stone faced dancers.

Answer 10

Dance should be more than just mere tricks, as great to watch as they are, it should be much more than that it's becoming the dance. the character, the movement and getting lost in the ideal and those tricks should support that spirit of dance but not be them.