Nouri

Comments (0) Jun 21 2010

Over 800 modern dryplate tintypes were made from b&w film to produce this experimental stop-motion video of a circus. Antonio Martinez created this video to serve as a desired childhood memory of the circus, but through the mind of an adult.

“Martinez spent a lot of time at a traveling circus, shooting dozens of rolls of 35mm black-and-white film. Then he made over 800 modern dryplate tintypes from the negatives, and then scanned them digitally, and then sequenced them artfully to produce this experimental stop-motion video.”

It is simply lovely.

:: LensCulture

Comments (0) Jun 16 2010

Dancers Among Us is a collection of NYC dance photographs by Jordan Matter featuring members of the Paul Taylor, Mark Morris and Martha Graham Dance Companies. This is an ongoing project that began in the spring of 2009. His gallery page points out that “There were no trampolines or other devices used for these images, just thousands of hours of training!.”

:: Jordan Matter Photography

Comments (0) May 02 2010

Vaslav Nijinsky‘s Birthday- March 12, 1888
Nijinsky is one of, if not the most, famous male dancers of the twentieth century.

“Nijinsky was born in Kiev, Russia, March 12, 1888, while his parents, dancers Eleonora Bereda and Foma Nijinsky were on tour. He entered the Imperial School in St. Petersburg in 1898, and upon graduation in 1907 became a soloist with the Maryinsky Theatre. During a vacation, Nijinsky went to Paris with Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes and danced the leading roles in Le Pavillion d’Armida, and Les Sylphides with Pavlova in 1909. The next year he danced the golden slave in Scheherazade.  He continued to dance with the Diaghilev’s Ballets Russe after 1909, even though Anna Pavlova left. Although Vaslav danced with many great ballerinas he was most associated with Tamara Karsavina, with whom he danced in 1911 in one of the most famous ballets of the time, Le Spectre de la Rose.”

Genius.

Comments (0) Mar 11 2010

Leaving for the a long week-end retreat tomorrow, so there won’t be much posting until I get back. Thought I’d leave you with this snippet of driving deliciousness:

Akram Khan Dance Company

:: Physical Response Dance Blog

Comments (0) Mar 05 2010

Dance as cultural ambassadors.

:: DanceMotion USA

Comments (0) Mar 02 2010

I’ve ordered a pair of Rosewood Castanets!

Img Source: Getty Images

Comments (0) Feb 06 2010

Here’s a recent addition to the dance blogosphere: a resource dance movement database of bellydance vernacular. The site was just launched by Nayana and the SOUL studio {Strength of Unspoken Language} that I believe is located in Wisconsin somewhere though the very austere site is vague.

It is up and running, and you are invited to participate in its development:

“It is my goal, over time, this dictionary will include information on ALL formats. To help this resource grow/improve, contact me with the following:

* alternate movement name (to add to existing move and master list)

* new movement name and description (include name/website so I can credit you)

* description revisions (for existing moves)

* broken links

Thank you for your interest and continued support of this project to even further unite bellydancers and this amazing art form.

Wiggles and giggles,

Nayana”

Comments (0) Jan 03 2010

1909 – 2009

You must check out this site – Russian Ballet History!   It is so rich in background on the founding of the itinerant ballet company by the impresario Sergei Diaghilev in 1909. The website is a rich treasure trove of memorabilia and information that hums with passion and respect.

From their front-page:

“Diaghilev had already enjoyed success in Paris in 1908 when he presented a season of Russian art, music, and opera. He was invited back the following year to give a programme of Russian opera and ballet. The company was initially in resident at the Théâtre Mogador and Théâtre du Châtelet, in Paris years later moving to Monte Carlo. The company returned in 1910; in 1911 it was presented under Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes and made its debut in London. Its’ original members were from the Tsar’s Imperial Ballet of St. Petersburg, Russia where all its dancers were associated and trained. The company consisted of 13 members, all attaining a very high standard of dance. The company featured and premiered now-famous works by the great choreographers Marius Petipa, Michel Fokine, Bronislava Nijinska, Leonide Massine, Vaslav Nijinsky, and a young George Balanchine at the start of his career. It created a sensation in Western Europe because of the great vitality of Russian ballet compared to French dance. Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes became one of the most influential ballet companies of the 20th century, in part because of its ground-breaking artistic collaboration among contemporary choreographers, composers, artists, and dancers. Its works were part of the avant-garde culture in Paris and France.”

After Diaghilev’s death in 1929 the company of dancers scattered and fractured to become two companies: the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo headed by René Blum and Colonel Vassily de Basil in 1933; and the Original Ballet Russe was founded by de Basil in 1939 after a falling out.

It was the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo that traveled extensively throughout Europe, the United States and Australia to became the most influential ballet company that inspired so many and revolutionized the dance world.

“The American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and the San Francisco Ballet Company are direct descendants of Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes.”

If you’re a lover of vintage dance photographs, check out the collection of fantastic digital collection over at the National Library of Australia. Amazing!

Comments (0) Dec 28 2009

A fairytale and amazing medieval inspired paper costumes by Jum Nakao

{ Today is the Day of Maria }

Comments (0) Dec 24 2009