Disciplines
Ballet
Originated in the Italian Renaissance courts and was brought to France by Catherine de Medici in the 16th century. Ballet courts were performed by aristocratic amateurs rather than professional dancers.
In the 17th century, the popularity of ballet began to grow, and it started to become a professional art. It was no longer performed by amateurs; ballet performances began to incorporate acrobatic movements that could only be interpreted by highly skilled individuals. As a result, the first ballet school, the Académie Royale de Danse, was established by King Louis XIV in 1661. The purpose of the academy was to improve the quality of dance training in France and to devise a technique that could be used to formalize ballet as a discipline. Shortly after the academy was formed, in 1672, King Louis XIV established a company to perform called the Academie Royal de Musique de Dance (today known as the Paris Opera), and appointed Pierre Beauchamp as the head.
Modern Jazz
Jazz dance originated in the United States in the early 20th century, although its roots can be traced back to traditional African dances brought by slaves to America. Throughout the 20th century, this highly expressive dance style has incorporated various technical elements from modern dance, contemporary dance, classical ballet, and body expression; all these influences led to the emergence of Modern Jazz in the 1950s.
This genre is characterized by the breadth of movements and forms the basis of the most famous choreographies of Broadway musicals.
What does it involve? In jazz dance, there is significant focus on the mobility of the torso and the dissociation of the upper body in relation to leg and footwork, abdominal contractions, and various ways of entering and exiting the floor. It is an energetic and expressive style that is also very enjoyable and suitable for all ages, as it allows for the development of coordination, musicality, and expression through technical exercises and improvisation.
Contemporary Dance
Contemporary dance emerged as a reaction to classical forms and likely as a need to express oneself more freely with the body. It is a type of dance where the aim is to express an idea, a feeling, an emotion, but mixing bodily movements typical of the 20th and 21st centuries. The movements originate in the mind of the dancer and require a symbolic context to connect with reality, creating a bridge between the dancer and the surrounding world.
Imagination, dreams, ideas, and expressive representation are as close to reality as possible for the dancer, making the symbolic in dance a form of expression.
Contemporary dance is grounded in classical technique, but it is distinguished by the incorporation of innovative elements that challenge the established conventions of classical dance. Rather than adhering to pre-existing rules, contemporary dance introduces a unique and groundbreaking artistic expression.
Acrobatics Arts
Acrobatic dance, or acro as it is commonly referred to by dancers and dance professionals, is the beautiful fusion of classical dance technique and the precision and athleticism of acrobatic elements. Acrobatic dancers, often defined by unique choreography, seamlessly combine musicality, emotional expression, line and extension with acrobatic movements within a dance context.
Acrobatics has its roots in traditional Chinese dance and later became a favorite style on vaudeville stages. More recently, acrobatics gained popularity with the great success of contemporary circus productions by Cirque du Soleil. Mainstream media, including dance television shows like “So You Think You Can Dance”, “America’s Best Dance Crew”, and “Dance Moms”, have further fueled its demand in competitive and amateur studio dance settings.
Acrobatics is an especially challenging style to master for dancers, as it requires training in both dance and acrobatic elements. The acrobatics technique includes balance, flexibility, tumbling, and partnering movements, based on flexibility, contortion, and strength.
Hip-Hop
Hip-hop dance refers to urban dance styles primarily performed to hip-hop music or that have evolved as part of its culture. It includes a wide range of styles primarily of breaking which was created in the 1970s and became popular among dance teams in the United States. The television show Soul Train and the 1980s movies Breakin’, Beat Street, and Wild Style showcased these teams and dance styles in their early stages; thus, giving them mainstream exposure. The dance industry responded with a commercial version, sometimes called “new style”, and with a hip-hop-influenced jazz dance style called “jazz-funk”. Classically trained dancers developed these studio styles to choreograph from the hip-hop dances that were performed on the street.
Latin
Latin dances are those that originate from Latin America. At first glance, Latin dances may seem to have many similarities. However, there are many differences between one variety and another, as we will see below, since, among other things, each style has its roots and history and its basic steps and each is danced to a different type of music. We can also say that some Latin dances are easier than others, as some of them require a lot of technique.
In our school, we work with Salsa, Bachata, Cha cha cha, and Merengue.