Klarinet Archive - Posting 000065.txt from 1999/08

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.edu>
Subj: [kl] Form of Ballet
Date: Tue, 3 Aug 1999 10:37:34 -0400

Both Bill Haussmand and Ed Lacy correctly point out that contemporary
dancing can show examples of geometric patterns in ballet forms. Both
Busby Berkeley and the June Taylor dancers are very similar, particularly
with respect to the fact that the view of the dancers had to be shown
from above to achieve the desired effect.

The technical paper I heard in Ireland described a much simpler
situation. The dancers would walk out and immediately go into some sort
of formation which was held for 5 minutes and then they walked off. The
analogy to contempory forms would be more apt to "tableau vivant" where
some picture or historical event is formed with live persons, and then the
curtain is opened and the actors must remain absolutely still for 15
minutes. Often nudes are employed, too. Must be difficult standing there
with all elements of one's body blowing in the wind.

In any event I thank Bill and Ed for pointing out the contemporary analogies
to the peculiar 18-th century French ballet form which did not, in any
case last very long.

=======================================
Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
leeson@-----.edu
=======================================

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org