Hollywood? No BOLLYWOOD! (:

Bollywood dancing. I honestly don't even know where to begin. Dancing has always been my safe ground but this style in particular. Man, if I could make a living off of this I totally would. I have been doing Bollywood dancing ever since I was 3. It all started with me just watching Indian movies & then I started copying the dances moves & then I started to act like I was the dancers in the movies. Finally, my parents put me into actual Bollywood classes at the age of 4. After one class I was hooked. I knew this was about to become my life. When I am dancing I get to be somewhere else and become someone else. Which is nice for a kid in elementary school who was bullied everyday. It made me feel complete, I feel closer to myself and my culture when I do Bollywood dancing. To this day I still take classes, but now I also coreograph my own routines, which I think is super fun. ( down below) Today is your and mine lucky day because you're going to read about the greatest dance styles ever and I am the one lucky person that gets to share it with you! 

                 The name Bollywood is a combination Bombay and Hollywood. This term is used to sum up movie making in India. According to History of Bollywood Dancing , "What is highlighted in almost all Bollywood movies are the dance sequences that are accompanied by original soundtracks. Over time, Bollywood dance choreography has invented a style of its own by combining features of many of the varied Indian folk and classical dances with elements of other Western dances such as jazz, hip-hop and so on .Earlier Bollywood films showcase a style of dancing that is more classical in nature. They usually implement classical art forms such as Bharatanatyam of South Indian origin and Kathak of North Indian origin. The 60’s which saw more of group dances were obviously more influenced by folk dances. By the 70’s, the worldwide phenomenon of ‘disco’ had taken Bollywood by storm and it was on this phenomenon that the dances of the era were based. After much experimentation, signature individual styles were also welcomed with free style dancing by actors such as Govinda giving new definitions to Bollywood dance.Globalisation and the inception of international music channels has influenced music , as well as, dance styles following the 1980’s. This has led to a fusion of both Indian and foreign elements into Bollywood that has resulted in what we know today as ‘Bollywood dance’." This is the one website that I felt was the most reliable because it followed the CRAP test the best. There were other articles that were literally just crap. Bollywood dances are seen in Bollywood movies and every dance has an iconic step that becomes well know throughout India. Even when you watch Indian movies they will add iconic steps from other movies. I am honestly struggling so much trying to explain this amazing dance. I've been doing this for so long I am best at just showing the actual dance. 

               

Self choreographed routine ( sorry just a practice video):

Bollywood Movie Routine: 

Links:
http://www.dancehelpline.com/history-of-bollywood/
"Bollywood." Just Landed. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2016.
https://www.justlanded.com/english/India/India-Guide/Culture/Bollywood

Is The Salsa Just a Spicy Dip or a Spicy Latin Dance?

Hey Hey Hey!!! Today we will be talking about The Salsa! No, not the thing you dip your tortilla chips into. The Salsa is a Latin dance style that is known for its sexy dance moves, steamy steps, and catchy tunes that you can't resist dancing to. I personally enjoy watching Salsa dances and as I watch, I try to learn the steps lol. Not going to lie, if someone were to just perform a salsa routine in my face it would most likely take me more than half way through the routine to identify that it's the Salsa. This is because The Salsa does not have distinguished steps but more just fast footwork to certain music.
         As I looked for the origin of this amazing dance style I found multiple sources with multiple answers. One source said that The Salsa was from China. I laughed crazy hard and then tried other websites. This one website had really good information and said,"The music and dance styles of salsa developed simultaneously in the 1920s as various musical styles such as Mambo, African, and "Son Montuno" came together on the island of Cuba."(Salsa Dance History) I found this website to be the most reliable because it had great information and it followed the CRAP test. It also says how there was a studio called Fania that named the news sounds called the "Salsa" and began spreading it through the island clubs and over the radio. It travelled north to Miami and also to South America. The dancers would follow with this trend and they would add and increase the difficulty level of steps based on their experience. Some and majority Salsa styles are fast with tricky partner moves,but there are some slow salsas with hints of the argentine tango. 
      I found this website called Salsa Gente where it tells you how Salsa is interpreted and seen in different parts of the world. It discusses how people in LA don't use actual Cuban music but how local bands will adopt the Puerto Rican music style. The website also states,The LA style “shines” have their roots in Latin Ballroom. Couples break away from each other in the middle of a dance to start “shining”. Women will extend their arms to strike a pose, then play with stylised hip and hair movements. Men’s shines tend to focus on tricky footwork based on Puerto Rican style salsa." LA salsa dance styles include complex lifts, cartwheels, and steps in their routine. 

& of course we cannot forget the videos!(;

Sources:

"History of Salsa Music & Dance - SalsaGente." SalsaGente History of Salsa Music Dance Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2016. 

http://salsagente.com/history-of-salsa-music-dance/
"History of Salsa Dancing." Centralhome Dance, Fitness, Sports. N.p., 21 June 1998. Web. 17 May 2016.
http://www.centralhome.com/ballroomcountry/salsa.htm

Salsa Dance History." LoveToKnow. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2016. 

http://dance.lovetoknow.com/Salsa_Dance_History

Is Jazz All that Shmazzy?

Jazz is a very popular, fun and energetic dance style that people see on tv, movies, and music videos. According to History of Jazz Dance,"Jazz dance is an umbrella term that can refer to several related dance styles. All of them are connected via common roots, namely tap, ballet, jazz music, and African-American rhythms and dance." 
                  Jazz has been thought to be a dance that was started in America, but Jazz actually began in  the 1800s from African American vernacular dance. Many Jazz moves were created by slaves as this was a very needed physical and emotional outlet. Slave traders normally allowed the slaves to dance on their way over to America. This was their attempt to keep them fit, which worked, but also ended up creating dance steps that will be used in history. "Until the mid 1950s, the term "jazz dance" often referred to tap dance, because tap dancing (set to jazz music) was the main performance dance of the era. During the later jazz age, popular forms of jazz dance were the Cakewalk, Black Bottom, Charleston, Jitterbug, Boogie Woogie, Swing dancing and the related Lindy Hop." ( History of Jazz Dance) Now a days you don't see these steps anymore or if you do they are ever so subtley hidden into the jazz routines making them hard to be recognized. Today Jazz is performed and viewed at many different venues and events such as, musical theaters, dance competitions, and parties.                  The Jazz technique requires a very strong posture so the dancer can do all the turns and tricks. The way the dancers can perform strong and sharp movements is because they have ballet technical training. Having center control is very important because the body's center is where all the movements get there strength from. This is how a dancers balance is always perfect by performing intricate steps. In order for a dancer to turn consistently without getting dizzy the dancer must look and one spot continuously as they turn. There are a couple common jazz steps such as ball change, barrel turn, jazz square,and jazz walk. & here is the normal part & my most favorite part of the blog where I put DWTS routines so you all have something to visualize! (:

Sources:

"History of Jazz Dance." LoveToKnow. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2016. 

http://dance.lovetoknow.com/History_of_Jazz_Dance

"History of Jazz Dance - Dance History Articles." History of Jazz Dance - Dance History Articles. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2016. 

http://dancelessons.net/dancehistory/HistoryofJazzDance.html

"Your Introduction to Jazz." About.com Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2016. 

http://dance.about.com/od/typesofdance/p/Jazz.htm

Rio wish you could do the Samba?

Hey guys! Today we will be talking about the Samba. Now, the Samba is one of my all time favorite Latin dance styles. The Samba is considered the dance of joy and celebrations at the festivals in Rio. It is very lively and rhythmic with its fun moves and beats. 
  

      I will mainly be getting my information for this post from "A história do samba". After looking at multiple websites, this one had the best information, and was the most reliable. So, Perhaps one of the most popular music and dance styles ever to emerge from Brazil, samba evolved in Rio de Janeiro by the early 20th century and grew to become the most essential music and dance form associated with Rio's carnival. With its rich and heart felt rhythm and its often sexy dance moves, samba has circled the globe as one of the most infectious and popular styles from the South American continent."The word "samba" is thought to be derived from the Kimbundu (Angolan) term semba, which referred to an "invitation to dance" as well as a common appellation for the dance parties held by slaves and former slaves in the rural areas of Rio. These dances involved gyrating hip movements (called umbigada) and had roots going back to the colonial period in the Congolese and Angolan circle dances." ( A historia de samba)
 The Samba is known and has been distinguished through 4 steps. The first step is the Voltas. The Voltas is a legging crossing motion side to side and you move your hips in a circular motion. The second step is called BotaFogos which is when the man takes his arms above the ladies body causing their bodies to cross and point the toe. The third step is the Samba side Steps which is when the man and lady both take a step to the side in synchronization and as they are separated they each take an extra step in place. The fourth step is the kick ball which is when both partners kick their legs out,as if they're kicking a ball, crossing it with their partners. 
The Samba may sound very complicated if have no visual so here are a couple videos so you can clearly see what I am talking about. 

"What Is the Samba?" About.com Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2016.

http://dance.about.com/od/partnerdancestyles/qt/Samba.htm

"History of Samba." Sambassadors. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2016. 

http://www.sambassadorsofgroove.org.uk/history-of-samba.html

"Samba - Origins and History." Samba - Origins and History. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2016. 

http://nancychao.weebly.com

Hip Hop Will it Ever Stop?

Hip to the Hop! Hip-Hop is one of the most famous dances in the world. It attracts all age genres with its music, flair, and dance moves. I am absolutely obsessed with hip hop. I actually used to take hip hop classes when I was little. I think I was like 8 or 9, and we had a hip hop teacher come to our house every Friday and she would teach us different dances to different songs. We stopped after a year or so due to money issues, but that was hands down one of my favorite styles to learn. Hip-hop is so carefree and wild, yet sharp and clean which is one of the things that I love about it so much. 

    After looking at multiple sites trying to find the most reliable source of dating back to the beginning of this dance I felt that "History of Hip Hop Dance" had the information and was the most reliable.If you compare hip hop to other dances it has the shortest history. Hip hop dates back to beginning in the 1960s-70s in New York. Individuals that loved the movements of dance, but did not have professional training brought dancing to the streets. The movements of hip hop were inspired by complex rhythms and the down-to-earth movement style that was in African dancing. Hip hop becomes unique when you include the improvisation and competitive feel. Nowadays, hip hop is a dance form that is also practiced on stage. While the roots of hip hop were relaxed and group-based instead of audience-based, the art form has become so popular that an audience culture in formal performance venues developed during the 1990s.
     Within Hip hop comes multiple forms under this dance. There are 5 basic forms that is how one would test the true power of being a hip hop dancer. The first one is popping which is quickly contracting and relaxing your muscles making your body look like it's jerking around. The second one is locking which involves "locking" into a position then quickly "locking" yourself into another position. With locking the arms and hands are more distinct and strong while the hips and legs are relaxed and calm. The third form is breaking, which is  very unstructured and improvisational. Breaking is one the most popular forms of hip hop with its random motions of levels. The fourth form is the Boogaloo which is very loose movements mostly in the hips and legs, giving the illusion that the dancer has no bones. 
Lastly, the fifth form which is social dances. Social dances are 80s dances that transformed into club dances. 
Overall, Hip Hop being developed in the US is very popular amongst the whole world. Making this dance a style that I know will never die down. 
Dances: 

Sources:

 "5 Essential Elements of Hip Hop Dance." About.com Home. Web. 06 May 2016.

http://dance.about.com/od/hiphopdancing/tp/Elements-Of-Hip-Hop.htm

 "Hip Hop Styles." Hip Hop Unite. Web. 06 May 2016.

http://www.hiphopunite.com/index-styles.html

 "History of Hip Hop Dance." LoveToKnow. Web. 06 May 2016.

http://dance.lovetoknow.com/History_of_Hip_Hop_Dance

Is Contemporary Dance Breaking the Modern Era Stereotypical Dance Styles?

New day new dance style! Today we'll be going to one of my top 5 favorite styles of dance, Contemporary. Contemporary is one of the more popular dance styles that you would see in a show or being taught daily in a dance studio. This dance is a very expressive dance style that is a combination of other dance styles such as jazz, lyrical, and classic ballet. With this combination a contemporary dance is able to tell a beautiful story to a very heartfelt broken down song. 

       Contemporary dancing originated in the  1980s, the world of  "contemporary dance" referred to the movement of dancers who did not want to follow strict classical ballet and lyrical dance forms, but instead wanted to explore the area of unique unconventional movements that were gathered from all dance styles of the world. This is why contemporary dance try to form new dynamics and stay away from the fixed movements. They focus on floor work to use gravity to pull them down to the floor. The only said "technique" of contemporary dancing is to have wide movements and pretty much to loose the technical side of dance.  Contemporary dancing uses expressions of raw emotions, breathing at the same time , dancing moves performed in non-standing positions, and in general testing the limits of a

human body. An original contemporary dance Martha Graham (1894-1991) had a career that lasted up to seven decades. Her modern dances and choreography is so amazing that people compare her works to artists such as Picasso and Frank Lloyd Wright. She even has her own dance company called Martha Graham Dance Company.   Graham is one of the top contemporary choreographers int he world leaving her works to carry on forever. As I was looking for this information, "Contemporary Dance History", in my opinion gave the best facts compared to "Contemporary Dance - Ballet and Dance".The only way to truly describe Contemporary dancing is to show you. 
Modern Contemporary: 

As you can tell form these two dance Contemporary dancing is very wild and free with wide range movements and crazy stunts. But, it also has a very emotional side. These are the reasons why contemporary dancing is one of my favorite dance styles ever. 

Links:

"Contemporary Dance History - Trey McIntyre Project at UApresents." Contemporary Dance History - Trey McIntyre Project at UApresents. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2016. 

https://sites.google.com/a/email.arizona.edu/trey-mcintyre-project-at-uapresents/contemporary-dance-history

Contemporary Dance - Ballet and Dance." Contemporary Dance History and Origins. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2016. 

http://www.dancefacts.net/dance-types/contemporary-dance/

"History." N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2016.

http://marthagraham.org/about-us/our-history/

"Contemporary Dance Techniques." Contemporary-dance.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2016. 

http://www.contemporary-dance.org/contemporary-dance-techniques.html

First Post Redone: What is Dancing & What Does it Mean to Me?

Dance. To move rhythmically to music, typically following a sequence of steps. I have been dancing ever since I was 3. Different arrays of styles helping shape me into the person I am today. Dancing has a special place in my heart. It has been there for the good times and the bad. Comforting me through the horrid years. I was bullied when I was little and dance was the only true thing I could do that made me feel happy. All those words, "fat, ugly, stupid, weird," were drifted into the air and away from my mind. When I dance I feel graceful, pretty, and important like I actually matter. Dance is  how I tell my stories. Some write, some sing, and some draw, but the only way I can truly get a point, a story told is by dancing. This is why I shall be blogging about different dance styles around the world, my favorite ones of course, and where their origins are. 
               So where did dancing start? "The earliest history of human dance is a continuing mystery. From the evidence of illustrated ceramic fragments, some archaeologists have come to the conclusion that dance originated some 5,000 to 9,000 years ago in early agricultural cultures located in a swath running from modern Pakistan to the Danube basin." This source did not give much background info son I continued my research looking to find where dance started I also found an article that says how dancing started in Egypt as dancing started to worship the gods in the temples. Like my first source this one was also a dud not giving any supporting details. All it gave was claims. Then I found a site that told me the first archeological proof of dance came from a 9 thousand year old cave painting in India. Right under it the website also talked about how,"One of the earliest uses of structured dance was introduced in religious ceremonies that told the stories of ancient myths and gods. Egyptian priests used this kind of visual storytelling in their rituals." So, from three different sites I am getting multiple answers to where dance started. I have concluded that the exact place to wear dance started shall remain a mystery. All i can find is the impact it has made on society throughout the past years. From religious ceremonies to celebrations dance has effected the worlds growth and development. 

Links:

"Dance Facts - History, Interesting Tips and Types of Dance." Dance Facts and History. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2016. 

http://www.dancefacts.net
HISTORY OF DANCE." HISTORY OF DANCE. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2016.
http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ab82
Infoplease. Infoplease, n.d. Web. 09 May 2016
http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/entertainment/modern-dance-the-beginnings-modern-dance.html
Infoplease. Infoplease, n.d. Web. 09 May 2016.http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/entertainment/dance-the-origins-dance.html

What Is a Tango and Is The Argentine Interpretation Better?

The Tango. A romantic Latin dance style performed by a man and women using synchronized dance steps. Personally, I love watching people dancing the Tango. They way the partners move together in harmony as you see the passion between them as they tell a story. The passion in the Tango is so important. Without passion there literally is no dance. A Latin dance is always oozing with passion and romance. 

       The Tango was originated in South America in the early twentieth century. At the beginning, the Tango was only performed by women, but as it became more popular in Argentina the Tango became a couple dance. In the19th century, Buenos Aires was filled with immigrants from Europe and Africa, many of them were  lonely and looking for companionship in their new home. These people found their way to the salons, looking for drinks to cover their sorrows, temporary friendship, and any entertainment to help ease their depression. The mix of cultures combined to bring about a new style of music, formed from African beats, Indian rhythms, Latin influences, and the popular music of the pampas (flatlands) in Argentina. This new music was now called The Tango. Then, around the 1910s the Tango began to spread around America eventually reaching New York continuously gaining popularity. Not really following its article name, "Learn to Dance Tango with Ballroomdancers",  gave the best information out of the sources that I have sited below. This website passed the CRAP test giving not only me, but the world wonderful information. The Tango involves very repetitive dance steps with motions going from strong to soft. In this dance the man must hold the lady in the crook of his arm with her other arm around his waist. The man must allow the lady to rest in this position as he leads her across the dance floor with a curving pattern. The dancers goal is to make a strong connection to the music, the audience, and of course, each other.

       With this dances come several different styles and interpretations. One of the most popular forms of the Tango is the Argentine Tango. It does not get any more hot or steamy than the Argentine Tango. The Argentine Tango is much more intimate and passionate compared to your average Tango. In the Argentine Tango the bodies are pressed very closely together. The Argentine Tango is an evolving dance and music form everyday on the social floor in Argentina. 





"The Basics That You Need to Know About the Tango." About.com Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2016
http://dance.about.com/od/typesofdance/p/Tango.htm

"Learn to Dance Tango with Ballroomdancers.com!" Learn to Dance Tango with Ballroomdancers.com! N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2016. 

http://www.ballroomdancers.com/Dances/dance_overview.asp?Dance=ATA
Tango History." Trio Garufa. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2016.
http://www.triogarufa.com/tango-history.html


TANGO:

ARGENTINE TANGO:

Waltz? Current and Poppin or Just Too Old?

The Waltz is a type of dance style that is not normally seen unless of course you are watching ballroom dance competitions. The Waltz is a type of dance style that is very graceful, elegant, and on the slower side. The Waltz evolved from folk dances in Austria and Germany in the mid 18th century.

The German "Lander", a folk dance, is supposed to be the beginning point of the Waltz. During this time period a dance developed which was called the "Walzer", a word owing its origin to the Latin word Volvere, which means a rotating motion. Napoleon's invading soldiers spread the waltz from Germany to Paris; then the dance began the spread across the channel to England and finally to the United States. When the Waltz was first introduced into the ballrooms of the world in the early years of the Nineteenth Century, it was met with outraged indignation, because it was the first dance where couples danced in a modified Closed Position - with the man's hand around the ladies waist. At the beginning of the 1830s, the waltz was given huge support by two Austrian composers Lanner and Strauss. They set the standard for the Viennese Waltz, a very fast version at about 55 - 60 measures per minute. The fast tempo did created problems leading to the enjoyment of the new dance to disperse because keeping up with the music was a struggle. It is unknown when the waltz was introduced to the United States. It was probably brought to New York and Philadelphia at about the same time, and by the middle of the Nineteenth Century was firmly established in United States society. During the later part of the Nineteenth Century, Waltzes were being written to a slower tempo than the original Viennese rhythm. Around the close of the Nineteenth Century, two modifications of the waltz developed in the United States. The first was the "Boston", a slower waltz with long gliding steps; there were fewer and slower turns and more forward and backward movement than in the Viennese Waltz. This version eventually stimulated the development of the English or International Style which continues today. The American Style Waltz is similar to the International Style except the American Style has open dance positions and the dancers legs pass instead of close. The second modification was the "Hesitation Waltz", which involves taking one step to three beats of the measure. Although the "Hesitation Waltz" is no longer danced, some of it's step patterns are still in use today. In Germany,with Ballroom dances having long traditions, the Waltz is still seen. They relax to Classical Music so for them, they would much rather go to a Ballroom dancing place than go to the club. In America Ballroom dancing has defiantly drawn away for the younger generations eye. For all this information I looked at multiple websites and I can't even count on my fingers for how many I looked at. The website that was the most reliable and that helped me the most was "WALTZ HISTORY | Dancelovers Dance History." Waltz is too slow and too "old" as they say. Teens are leaning towards jazz, hip hop, and even ballet. The only time I truly see the Waltz is on TV with Ballroom Dance competitions, but even these competitions are ever so gradually leaning away from traditional Waltz and modernizing it with pop music and fusion steps. The Waltz will never be the same as it used to be. 


Traditional Waltz:

Modern Waltz: 

Links: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/music/music_dance/paired_dance1.shtml

"WALTZ HISTORY | Dancelovers Dance History." Waltz_history. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2016.

http://www.dancelovers.com/waltz_history.html

"Why You Should (and Can) Learn to Waltz | Lifestyle | DW.COM | 13.01.2016." DW.COM. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2016.

http://www.dw.com/en/why-you-should-and-can-learn-to-waltz/a-18975242

"Departments." Ballroom Dancing Makes a Comeback « Northwest Quarterly. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2016.

http://oldnorthwestterritory.northwestquarterly.com/2014/12/ballroom-dancing-makes-a-comeback/

What is the Jive and Where Do You See It?

The Jive is a happy energetic dance that has plenty of kneel lifting, bending, and rocking of the hips. The Jive can be danced to Swing music and jump blues with tempo ranges of 200 beats per minute. The Jive first became popular in the 1940s being known as the Europeans calmer version of the jitterbug. The term Jive became associated with the style of sing dancing through Cab Calloways "Hepster Jive Talk". According to the website, http://www.streetswing.com/his
tmain/z3jive.htm, the Jive was used by Europeans in WWII when the Jitterbug was called the Jitterbug-Jive.  Once the war was over, the term Jitterbug-Jive stopped in the states but was continued in Europe as the Jive. So, the Jive is a European dance that transferred over to the States. Today in America the Jive is taught in ballroom classes. You also see the Jive on Dancing With the Stars which is my favorite show of all time (video down below).  Now a days when you watch performances and television you will see a Jive fusion. Normally, it is the Jive incorporated with other styles of Ballroom dancing, but my favorite

dances are when they mix the Jive with Hip Hop and Jazz(down below). With this they still keep the fast pace and hitting every beat but it has more content. Although you continue to see The Jive in dance competitions and entertainment performances, it is not performed as much as it used to be. People are leaning away from ballroom dances and are performing more Hip Hop, Contemporary, and Jazz dances.

~ Maya Bahl

"The Characteristics and Steps of the Jive." About.com Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2016. 

http://dance.about.com/od/partnerdancestyles/qt/Jive.htm
http://www.streetswing.com/histmain/z3jive.htm,

Modern Jive:

                             










Classic Jive: