Category — Dance/The Body/Sport

Before Thursday night, when I thought of ballet, I would think about those dreadful lessons I had as a 7 year old.  My mother forced me into ballet, so I unfortunately didn’t have such great memories of the art. I unfortunately quit ballet, and moved on to hip hop for the next 10 years of my life. I really do love the art of dance; but, ballet was simply not for me. As Alex said, it’s one of the more strict forms of dancing. All I remembered was commands such as, “point your toes,” or “fix your posture!” However, I went into Lincoln Center very excited because

1) I am no longer 7 years old

2) I am not the one that has to point my toes this time (thank gd)

3) I’ve never been to Lincoln Center before

4) Ballet truly is a beautiful art form and this time, I get to enjoy it in the audience!

The first act, while beautiful, was very traditional and simply met my expectations. I went in knowing that I would be in awe at how long the dancers were able to support themselves on literally the tips of their toes. Their elegance was lovely and fluidity through their bodies was incredible. It actually made me wish I was a good ballet dancer when I was younger. I enjoyed this act very much but was excited to see the next because Professor Ugoretz had mentioned that it incorporated a story. The dramatic love triangle drew me into the relatable story and performance. It really captured my attention and helped me to appreciate the emotion behind the performance. The third act was definitely my favorite! I never expected a comedic ballet performance and I was so happy to have seen it. For a few seconds, I actually felt like I was watching a Broadway play (minus the singing of course). It was the perfect entertaining I needed to end off the night. I laughed hysterically and  was still able to notice the incredible talent of all 5 dancers!

In the end, I realized how perfect the setup of the show was. It started with a traditional elegant performance that’s purpose was to reveal the raw talent of the dancers. The second brought about a relatable dramatic story that caused the audience to be emotionally invested. The third brought laughter throughout the theater and lightened the mood after such serious performances. All three performances balanced each other out perfectly, making it an amazing night for everyone in the audience!

The three performances done on Thursday night were all so different, but all equally enjoyable in different ways.

I had never been to Lincoln Center before (I think, unless that is where my brother’s graduation was held… I can’t remember) so I was excited to be able to watch a ballet performance there. I honestly came to Lincoln center expecting to just see the stereotypical girly performance, but I was pleasantly surprised with something very different.

The first performance was one that I did enjoy, but probably not as much as some people. I do not know the techniques behind ballet, so when I was watching the dancers perform, I could only be in awe at how impressive their body’s moved and not so much how they would angle and carry out their movements.

The second performance had a very nice story line to go with all the dancing. It was enjoyable to see the two females and males inter-mingle with one another with their dancing. It was a very nice way to show how much the people wanted one another, even though it was as if they would only be able to see the other from afar.

The last performance was honestly so hilarious. I mean come on, watching those sailors fight one another for those girls was funny. The solo performances that they had put on were also so amazing, and I was shocked by the split that the sailor did. This may have been my favorite performance of the night. However all three were fun to watch.

Although I was too short for the seat I was sitting in, I really enjoyed the opera. It’s my second time attending an opera. Both times I found myself thinking that I wish I knew the language so I could just watch instead of going back and forth to reading the screen in front of me (which was especially annoying because I only needed my glasses for the stage, so handling them was quite bothersome when I wanted to read the words). However, I realized that most people in the theatre probably don’t understand the language (just my assumption), and thought that maybe it’s apart of the art… I don’t know.

Anyway… Regardless of those small complaints, I still enjoyed watching the opera. I like the story line. It’s pretty cool that the main character is a gypsy because it’s like the hipsters of our time (free love for everyone-peace). Their voices are amazing! The fact that they are able to sing the way they do is incredible!

Within the dialogue there were a bunch of references to previously said things. For example, in the very first scene with Micaela, the guards call her a bird that is flying away (out of the fence—like a cage)… They’re potential love interest just flew away. That was explained when Carmen started talking about Love as a bird that can’t be caught or caged. That was cool to notice.

Also, I don’t know how true or consistent this is, but Carmen first warned the men that if they love her, she won’t love them back (and beware). Don Jose didn’t love her back and that’s why she loved him (she loves the one who doesn’t say anything). Then he starts to voice his love for her and she starts to lose interest in him… She warned him!

Of course I have to mention the last act! The bull fight in the arena and the fight between Don Jose and Carmen were happening at the same time to play off of one another. It went even further to show that just as Carmen was killed, the bull was killed too… Or maybe Carmen was the bull. A wild thing that couldn’t be contained and was finally put to death. That was great!!

And shoutout to a lot of you—Alex and Ana Luiza in particular—for adding to the entertainment. 🙂

I spent all summer participating in a program that was housed on west 65th street, a short two minute walk from Lincoln Center, although I had never gone in. Lincoln Center has always been in my mind this otherworldly, magical place that contained fabulous people and things. Going to the ballet the other night gave me a little glimpse of that. Just attending any sort of show at night in Lincoln Center was fantastic–all the lights and people and fancy dresses.

The show itself was lovely. I loved the progression it took from classical and traditional to contemporary and then to downright theatrical and funny. And through it all, it was beautiful. After the first performance ended, I must admit I was a bit dubious of this whole ballet “thing.” The entire time I kept thinking about how restrained it looked, how formal it was. I felt like they were performing for me; I wanted to feel like I had just stepped into someone else’s world, into the world of a dancer without her knowing I was there. I was supposed to be an onlooker. But instead I felt like they were putting on a show specifically for the audience. And maybe it should be like that, but I didn’t want that. The other two certainly made up for it. They held the same grace and composure as they had in the first one, but they were also looser and more relaxed and, most of all, they told a story, which is what I wanted so desperately to see. The second one really pulled at my heartstrings; I felt sad, heartbroken for the mismatched lovers. And the last one exhibited a different emotion in me: humor and lightness, but still legitimately felt.

Dance has always been something I love (and something I wish I could do). I love observing the elegant motions of the body and the incredible way in which it moves across the stage. Dance is simply awe-inspiring. Clearly I’m jealous of all those who can dance. But as long as I can be engrossed in it by being a mere onlooker, I think I’ll be alright.

It’s hard for me to formulate my thoughts on the ballet performance properly. Ultimately, I’d like to say that I enjoyed this ballet far more than I had expected. I’ve never been one who appreciates art on more than just a surface level, but this seminar has definitely changed that. The performances left me wowed by the beautiful dances and the aesthetic beauty of the dancers.

However, the first act- though I appreciated the skill and dedication that was evident in every movement made- was my least favorite. To be fair I’ll say that the first act was the only type of ballet I had known to exist before Thursday night, so I had expected it to be a bit more moving and inspiring, since ballet is supposedly an amazing form of art. I didn’t realize that some of the more moving and inspiring dances came in totally different forms, like the second act. That first act had expectations way too high to meet. I didn’t realize that there were so many different types of ballet, each with its own purpose.

In all honesty, I’ve been trying to wrap my head around the idea that the third act was actually a ballet. I feel more inclined to call it a performance that incorporates ballet but is not a ballet in itself. I just don’t feel comfortable calling that a ballet. Does that make sense?

Also, regarding something Prof. Ugoretz mentioned in class: ballet is soooooooo about the physical beauty and movement of the human body. That sounds like a really simple statement, but what I mean to say is that all of the dance moves skillfully and beautifully communicated different feelings, and many of them were very suggestive. There’s just so much more to ballet than I have ever or probably will ever understand!

SIDE POINT: Why is “theater” spelled “theatre” if it is clearly the American Ballet Theatre!? It is clearly not the British Ballet Theatre. These spelling things confuse me sometimes.

I had no idea what to expect from the ballet, but turns out that I loved it so much that I asked my mother to buy us tickets to go see the Nutcracker together. The only word that I can use to describe the ballet is MAGICAL. Everything about the entire experienced provoked this feeling of enchantment, from the Lincoln Center Square, to the performance hall, and of course to the ballet itself.
I loved how the ballet was split up into three different performances. My favorite act was the dance that gave the story of the forbidden love, that was basically a story of a love triangle. Since I am not a dancer and I don’t have much experience with it, I was shocked to find myself really understanding the entire dance and I was able to figure out which characters were the bride-to-be, the fiancee, the lover, and the mistress. I couldn’t take my eyes off the stage the entire time. The other two scenes were also very enjoyable and I loved how they added a comedy aspect to the ballet because I always associated ballets with just a romantic aura, but it showed me that imagination can go beyond anything we expect. I am so grateful to have been able to experience the ballet and get that feeling of magic within me.

Walking off the train got me somewhere I never expected to be. For someone who has lived in New York her whole life, it’s actually crazy that I’d never been to Lincoln Center before Thursday Night. Getting dressed up and meeting up with our class was a great experience. Lincoln Center was beautiful and I really enjoyed looking around at how nicely the whole area was put together. The fountain was stunning. I loved getting together with my peers to watch something that I’ve never had much interest in and being able to really enjoy it. I never went to a ballet before and it definitely was different from what I expected. I don’t even know how to describe the night, but it was incredible. The way the ballerinas (and male dancers) made it look so easy was crazy. I really couldn’t understand how hard the moves had to be to do and I still can’t. They looked flawless. At first, I doubted the order of the three ballets, thinking that maybe the last should go first. I thought that because it gives you a kind of rush, it would make you want more. After speaking to everyone else though, I changed my mind. The order was perfectly thought out. First came the traditional stuff, the parts that you expect to see when coming in. That stuff would seem boring after the last ballet, but just seemed beautiful when it was placed first. I also loved how at the end they incorporated all different kinds of dances and performed it into a ballet. It was lovely to watch and also had its funny perks.
It was great and I really enjoyed the experience.
I was nice and decided not to post the pictures. (Alex and Farzana)
(:

I was really excited to see the ballet, and for good reason… I loved it! To begin with, I love to go to Lincoln Center (not that I’ve been there so many times beforehand, only a few). I love the feeling right before we go in to see the performance; all dressed up, excited for what is to come, anticipation for the feelings I’m going to get from the performance…

So about the ballet. I really was amazed by it all. During the first ballet I started to notice that the ballerinas weren’t all in synch with each other. I got a little disappointed, but then I realized that I can’t even do a quarter of what they’re doing so who am I to criticize? After those thoughts I decide to focus on the actual movements of the body.

As I looked at their legs moving so gracefully, I thought that it is something that should be so effortless, but it’s not. I started to think of the way we all walk on a regular basis. Now, it seems so clunky and ungraceful. When we were going back home, I wanted to badly to be able to dance like a ballerina, so gracefully.

Another thing I thought when I payed attention to all their movements was yoga. I just did a yoga class this week and it was really hard for me, well, because I’ve only done yoga once or twice before in my life. Some of the dance moves that the dancers performed reminded me of some yoga positions. For example, in the last ballet, one of the sailors was standing on top of the bar and quickly changing positions. A lot of those positions were the same, or similar, to some of the positions that were really hard for me to do because of balance and flexibility.

Noticing how precise each move is really made me realize how hard it must be to keep a perfect form. Ballet really requires a balanced, flexible, strong body. Plus I love how well they can portray a story and evoke emotions (like in the second performance) without speaking, just body language. It was really beautiful to watch. Props to all you ballerinas and male dancers out there!

P.S. I really enjoyed hanging out with all you guys… You made it even more enjoyable than it was already!