Since the founding of New York City people from all around the world have flocked there in search of a better reality and fulfillment of their dreams. Some of them found what they were looking for and others did not. Nevertheless, the constant fluctuation of masses from every corner of the world to New York City only increased in the course of time. At the beginning of a new era filled with hectic and rushing, this city has become a symbol for movement, regardless of its form and purpose. The spatial, financial, cultural movement, the movement of information or myriad of immigrants is of essence in this city. Movement in space and time is in its every shape also the primary subject matter of Terpsihora´s art- the dance. Aside from that, dance as art discipline focuses on the human body using it as clay in its “moulding“ process just like the city “moulds“ in a certain way its inhabitants. The founder of Modern dance for men in America, Ted Shawn, is said to have commented: “Dance is the only art of which we ourselves are the stuff of which it is made“. When it is taken into consideration that the energy of movement in all its forms in New York City relates to the energy of movement in dance, it is not curious at all that a number of dancing styles have been developed or have experienced an incredible flourishing in New York City. The striving to pursue an artistic career in this city is for a lot of dancers the sheer energy for dancing itself. Their life motto - `If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere'. The sublime relationship between the city and the artist and the overwhelming impression New York City gives on an artist is very perspicuously ilustrated in a comment of the young architectural critic Lewis Mumford:
The world, at that moment, opened before me, challenging me, beckoning me, demanding something of me ... Here was my city, immense, overpowering, flooded with energy and light ... transmitting through me the great mysterious will ... and the promise of the new day that was still to come (Lewis Mumford 1982:130).
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Dance development in New York City
- Connection Artist/Dancer-City
- Hollywood's image of New York's dance scene
- 9/11 in the dance world
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to depict the development and transformation of dancers and theatrical dance forms in New York City as a reflection of the city's evolution. It explores how dancers, despite their aesthetic function, have a significant impact on the community by implementing social and political topics in their work. The paper also examines the creative processes that have led to the establishment of unique dance expressions in New York.
- Evolution of dance in New York City
- Relationship between dance and the city's development
- Social and political themes in dance
- Impact of Hollywood on the New York dance scene
- The impact of 9/11 on the dance world
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter sets the stage for the paper by discussing the significance of movement and dance in New York City. It highlights the city's historical role as a melting pot of cultures and the impact of its energy on the development of various dance styles. The chapter also introduces the concept of dance as a reflection of the city's evolution and how it mirrors the social and political realities of its time.
- Dance development in New York City: This chapter delves into the history of dance in New York, examining the tension between European ballet traditions and the emerging American dance styles like modern, postmodern, and contemporary dance. It explores how Broadway and the emergence of free-thinking choreographers shaped the city's dance landscape, highlighting the struggle for equality and recognition in the artistic world.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper focuses on the themes of dance development, social and political themes in dance, the impact of Hollywood on the New York dance scene, and the impact of 9/11 on the dance world. Key concepts include modern dance, postmodern dance, contemporary dance, Broadway, and the evolution of the New York dance scene.
- Quote paper
- Aleksandra Pendarovska (Author), 2005, The dance world in New York, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/41250
