Why Dance?
There are innumerable reasons why youngsters choose to dance. Sometimes they are not the ones who choose. Parents often take girls to dance class to develop grace and boys to keep out of mischief.
The passion for dance may well come be genetic. As reported in the Public Library of Science -- Genetics, September 2005, researchers recently discovered that the combination of two genes, AVPR1a and SCL6A4, are significantly associated with performing dancers, differences in aptitude, propensity and need for dancing. Moreover, dancers show more spirituality and altered states of consciousness, as well as the need for social contact and openness to communication, than do athletes and other groups.
For the film "Why Dance?" filmmaker Jim Manning spent over two years interviewing students, parents, teachers, dancers (both amateur and professional), judges, choreographers, studio owners, artistic directors and those involved behind the scenes in both competitions and professional dance companie. The film is a family affair: Manning's wife Shelly Pack-Manning is co-producer. A former dancer, founder and director of her own dance school and performance group, she is among those who share their views on film.
The film certainly covers a broad range of topics. Intercut with scenes of dance classes, auditions, practices and performances are commentaries. The film also captures scenes from producing "The Pirates of Penzance" by Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley.
Those interviewed in the film are nationally and internationally recognized professionals in addition to the type of teacher and performer likely to be encountered in communities across the nation. Most engaging in the film are former dancer and now choreographer, artistic director and competition judge, Dennis Nahat; charming Cuban dancer Patricia Perez; and a heart-warming "Billy Elliott" type story of a young boy, Peter Chursin, Jr., who not only overcomes the objections of his father but turns him into one of his biggest supporters.
Interviewees explain how they got into dance and discuss the benefits of dance competitions and conventions held in cities throughout the country every year. Chursin (Mr. Dance of America 2003) and Ashley Canterna (Miss Dance of America 2002) comment on their rigorous training, stretching and rehearsing so they can put everything they have into trying to impress the judges during a 2 _ minute dance routine.
Parents discuss the benefits of both dance and competitions for their children's scholastic achievement and self confidence. Professional dancers talk about dance as a career, its joy and negatives, such as weight control and injuries.
In the film, Nahat speaks from his wide and deep experience. His dance training began in Detroit, Michigan, at the age of 8. At 17 he was awarded a full scholarship in dance with a minor in music at the Juilliard School of Music, and he continued training under the guidance of luminaries Martha Hill, Martha Graham, José Limón, Anna Sokolow, Antony Tudor and Louis Horst.
Nahat has performed and choreographed major works for American Ballet Theatre, Atlanta Ballet, Hartford Ballet, The Royal Swedish Ballet, The London Festival Ballet and Ballet Nuevo Mundo de Caracas, besides musical theater, television and the movies.
He co-founded the School of Cleveland Ballet in 1972 and the Cleveland Ballet in 1976. In 1985 he created the co-venture between San Jose, California, and Cleveland, Ohio, known as the Cleveland San Jose Ballet. And then, after twenty-five years, the Board of Trustees in Cleveland ceased operations on September 7, 2000.
However, the San Jose Trustees voted to continue presenting ballet to the Bay Area as they had done for the past fifteen years. They supported the new Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley and Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley School under Nahat's artistic directorship. He moved the entire Cleveland ensemble of dancers, wardrobe and scenic shops to the new company that is featured in the film.
Since 2000, Nahat has also been Artistic Director for the Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts ballet program on Long Island, New York. Nahat serves on the jury for the USA International Ballet Competition. He also directed the 1994 and 1998 competitor Choreography Workshop, staged the final Awards Gala and taught competitor classes during the competitions.
Patricia Perez, a member of Nahat's company since 1998, began her classical ballet training in Havana, Cuba, at the age of ten, and continued at the school of Prodanza directed by Laura Alonso. At 17, she was invited to the Ballet Festival in Peru. She graduated as a ballerina and teacher of classical ballet from Prodanza in Havana, after which she became a member of Compañía de Ballet Clásico de la Havana. She has been a guest dancer with Canton Ballet, Ashland Ballet and Jefferson Ballet Theatre of New Orleans.
Moms take their daughters to ballet class, and that's deemed okay, but typical dads want their sons to engage in sports not dance. Unfortunately, boys may encounter teasing, accusations of being gay, ostracism and even physical abuse from their peers. So a father's support is important as boys develop to demonstrate the skills that will earn them respect
Chursin is attracted to dance and excels. His mom, who worked for Macy's in San Francisco for 22 years and now works for a non-profit- Pacifica School Volunteers, always supported him. His dad, an electrician after being a butcher for 17 years, had himself been in sports, so he was kept out of the dance training loop. When he sees just how accomplished his son has become through dedication and discipline, he finally gives his support.
The film at 112 minutes running time, sometimes just focused on a speaker rather than a speaker with dance action or images in the background. So, the film will appeal to parents more than kids. However, both need to know as much as they can about the dance world, especially if a career is a student's goal. Students could see the film in segments.
Of course, a film cannot deal with everything. Not addressed are some additional benefits of competitions. They provide an opportunity for students to compare themselves with their peers beyond those at their home dance studio and thus gain an understanding of the wider dance world. At competitions students can take classes with various teachers to get different points of view in technique and to explore a range of dance forms. Today's dancers need to be able to perform many different styles of dance. And students get feedback on their performance from judges who are not their regular teachers.
Another factor not considered in the film is that dads' lack of encouragement for their sons to dance is not just an issue of dance being thought of as something for girls, but the fact that the dance career is, for the most part, not financially rewarding. The publicity attending to danseur Rudolf Nureyev's six-digit income began to change perspectives on dance as a viable career choice. However, a Rand Research Corporation study asserts that it is the rare superstar who earns millions of dollars annually (an estimate that likely includes salary plus income from freelance guest artist performances and investment based on earned income), whereas the typical artist makes little more than minimum wage.
Forewarned is forearmed. Many professionals have said that knowledge about what to expect in pursuing a dance career ameliorates stress. The film "Why Dance?" provides a good foundation. For information about the film check out www.whydancethemovie.com.