The DVD Corner
Social dances sometimes referred to as "ethnic" dance when its roots are in a different culture from our own, often pop up in a variety of ways. The 19th century ballets usually have a celebration scene with a balletic interpretation of "Spanish" or "Russian" folk dancing. And in today's MTV world, hip-hop and break dancing have left their street roots behind for hi-tech polish. I thought it would be fun to look at three films that play with samba, flamenco, and tango, three traditional or classic dance forms, from three very different perspectives.
Top of This Month's List:
"Flying Down To Rio"
Original Production: 1933 RKO Pictures
89 minutes
Movie history was made when someone at RKO paired Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers for the first time in this black and white Hollywood dream trip to Rio de Janeiro. The plots in the Astaire/Rogers movies all resemble one another: girl and boy have a misunderstanding and eventually straighten out the problem for a happy ending, along with lots of song and dance numbers. This time Astaire and Rogers are the back up duo, and there are fewer dance sequences. But 'The Carioca' (scenes 13 & 14), is an only in Hollywood extravaganza with spectacular Astaire dancing and Rogers keeping up in stiletto heels. An Astaire tap solo (scene 19) hints at future dance delights; while the most unlikely, improbable variation on a chorus line ever seen explodes onto the screen in 'Flying Down To Rio' (scene 23).
Scene selections
A Must Own:
"Gypsy Heat: The Heart and Soul of Flamenco Dancing"
Filmed in 1994
50 Minutes ($19.99)
In this unique documentary of her personal journey to keep the flame of flamenco dance alive, Omayra Amaya, the great niece of legendary flamenco artist, Carmen Amaya, guides you into the heart of the flamenco experience. Rapid, complex footwork, sensuous, graceful arms and the constant interplay between the dancer and the music define this extraordinary, improvisational dance with deep roots in the Andalusian Gypsy culture. Cutting between interviews, classroom teaching, rare footage of Carmen Amaya, and the passionate dancing of Omayra Amaya, this DVD answers all you need to know about this individual form of dance.
Chapter selections.
Ballet Collection:
"Tango" Choreographed by Oscar Araiz, The Geneva Grand Theatre Ballet Company
Filmed in1987
57 Minutes
Theatrical tango companies stage the tango in short dramas. Oscar Araiz has turned that approach upside down, using the tango dance vocabulary and the theme of sexuality, implied in the dance itself, as the basis of his ballet "Tango." Mr. Araiz, a native Argentinean, explores the underlying tensions in a variety of love relationships in this contemporary ballet of spare, yet sensuous vignettes elegantly danced by The Geneva Grand Theatre Ballet Company of Geneva, Switzerland. Included in the important bonus features: a detailed history of tango, tango terms, and extra music.
Chapter selections.
Check out your libraries, video stores, or contact Kultur and Dance Horizons to see these DVD's. New information should be sent to ERogosin@aol.com