Arts and Entertainment 12-7-12

Choreography in Indian Classical Dance

Choreography in Western Dance may seem limited. But the fact remains that elements of choreography are the basic part of conception in any Western dance creation. But choreography in Indian Classical Dance has not evolved to the extent to which it has in the West. This is because classical dance began as an independent presentation. The purpose of the performance and with it the stage kept changing, and it is this that impacted the presentation.

Most classical dances were created to be performed in temples. Devotion was the sole essence and purpose behind the performance. Dance was a medium of prayer, and an intensely personal one at that. Naturally, the temple platform and the presence of devotees was enough for the presentation. No special thought was given to the aspect of how the presentation could be made more effective.

Later, during the 11th century AD, the dance moved into the courts of the kings. Instead of the temple platform, artists were to perform on a separate half-circular stage. The devotional undertones were replaced with tenets of pure entertainment. This expectation of 'entertainment' from the art form was perhaps the reason why the focus shifted towards the arena of presentation, and therefore, choreography in Kathak.

The shift from a Temple platform to a semi-circular stage brought all three dimensions of Space (i.e. height, length and depth) to the forefront. It opened up the option of using of three main directions and two sub directions on each side and elements like Utplawan, Challang etc. were also used to make better use of this Space. The aesthetic aspect of dance was slowly gaining more importance, because now the performance was for the audience, not for the 'self'.

Today, the stage is a lot more accommodating and, at the same time, demanding. There is a dual purpose to dance - artistic self-fulfillment through creativity as well as visual appeal for the audience. And it is innovation that has lead to the fulfillment of both.

In innovation, it is essential to essentially consider all aspects of choreography for enhancing its effectiveness. In the context of the contemporary stage, consideration for all three basic elements of choreography i.e. Space, Time and Energy must be studied correctly and implemented in a technically perfect manner.

Main aspects of choreography-
1. Theme:
The theme is a critical element for the success of any composition. In Kathak, the theme is represented in two ways - Nritta and Nritya.

a. Nritta
In a Nritta-based composition, the repetitive cycle of the Taal is the main theme. Within a cycle of the Taal various movements, rhythm patterns, compositions (which may be ad-lib i.e. Upaj or pre-fixed i.e. Bandish) are presented in a manner to come back to the first beat of the cycle (sum) at completion, using the artist's body as the medium. A musical composition equaling the cycle of the Taal (Nagma) is used as the measuring scale in this theme.

This theme is easy to understand and appreciate. However, the exact theme to be presented must be decided based on the audience. For instance, complex mathematically challenging patterns should be avoided in front of common public while they can be presented with aplomb in front of connoisseurs.

The Nritta theme, although used predominantly in solo performances, is equally effective for group presentations. A Taal-Mala ( a serial combination of more than two Taals to make it as one cycle) presentation, for example, is more effective in a group setting as it may be too long a cycle for a solo performance in terms of acceptance by the audience.

b. Nritya
In a traditional Kathak performance, Nritya comes in the form of Vandanas, Thumris, Bhajans and Gat-Bhavs. In all these, the theme is mostly based on various mythological situations and characters. Even Indian audiences often comment that the themes seem repetitive. The stories of Radha - Krishna, Yashoda - Krishna or Rakshas - Sanhar represent fundamental human emotions and feelings. And while these feelings are still relevant today, the context is not.

Radha & Krishna embody the emotion of love in the Indian Culture, but they may not be known universally. However, the relation between a man and a woman is more commonly understandable by persons of any nationality and culture.

In today's day & age, using a contemporary theme to represent these emotions is a good idea, because the audience can relate to them more easily and they will also be attracted to the novelty. E.g. A Vandana can be made more relevant if the feeling of devotion is represented by prayers to Nature instead of to a particular God. Even internationally known literature, used as the basis for themes for Indian classical dance, may appeal more to the foreign audience and make them aware of Indian classical dance.

The theme could be common issue of today or an anecdote from mythology. But, whether it is Nritta or Nritya, must be understandable, heart-warming and intellectually stimulating for the audience.

2. Music
Music is a very important element of an Indian classical dance performance. The selection of music to represent any Nritya-based theme must support the mood. Many times, just with the right music, the dancer is in a position to quickly establish the theme being presented.

An elaboration of some aspects of music:
Indian classical music is vast, comprehensive and well structured. The Raags are divided as per time zones and have their own personality i.e. they reflect a particular set of 'moods'. In Indian classical dance, various types of Malhars are used in compositions to represent Varsharutu because of the inherent mood they create, which complements the theme of the dance.

When it comes to the impact music can make on the overall composition of dance, it can be gauged from the fact that, many times, music inspires a composition itself. E.g. Guru Pt. Rohini Bhate's composition of TIME - the inspiring music was western but the composer had used 'Nagmas', which is a purely Indian concept. Another example of theme based music selection in choreography can be seen in another of Rohiniji's compositions - Kathputli (Puppet). The theme is based on a representative woman, who is entangled in daily chores to the extent that, for her, the entire process becomes mechanical. Unlike in the previous example, in this composition, the theme inspires the music. The music selected was pure 'Metronome beats', the monotonous notes of which effectively bring out the repetitive colorless nature of the woman's daily chores. In the theme, when one of the women tries to break this monotony, the metronome beats give way to melodious notes to represent change and when the woman successfully dis-entangles herself, the happiness is brought out through a 'Taraana'.

Many times fusion music can be used very effectively in choreography innovations. Such music can be fusion of instruments from East & West or can also be of these two different types.

In Nritta-based themes, several Indian classical music compositions have been used without any modifications in Kathak. These music compositions do not have any specific theme. Melodious music and suitable beautiful visualization itself are the points of appreciation. Such themes are universal and can appeal to large audience, taking Kathak closer to them.

3. Space:
According to Western concepts, the main elements of choreography are Space, Time and Energy. Let us analyse these aspects in the context of Indian dance.

The main elements of Space are directions, levels, planes and volume.

Directions: In the early times, Indian classical dance mainly used only very few directions. All 'Sam' used to be directed towards the right and entry used to be from the left. Hence, the vocabulary of directions as well as movements remained very limited. But through subsequent innovations by stalwarts, many new directions were added and today the Kathak vocabulary is very rich and provides great scope for creativity.

However, one element needs to be highlighted. In general, while considering a stage, the musicians sit on the left of the audience. Because of this, the center of the stage for the dancer gets shifted from the actual center of the stage. This poses significant challenge for the artist because, if the original center is taken for choreography, there is less space on one side. While if the center of available space is taken for choreography, this center does not align with the center from the audience's perspective. Therefore, there is a need to look at either the seating positions of the musicians on both sides, using the modern technology for maintaining the rapport or putting up an equivalent decoration on the opposite side to the musicians for maintaining the balance of the stage.

A lot of work has also happened in the area of use of levels and planes by many choreographers and Kathak has a good knowledge-base for the use of these elements.

4. Energy:
The requirement of energy in different elements of Kathak is different. For example, in a Paran the energy needs to be thrown out while the 'Thaat' is an example of contained energy. So, within the different elements of Kathak, different types of energy can be represented. Therefore, in a new creative presentation, different energy levels can be very effectively presented through known, established elements of Kathak.

Prerana Deshpande is a traditional Kathak Dancer of repute and a creative choreographer of rare calibre. She is one of the leading Kathak exponents and a complete solo Kathak dancer of her generation. Internationally acclaimed as a creative dancer, she is widely acknowledged for her mastery over various aspects of Kathak.

Prerana studied Kathak under Guru-Shishya Parampara (Master - Disciple tradition) from legendary Dr. Rohini Bhate, the doyen of Lucknow and Jaipur gharanas for over twenty years. She is regarded for her exquisite command over the fundamentals of Kathak - Rhythm, Grace, & Expression and for her creativity rooted in the tradition of this dance form. Greatly appreciated by all audiences for her expertise in Kathak, she is regularly invited to perform as a solo artist at all major venues and festivals in India and abroad.

Prerana established Nrityadham (Home of dance) in Pune in 2003 with the blessings of her Guru Dr. Rohini Bhate and Smt. Sharadini Gole, to preserve and propagate Kathak in its pure, traditional form of which Prerana is a master practitioner.

At Nrityadham, the students are taught Kathak from basics up to expert levels, as they imbibe the intricacies of this beautiful dance form. Nrityadham has its own dance studio with accommodation facility available for outstation and foreign students.

Universal Language

"Oh No It Isn't - Oh Yes It Is" - The Story of Pantomime

Pantomime is a very British style of theatre - in fact you could almost call it an institution.

Wherever the Brits have travelled pantomime has followed in their wake, so that it can be found in places like Australia and South Africa as well as countries where there is a lively expat community such as the USA.

These plays pull together music, dance, comedy and acting in a unique way that only the bonkers British could ever have done.

But where does it come from?
What are its roots?
Why has it become such a popular tradition?

This is the story of British Pantomime.

A Foreign Import

Whilst pantomime is a very British institution, its roots are actually to be found in 16th century Italy. During that period in Italy, there developed theatrical productions called "Commedia dell arte". These contained the basis of modern pantomime stories with old, disreputable men, servants who tried and eventually got the better of their master and young lovers who se families thought them socially incompatible and would not let them marry. Slowly a clown character (Punchinello) also made an appearance. The seeds of modern pantomime had been sown.

Theatre knows no boundaries and these commedia dell arte plays rapidly moved across Europe, finally arriving in Britain. Whilst the British enjoyed the general plots they fell in love with the clown character. Soon called Harlequin - wearing a checked costume rather like a jester - this clown helped the plays changed course into more of a comedy routine called "Harlequinades."

Adaptation for British Audiences

By the 1720's John Rich, of Lincolns Field, London, was producing incredibly popular Harlequinades involving Harlequin and his fellow servant, Columbine, being involved in a series of mad-cap chases, and sharing the stage with animals, including a camel. So the roots of the pantomime horse costumes can be found in John Rich's productions nearly 300 years ago.

The Harlequin was given a stick to hit whenever scenery changes or sound effects were needed. Soon he was using this "slap stick" to signal for sound effects when he did something funny. Slapstick comedy had entered the English vocabulary and pantomime lore. To this day, the joker character in pantomime will get a drum roll and cymbal crash when he tells a joke, even though he has not had to use his slapstick to get that effect.

Like all success stories, others wanted to get in on the act. David Garrick wanted a piece of the action and started to produce his rival plays. Garrick, however, reserved these Harlequinades for the Christmas period where he felt that their natural frivolity was more suited for this fun festival. Another pantomime tradition had been born - panto at Christmas.

Did you know that until 1843 not all theatres could stage productions using words? Yes as bizarre as it sounds, only certain British theatres were allowed "talkie" plays. Harlequinades were principally mime, dance and singing and hence get around that ruling. An Act of Parliament changed all of that with the result that any theatre could put on any play, and they could use as many words as they wanted. Suddenly, the Harlequinades could use words and scripts were needed.

Pantomime Story Lines
But what story lines could these shows have? The easiest thing was to tell stories that already existed and the easiest stories were the ones that everyone knew from their childhoods. Pantomime had its first story lines in Cinderella and Mother Goose. The other stories that the audience knew were folklore stories and soon plays based upon Dick Whittington, Jack and The Beanstalk (originally called Jack the Giant Slayer) and Babes in the Wood were being produced too. Some pantomimes were based upon popular story books such as Robinson Crusoe and The Arabian Nights (for instance Aladdin, Sinbad, and Ali Baba).

The greatest 19th century pantomime writers were H.J. Byron and J.R. Planche. They introduced puns and word plays into their pantomime scripts - something still central to most pantos. They also introduced the Ugly Sisters and Buttons as characters in Cinderella. Amongst their scripts which are still popular are Sleeping Beauty and Puss in Boots.

The amazing thing is that these 19th century plays are still the classic, most popular pantomimes. Some like Robinson Crusoe and Sinbad have faded from view whilst others such as Peter Pan and Snow White and The Seven Dwarves have become popular since the release of J.M. Barries classic book and the Disney film in the 1930's respectively. But if you were to ask the British public to name some pantomimes they would name the same ones that their Victorian ancestors were watching - Cinderella, Dick Whittington, Sleeping Beauty, Jack and The Beanstalk...

Pantomime became a huge success.

The productions by Augustus Harris in Drury Lane involved casts 500 strong and were fronted by the biggest music hall stars of the day, people like Dan Leno and Marie Lloyd. Once again this use of music hall stars increased pantomimes popularity with ordinary working people. Pantomime made celebrities of its stars. The earliest was Joseph Grimaldi, possibly the most famous pantomime clown in British history.

Dames and Principal Boys
Another of the great pantomime stars was Dan Leno (1860 - 1904). A Music Hall star in his own right, Leno made the Dame a "must have" character in pantomimes. His interpretation of the Dame as a woman facing adversity with fun became immensely popular and the situations that the Dame found herself in (poverty, abandonment, unemployment) resonated with Victorian audiences.

If men dressing up as Panto Dames is very much a pantomime tradition. Another is the Principal Boy being played by a woman.

Men dressing up as girls had been around since the time of William Shakespeare but women appearing as boys caused a bit of a stir in prim and proper Victorian Britain. We all know the Best Boy coming on in a short tunic, wearing tights and slapping her thighs and think nothing of it. But in an age when women did not even show off their ankle this was racy stuff indeed (and, probably for a lot of the men in the audience very popular too!).

Pantomime - A Commercial & Cultural Success

Pantomime was big business. Every theatre, in every town, staged an annual pantomime. Their importance can be seen when Aladdin was the second performance staged at the brand new Lyceum Theatre in provincial Crewe (1882). The Lyceum owners knew that if you wanted "bums on seats" and pay back your investment quickly you could not go wrong with pantomime.

That popularity continues to this day. Whether it is a big city theatre running a show for several months with stars from TV soap operas and other celebrities down to a village hall production staged by youth groups (like the Young Christians Panto in Bunbury) or the slightly blue versions at Rugby clubs (yes, Chester RFC I am thinking about you!), pantomime remains immensely popular and part of our culture.

Phrases like "Oh No It Isn't" and "He's behind you", along with a drum roll and cymbal sound when telling a quick joke or one-liner have entered popular vocabulary and culture.

I think that this traditional panto song sums it all up really:

"PANTOMIME PANTOMIME
What a thrill, what a time!
Where all the world its cares can leave, in the land of make-believe
Pantomime, Pantomime, Music plays, keep in time
With ev'ry heart that knows the score and we're all just kids once more
With knaves and princes, dames and clowns, all seeking crowns of gold
Through tears and laughter after all, a happy ending to behold
Pantomime, Pantomime, on it goes, so sublime
It's entertainment's greatest show, So! Long Live Pantomime!"

Conclusion

Pantomime has come a long way over the years. From Italian import to quirky British institution. It has challenged social boundaries with women playing best boys and blurred them a bit with middle aged men dressing up as dames. It draws on the stories our childhood and on British folklore. Its harmless, fun filled antics charm people of all ages. It provides a social focus for communities and clubs. It continues to be a Christmas tradition for so many of us.

It is about as British as Fish and Chips. It is something that defines us in this ever more blurred world. Long may it continue.

It's entertainment's greatest show, So! Long Live Pantomime!"

Charlie Vegas is the UK leading supplier of 2 man pantomime horse costumes (as well as pantomime cows, 2 man camels, zebras and even an elephant).
They also supply 2 man horses in the USA (to purchase not to rent).
Visit their website at: Charlie Vegas Costumes

Arts Stroll Returns - Joined by Arts & Entertainment District and Greene Street Market

How to Pen Scripts for Theatre

As you pick up your pen to narrate a story in words and sketch out a live dream or fantasy, you may have the best of imaginations that may define you as a writer. Writers are known to be very imaginative, as they are god gifted to bring any character to life with their words. But all changes when you pen scripts for theatre. They don't expect you to be imaginative but the more realistic scripts for theatre are, the more likely they will be a success.

Not all have the talent to bring to life characters and situations into a live play and hence writing such scripts can be quite a task. So here are some ways to draw your imagination and bring it to reality through scripts for theatre.

Make your skeleton: To begin with, one can simply put together a gist and form a skeleton of the entire story. In the words of theatre, one calls it a plot where you decide the start, the flow and the climax of the entire play. Scripts for theatre will be incomplete if your plot doesn't have some zigzag twists and turns of emotional mash up in it. As you have your outline and plot, your imagination will start to flow more freely

Dialogues: Scripts for theatre are not like school plays but are like a live TV show or movie so the power in the conversations need a touch of reality. Each character needs a dialogue which best emotes the entire atmosphere and mainly the plot. Avoid jargons but keep it colloquial. The dialogues also should include hints of emotion and pauses to give it a taste of reality.

The 2 Cs: While you may wonder what the entire 2 Cs is all about? You may remember how each time you plan something it gets disrupted or hindered by something or someone. 2 Cs means conflict and complications. Scripts for theatre involve these two parts as they make the story much more interesting and worth watching.

Attain Climax: A climax is not just the end but acts as a conclusion with a strong message to live. You may wish to leave it incomplete if you have a trilogy but you can still create drama to keep people thinking. Climaxes may include a happy ending while some might end tragically.

So here are few ways you can be a play-writer and give the industry some lovely scripts for theatre.

Our website offers a wide variety of free Theatre Play from the Brazilian author Luciana B. Veit. For more relevant information visit here.

Village Performing Arts Centre performance at the 2011 ADF

How to Get the Best Concert Tickets

It is everyone's desire to get the top seat at a concert. However, these tickets are elusive hence the need to find out ways through which you can find them without too much hassle. Overall, you not only need to know where to look but also have patience because there are certain things that you need to put up to get these tickets.

There are various tips that you need to master in order to be able to find the best concert tickets without having to pay exorbitantly for them. First, you can consider sites like Craigslist among other local forums. This is because, most people usually buy their tickets in advance but experience a change of plan that leaves them with no other option than selling them. As such, you may find these concert tickets at full price or less because those who purchased them do not want to lose all their money. The beauty of these forums is that you will not only find the best tickets but you might enjoy great discounts as well because the people selling them are keen on recovering their money before the convert is held. You will also need to be on the lookout for those people who are out to make a kill by selling extra tickets they purchased at inflated prices. Most importantly, ensure your safety throughout the transaction.

Although it is widely believed that ticket pre-sales are the best way to getting the best concert tickets, this is not always true and as such you need to avoid falling for this hype. In fact, you can only tell whether you will get the best seats during the actual sale so you will do well to wait until this time. Another tip to getting the best concert tickets is by following up on the tickets that are sold out. This is because in some instances, credit card orders may be rejected and the seats are not released for purchase immediately. In addition, some tickets may be initially reserved under the corporate pool to cater for the family, friends and crew of the artist or even company employees, guests as well as executives but they end up being unclaimed. Thus, you can always get the best concert tickets even after being shut out of the initial ticket sale. All you need to do is follow up aggressively, if possible check daily.

Joining online communities for artists you want to see is also another great way of being able to find the best concert tickets. These forums often have message boards where you are guaranteed to find ticket reselling. In most cases, the sellers are not allowed to resell these tickets for more than their face value. Finally, consider having several websites that are dedicated to ticket sales where you can receive first hand information on the best discount and affordable tickets to different concerts, movies and sports events. Most of these sites allow you to compare prices or even conveniently make your ticket purchase on phone. In conclusion, although it is not easy to find the best concert tickets besides pre-sales, you can find them through the tips discussed above.

If you are looking for a reliable ticket vendor go to: http://www.concertticketsplus.com. You will get the best tickets at the best prices.

Bella Living Statue Show Performance Art & Atmospheric Entertainment. Bella Productions LLC.

Jive Dancing - A Modern Take

Dancing is an art that has a big part in the world's culture and history. And the amount of styles and types are endless. Different cultures and different groups have different purposes in mind when they dance. There are cultures that make use of dancing as a form of expression. Others as a part of their spiritual rites and rituals. They believe that dancing is a form of nonverbal communication that can be used to communicate with humans, gods and animals.

It also serves as a social activity for others where etiquette should be observed. Still others may see it as purely for exercise or in a looser social structure where it is an adjunct to meeting members of the opposite sex.

There are many styles of dancing and one of these is jive dancing, originated in the African-American community in the United States. it is a relatively fast dance with a beat of 4/4 which is really an upbeat tempo. Jive is commonly compared to swing dancing because of the movements used but jive is faster. Jive is now named as one of the five Latin dances. Considered the fastest among the five but the easiest to learn.

Jive dancing has 6-beat steps composed of chasse, triple steps and rock steps. It also involves a lot of kicking and knee-bending. A lot of energy is needed in jive dancing and it is very physically demanding. It is also important to keep the feet light while doing the jive dance routines. The technique is just to go with the flow. Even beginners can learn how to dance jive quickly. In dancing jive, there is also a lead so one can always rely on his or her partner to take the lead. It must be said that it's normally the man, as in most forms of dancing, but it can certainly be the female partner.

Jive dancing presents a lot of benefits. As a form of cardiovascular exercise it is excellent. It increases heart rate and can help in losing weight. It can burn up to 400 calories in a 30-minue dance routine.

Aside from this, dancing jive can also be a good form of social activity. If you have a partner, this can help strengthen your relationship. If you are single, this dance can help you meet a lot of prospective partners. Another benefit is that jive dancing can help you boost your confidence.

Learning this dance style will also be very useful in different occasions such as weddings, birthdays and other social events. Given all these great benefits, there are many reasons why people should learn jive dancing.

The Dance of Life Studio will be a great place to kick off your performing arts education.

"Power & Grace School of Performing Arts" Entertainment Reporter Jabari Thomas

Religious Dance

Dancing has long been considered an art form. People express their feelings and thoughts through intricate physical movement and well-choreographed steps. Many modern forms require a partner or a group of artists to beautifully execute and clearly express body movements. And most of the time they need to perform steps which look aesthetically pleasing but indecent to the religious (or to the conservative). Moreover, these dances require costumes that are alluring and sexy to conservative and modest tastes.

Generally, religious dancing is not that distinct in terms of modesty. There are many pantheistic religions that allow costumes and the moves to be bold and daring (it is because a religion is heavily influenced by culture). But people with different cultural backgrounds may respect a specific daring dance, even though they have a solid understanding of indecency.

Judeo-christian dancing is a different matter. Their monotheistic Creator has passed down precepts to avoid evil, so any indecent dance maneuver is prohibited. More over, Judeo-christian dancing exclusively focuses on praising their monothestic god. Christians also wear modest and unique costumes because of this exclusivity.

Judeo-christian historical records of dancing dates back to their pilgrimage to the holy land (i.e. Israel). Miriam -- the sister of the person who was given the God's commandments -- danced with her fellow ladies to celebrate their freedom from Egyptians. This historical record in Judeo-christianity is the basis as to why the dance of their religion requires no men and women to be partnered (or even touch each other). More over, both religions do not allow men and women to dance in a single group. When they dance, men and women have separate circles. Their dance is credited to praising their Lord and not merely to express their feelings and emotions.

Though they have a historical basis for their purpose of dancing, the specific moves are not exactly mentioned. This is where Judeo-christianity is split. Jewish dances changed over time because they adapted the dance motions of other neighboring cultures. Although strict jews still practice the earlier rules.

As for Christians, many of them also adopted other types of dances, such as ballet and breakdancing. But because they do not allow alluring dance manuevers, they developed and restricted dance movements from the discipline ballet and breakdancing (for example). They would learn about the fundamentals of certain dance disciplines, and pick and develop from them modest dance movements that follows the traditional laws of jewish dancing.

All types of dance are taught at Dance of Life Studio.

Dance Effects Performing Arts - A New Level of Entertainment

Unique Christmas Decoration Ideas to Attract Guests

The festival of Christmas is one of the most celebrated occasions and people look forward to its coming with bated breath. To welcome the happy occasion as well as guests in the house, it is imperative to make sure that the home looks festive enough. During this time, people get busy in making sure that the house is spotlessly clean. Also, decorating the entire house is very important during this time. There are various things and accessories that can be used for decoration; Christmas ribbon, flowers and wreathes among other things are used to give a festive feel.

The most important role in Christmas decorations in the house is played by the tree itself. It is a growing trend to use upside down Christmas trees, which involves nailing the tree to the home ceiling upside down after some pagan tradition. Those who opt for the regular ones can decorate the tree in some unique ways to lend an artistic edge. Instead of using the traditional globes and balls on the tree, ribbons can be used. Plain or multicoloured ribbons are available in traditional Christmas colours or even two contrasting colours of solid ribbons can be used. Colours that are not traditional Christmas colours can also be used to lend some uniqueness to the tree.

Instead of putting angel or stars on top, things like teddy bears, floral bouquets or Barbie dolls can be used. You could also go the natural way by opting for nuts, fruits, pine cones and natural looking plants, animals and birds. For putting up tree decorations in Christmas ribbon plays an important part. The trend these days is to hang the decorations using ribbons instead of normal strings.

Colourful and festive ribbons can be used for tying bows around the door knobs in the house. The mirrors, window and even door frames can get a festive touch with the addition of garlands. Christmas bows and garlands can be attached to chandeliers and through those strings of beads can be woven. These beads can dangle down from the chandelier, reflecting light and adding sparkle.

Even the house plants can be decorated and given a festive feel by hanging tiny Christmas ornaments on the plants. The staircase banister can be wrapped with garland, bows and lights. Make the house smell as lovely as it looks; tie some cinnamon sticks in a bundle and place them around the house. You can use ribbons to tie them up and even for hanging them from somewhere. Otherwise, place them in small bowls or baskets.

Deck up the dinner table; tie ribbons to cutlery handles or glass stems. Even the napkins can be tied up with ribbons. Place floating candles in coloured or dyed water. The bowl on the table can have confetti sprinkled around it and twirls of ribbon added for some extra effect as during Christmas ribbon used in the specific festive colours provides some extra colour to the table setting and therefore should be used with abandon.

If you need unique artifice ideas then you can follow Katie Lopez script who is an outstanding writer as well as employee of this company. Now she wants to share her latest crafting method through this article. For more details visit myribbonworld.com.

Ghostline Entertainment - Walh Performing Arts 2010 Montage

Josephine Baker And Her Skirt Of Bananas

Josephine Baker, aka Freda Josephine McDonald, was born on June 3, 1906, and lived a life of poverty in St. Louis, Missouri. There she learned to dance and at the age of 13, went to Broadway with dreams of finding success as a music hall dancer, and accomplished her dreams. Following a move to France in the 1920s, she found more fame and became one of the highest-paid, most popular performers of all time.

In France she met and married Willie Wells, but the marriage lasted a few weeks only. Josephine continued to hone her dance skills with street performances and in clubs and by 1919, she was touring the United States with a comedic group, "Jones Family Band" and "Dixie Steppers".

In 1923, Baker earned a chorus member role in the musical Shuffle Along and she became a hit with audiences with her own brand of comic touch. Soon Josephine found herself performing with Ethel Waters in New York City at the Plantation Club in the play Chocolate Dandies. Again, Josephine quickly became popular with the audiences
She traveled to Paris in 1925, at a time when France was obsessed with exotic things and American jazz. Baker performed at Théâtre des Champs-Elysées. She made an impression by wearing only a feather skirt as she danced with Joe Alex in Danse Sauvage. From the feather skirt to the famed banana skirt the following year, Josephine's career hit a high point as Paris audiences went wild with her performance and her outfit.

Ms Baker's banana skirt, which was literally a skirt made of a string of artificial bananas, went through various stages of development, starting in Paris, circa 1926 and had its final performance in New York circa 1936. Some say that her banana skirt was a personification of a contradictory character Ms. Baker was known for. It brought constant dialectics between the civilized and the savage, between glamor and humor. It offered a childish naiveté and unconscious self-creation that when mixed together created a sexual desire.

She became one of Europe's most famous performers and earned the admiration of many popular figures such as E.E. Cummings, Ernest Hemingway and Pablo Picasso. With over 1,000 marriage proposals she became known as "Black Pearl" and "Black Venus".

Throughout the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and up until her death in 1975, she was active in fighting racism and worked towards equal rights for all of mankind.

Once asked about her scant costumes, Ms. Baker replied "I wasn't really naked, I simply didn't have any clothes on."

Pure Dance is New Zealand's leading ballet and dance shoes store with a full range of costumes and accessories.

We have ballet, ballroom, jazz, Latin, tap and dancewear to suit all ages and styles. Visit our About Us page for more information.

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What Should You Consider When Assessing Different Dance Colleges?

If it has come to the period in your life when you are ready to go to a school of dance then there is nothing more important than choosing the right college. This is a pivotal time in your dancing life. You need to make sure you are at the right college for you personally so that you have the potential to progress your career as far as possible. There is no denying the fact that there is a wealth of fantastic dance colleges all over the world. However, it is not just about finding the best in general, it is about finding one that is going to cater your needs specifically. So, what should you consider when looking for the best dance school for you?

The first thing you need to do is think about where you see yourself in the future. Do you want to be a teacher and own a studio? Do you wish to perform as part of professional dance company? Or, perhaps you can see yourself dancing away on Broadway? Identify your goal and then look for a dance college that coincides with your needs. For instance, if you wish to be a dance teacher then you will obviously need to find a dance college that offers courses with substantial focusing on teaching. Perhaps they will give you the option to take some added business classes. If you are looking to get into the theatre side of things then you will need a course that focuses more on the musical and theatrical side. However, if you want to be part of a professional dance company then technique is more important than ever. You will need rigorous classes that aim for perfection on advanced moves and alike. By having a clear focus in mind you will have a much better chance of finding a course that is 100 per cent relevant to what you want to do.

It is not all about the dancing either. You must consider the location of the college, the facilities it offers and the campus life as well. A lot of people underestimate how important these points are. However, if you are happy in your school life then this will undoubtedly reflect in your dancing and your education. Nonetheless, if you have to travel hours to get to school or you dislike the camp lifestyle then this is going to have a negative impact on your learning experience. Make sure you visit the campus and get a feel for what it is all about. Don't be afraid to talk to other students and seek their opinion. Don't feel like you have to go for the biggest and the grandest school. It is all about what suits you and your personality. If you are someone who copes better in small and more intimate environments then don't go for the biggest dance school in the country. You don't have to be pushed outside your comfort zone if you don't want to, nevertheless this can sometimes be a good thing too.

When finding the perfect dance college for you, you must take into account two key areas; finding the ideal course to fulfil your dreams and finding the ideal college environment to make you happy. Of course you want to make sure the college has a good rating and reputation - but these two points are a given.

http://www.laine-theatre-arts.co.uk/ brings you this article on the aspects you should consider when assessing different dance colleges.

Tim Collins, chairman of Lubbock Entertainment & Performing Arts Association

Get Ready to Salsa Dance

A rhythmic dance in which you have to move your body to the beats of the drums, salsa dance is loved by many and also makes a great workout if you want to burn calories. With fast paced twists, turns and bends, this sensual dance form originated in Cuba.

Doing the footwork and steps
Caribbean, African and Hispanic movements are common with this dance form. Getting the steps and footwork right in Salsa dance is very important. An easy way to do it is to listen to the rhythm and then step in sync with the tune you hear. Don't worry if the beats are really fast, just skip a few of them and go on. Also, take smaller steps when the tempo of the music increases. The aim is to stay in tune with the music. Getting the footwork right is damn easy. Just concentrate on bending the leg and then straightening it. While stepping, lead with the balls of your feet.

The hip movement in salsa dance catches attention immediately. But don't try to shake your hips on your own. The hip movement will flow naturally when you shift your body weight with every step you take. To make the hips look good, just keep them loose, and you can also sway them just a little bit. For example, when you put your right foot out, stick out the right hip also slightly.

Putting a smile on your face and breathing easily will definitely help with the salsa movements. Also, bring the arms into focus, as salsa is not about just hips and legs. Another thing that makes a huge difference is your posture. Make sure that you back is upright, chin is held up and shoulder blade and erect. The head should be facing up or tilted towards the partner. Never look down, towards the ground. To keep your hands within your partner's reach, keep them bent at 90 degrees from the elbows.

Dressing Up
To look great during a Salsa dance routine, you must dress right. As the dance is quite strenuous, chances are high that you will sweat, so it is important to wear fabrics that will soak the sweat. Nylons are a good choice as they will dry very quickly.

Simple tops that are tucked in work best as they allow for easy movements. Avoids tips with buttons or hooks as they might open while you are dancing. Zippers or pull on tops are a great pick. Long sleeves also interfere with movements. Short sleeves are a much better choice.

Another important thing is to wear lightweight fabrics. Heavy fabrics will hold up the dance routine. Well fitted trousers made from delicate fabrics are the right pick. This will make things easier for the lifts and dips in salsa. For the same reason, the fabric should also be stretchable.

Generally hem skirts and dresses that reach till the knees look awesome and also suit salsa moves. Trousers with body hugging tops can also be worn. Heels can be medium to low but not very high. Shoes with smooth soles will also help with salsa moves.

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