A Time to Dance

Hello, I'm Martha Myers, and I'd like to introduce you to this young lady, and the art she represents, the art of dance. It's an art that is as fresh as the dance you'll see tomorrow, and as old as these words from Ecclesiastes. To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven, a time to be born, a time to love, a time to die, and a time to dance. When we hear a rhythm like this, our feet go, our fingers tap, we want a dance. When people are happy or delighted, they will spontaneously break a movement. Dance for most of us, whether we're watching or participating, as an eternal and irresistible appeal.

We can easily understand and enjoy the kind of dancing scene here, and feel that we're just a little coaching, and of course, sufficient energy we could get up and join in. Dance is an art form has come from social and folk dance, and the wonderful variety of common dances of people as we see them here. The dancing up a store is not the only way to join in. We can participate in the excitement of dance in another way, a way that leaves beyond finger tapping and foot beating, to the pleasure of understanding and responding to dance as an audience. In this first of a series of nine programs on the art of dance, we will look at the three major kinds or styles of dance, most frequently seen when we go to a dance performance, ballet, modern dance, and ethnic dance. On future programs, each of these three styles of dance will be further explored through discussions without standing dance artists, and performance of representative works. Through these performances, we will see why the human race has been a dancing race, from

the most ancient times in every corner of the world. For early man, dance was a weapon, a medicine, a form of magic. In this prehistoric cave drawing, we see performed some wonderful and mysterious right. In the Bible, we read that King David danced before the Lord with all his might, and in an astic hymn of the second century, we see proclaimed that whosoever dances, no it's not the way of life. The Egyptians danced before their sacred idols, and here we see Egyptian maidens doing a version of the can can 5,000 years ago, not to entertain an audience relaxing from a day's labor, but to induce the corn to grow taller. The Babylonians danced in their temples and the Greeks in their festivals. The Greeks considered dance an essential part of the education of their youth, and their philosophy, socrates, ranked dance among the most important branches of learning.

For primitive tribes today, dance is an important and vital part of their lives, a means of power. They are sure success in the hunter and war, by dancing in imitation of the animal's soul, or the battle they hope to win. Among some primitive tribes today, a man may ask of another, not what is your name, but what do you dance? A tribal dispute may be settled by a contest between the greatest dancers of two tribes, rather than by war. These costumes remind us of the traditional ruffle tutus seen in ballet. They suggest something of the universal community of dance. In the east, some of the gods themselves are dancers, such as the Lord Shiva, or hear the god Krishna.

Throughout the east, dance developed into a beautiful and complex ritual art, in worship and honor of the gods. Each of the movements and gestures we see here in Balinese dance, are in strict accordance with age-old rules that govern this art, which is for the people of Bali, both their dance and their theater. A prince of the island has explained that you must work and walk like a Balinese before you can dance like them. They are people noted for the beauty of their movement. The tradition of these various eastern dance arts has been maintained for thousands of years as we see them practiced here by Balinese girls trained and dedicated from childhood to the art of dance. To us of the west, it is perhaps an unusual feature that's such an important and symbolic aspect of a people's culture should be entrusted to such young people. Although European dance had its beginnings, too, in religious ritual, the major dance forms that we know today are not nearly so ancient as those of eastern cultures, such

as the Balinese. And they come from more secular sources, such as folk dance, social dance, and the entertainments of the great European courts. I think immediately of an exciting example in the marvelous art of Spanish dance. A dance that still has the fiery energy of gypsies, the sounds and brilliant color of the folk dance forms of Spain, and which comes from provinces with romantic names like Andalusia. Here we see a light and charming dance, typical of the Spanish and French-Basque provinces, and many of the steps familiar in ballet have come from the Basque dance. And as even retained its name, the Parabasque. This dance is titled a reverent theo or reverence. Danced by men, it's a salute to the authorities on the occasion of its performance. Thank you very much for your time, and thank you very much for your time, and thank you very, very much for your time, and thank you very much for your time, and thank you very much for your time, and thank you very much for your time, and thank you very much for your time, and thank you very much for your time, and thank you very much for your time, and thank you very much for your time, and thank you very much for your time, and thank you very much for your time, and thank you very much for your time, and thank you very much for your time, and thank you very much for your time, and thank you very much for your time, and thank you very much for your time, and thank you very much for your time, and thank you very much for your time, and thank you very much for your time, and thank you very much for your time, and thank you very much for your time, and thank you very much for your time, and thank you very much for your time, and thank you very

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This art form has many moves, and the uninhibited fury of the flamenco with which we may be most familiar is only one of its several styles. With these dramatic ingredients, the rhythms of heelbeats, castonets, guitar, the proud posture of the body, the decorative gestures of the hands, gifted Spanish artists have created valid and moving dances for theater. This is one of the most popular dance moves in the history of art. This is one of the most popular dance moves in the history of art. This is one of the most popular dance moves

in the history of art. This is one of the most popular dance moves in the history of art. This is one of the most popular dance moves in the history of art. This is one of the most popular dance moves in the history of art. This is one of the most popular dance moves in the history of art. This is one of the most popular dance moves in the history of art. This is one of the most popular dance moves in the history of art. And this is one of the most popular dance moves in the history of art. This is one of the most popular dance moves in the history of art. This is a flamingo dance from the province of Andalusia performed by a minute Vargas. This is a flamingo dance from the province of Andalusia performed by a minute Vargas. It's a dance on an age old theme The Love Triangle. I don't know what I'm going to do, I don't know what I'm going to do, I don't know what I'm going to do, I don't know what I'm going to do, I don't know what I'm going to do, I don't know what I'm going to do, I don't know what I'm going to do, I don't know what I'm going to do, I don't know what I'm going to do, I don't know what I'm going to do, I don't know what I'm going to do, I don't know what I'm going to do, I don't know what I'm going to do, I don't know what I'm going to do, I don't know what I'm going to do, I don't know what I'm going to do, I don't know what I'm going to do, I don't know what I'm going to do, I don't know what I'm going to do, I don't know what I'm going to do, I don't

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can do, I know what I'm going to do, I know what I'm good. Just as the rhythms and sounds of Spanish dance speak of a Latin country and the quick emotions of gypsies, so ballet invites us to the elegant castle halls of Renaissance Europe where this art began.

Folk dance has contributed many of the virtuoso steps to ballet, but its formal laws and aesthetic ideals reflect the social decorum and dances of the aristocracy. As we watch Melissa Hayden and Jack Dambois dance these courtly steps, we can almost hear some solemn gentlemen of the 17th century saying, the art of dancing has ever been acknowledged to be one of the most valuable and useful arts for nobles. Actually these steps are a modification of those used in the opening of the part of the balance scene version of the Nutcracker Ballet. When performed in 18th century costumes, they take us back to the pre-classic dances enjoyed by the couriers of that time. Within these early dances, they be found to the poor fathers of steps familiar in ballet today. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now.

Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now.

Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now.

Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now.

Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now.

Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now.

Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. The dances we've seen in these few minutes come from a vermourvellous variety of sources, from tribal rights, religious ritual, folk and court dances. But dance, whether it is a folk expression or a highly developed art, reflects our social attitudes and customs, our individual way of moving. The style of modern dance which is developed in America in this century is typical of the attitudes and ideals of the movement of a freedom-loving democratic people. In this modern dance called Strange Hero, Daniel Negren has taken his image one kind of American hero, the sharp-shooting tough guy of the city underworld. His dance is a satirical comment on the kind of hoodlum we read up in the newspaper and see on television.

Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now.

Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now.

Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. Steps in the beautiful duet from the Nutcracker Ballet which we'll see now. The dancer standing here seems worlds apart from the jazzy modern movement we've just seen. And yet she seems to symbolize something about dance and the dancer.

She looks as if she was simply waiting at first glance, almost sleeping on her feet. Yet the pose of her body shows that if the music started, she would come vibrant at life. What she seems to symbolize is that when not dancing, life temporarily stops for the dancer because for her living and dancing are one and the same thing. This is perhaps what the sculptor de gas or in this young dancer. Some people spend their lives in thought and find the importance and meaning of life in that activity. Others find their purpose in bringing about changes, social, economic or moral, in persuasion on a grand scale. But for the dancer, much of the meaning of life itself is found in the activity of dancing. The magic of dance has affected man since the earliest time and it's a magic in which we can still share today as we understand and enjoy this unique and appealing and expressive art. This is the magic of dance.

It's a magic of dance. It's a magic of dance. It's a magic of dance. It's a magic of dance. It's a magic of dance. It's a magic of dance. It's a magic of dance. It's a magic of dance. Thank you.