Ballet or Contemporary ?

Hodders

Hodders

Hodders

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In a moment of weakness I agreed to watch the final of "so you think you can dance" with my wife. Most of it was really meh but one routine was just brilliant.

I mentioned this to our neighbour when we were dropping our respective kids off at nursery this morning and she said that any ballet is better than any contemporary (she used to do loads of ballet so is very biased).

So which do you prefer ? To me the 1st option just looks well silly.

1 - This

Or 2 - This
 
Can't see the videos (work block) - but your neighbour is just exhibiting snobbery in the same manner as someone putting classical music above all contemporary styles.

Mind you, all dance that isn't contemporary isn't necessarily ballet. There's folk dance, swing dance, not to mention tribal dances etc...
 
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I think that's a pretty poor ballet routine that you have picked out there.

I don't really know anything about dance, but enjoy watching all forms - and quite enjoyed the programme in hand, though I missed quite a lot of it (what with it being on the best night of the week ;)).
The way I understand it is contemporary dance brings a lot of different styles together and amalgamates them into one flowing piece.
Due to this, it would be easy to say it is better as it has the best parts of lots of different things instead of just the best (and thus not so best) parts of one - You wouldn't make a wonderful chocolate cake by using the best flour/sugar/eggs but then buy the worst chocolate, would you?
 
The ballet would be my personal preference. I recently read about some of the sacrifices they make to become ballet dancers :eek: plus, Darcy Bussell <3.
 
I personally find choreography of large groups the most fascinating to watch - groups like Diversity really appeal because of that, as do big show-numbers in musicals (esp when it's difficult jazz stuff like Chicago can be)...

...in contrast to that however, there was this wonderful dance I saw online which appeared to be in a circus ring, one of the most passionate things I've seen in ages...

Ah, here's a link, though I think better quality offerings of the same thing can be found:
 
sara said:
I personally find choreography of large groups the most fascinating to watch - groups like Diversity really appeal because of that, as do big show-numbers in musicals (esp when it's difficult jazz stuff like Chicago can be)...

...in contrast to that however, there was this wonderful dance I saw online which appeared to be in a circus ring, one of the most passionate things I've seen in ages...

Ah, here's a link, though I think better quality offerings of the same thing can be found:
Click to expand...

That's beautiful.
 
To be honest I prefer ballet.

I've never really been that interested but when I was in St. Petersburg I saw the Mariinsky (formerly the Kirov) Ballet company perform Swan Lake, the professionalism of the dancers is incredible, you can tell they have dedicated their life to the discipline. It really did blow me away and I was of the impression that it was a bit namby pamby until that point :p
 
Without watching the videos I tend to prefer ballet because I find it easier to follow. Contemporary can often be a bit leftfield and often I can't work out what's going on. My ex is a ballerina and now dances contemporary. She said you sort of grow into it.
 
Ballet has some impressive technical skill but I could probably relate more to the contemporary. Depends what you're after I suppose.
 
I'm not really a fan of dance but there is something very entrancing about ballet. I don't like the style of the second video in the OP, to me that's just not dance at all. I prefer when the choreography of a dance really brings out the theme rather than just pretty moves that fit to the music. Slightly different example since it's on ice but it is ice dance, I thought this was the best original dance at the Olympics this weekend -
 
Vixen said:
I don't like the style of the second video in the OP, to me that's just not dance at all.
Click to expand...

Agreed, second video in OP is shocking.

I think I'd have to prefer ballet because its better to watch (I think). Although I'm not a huge dance fan.
 
I realise this is a bit niche - but it's a lovely eccentric routine - you can tell which bits are difficult as the entire audience will also be lindy hoppers who will scream when something's impressive :D

 
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