World Dance
- Ice Dancers - what do they wear?
- Lambada
- Charkula Dance
- Bomba
- Blog on Alcatraz
- Barn Dance - a lot of fun
- Gurdas Maan - the Bhangra Man
- VLADIMIR VASILIEV
- Egyptian Belly Dance
- Lion Dance
Ice Dancers - what do they wear?
Posted by
Anuradha Muralidharan
Sequins and colorful fabrics makes them sparkle on the floor.
IceDance.com has quite a lot of information on ice dancing, including the kinds of dresses ice dancers wear. Here is some additional information: the athletes wear cheesy outfits, unique to the sport. Dancers on ice need to feel comfortable in their outfits, but they need the clothing to accent their graceful moves and flowing steps. The outfits are designed with this in mind. Women must wear dresses or skirts; pants are not allowed. Men must wear full-length trousers. These outfits mimic the look of ballroom dancers. All the costumes are made of colorful fabrics with sequins and sparkles. If you know of people who create ice dancers' costumes, please do write to me!
Posted by
Anuradha Muralidharan
Lambada is often thought of as "dirty dancing". I saw this video and I was psyched. There is too much grace and rythm for it to be focused only on body gyrations.
I wish I could say that it looked like "dirty dancing", but this particular video on YouTube made my feet to start moving automatically. As I watched the dancers gyrating to this absolutely fascinating beat, believe me, I did not see anything dirty. It seemed like their bodies were swaying like palm trees in the wind under a clear blue sky. Don’t believe me? Go ahead and check it out!
Posted by
Anuradha Muralidharan
A complicated dance form where the women have veils on their faces, billowing skirts and yet manage to balance a huge pyramid like lamp structure on their heads!
Check out some pictures of the Charkula dance here!
Posted by
Anuradha Muralidharan
To know how this dance works, it might make sense to click on the link below. If you have any information on how the Bomba works, feel free to write to me.
Have you watched the Bomba documentary Bomba-Dancing the Drum, produced by Ashley Jamesand Roberta Singer?
Posted by
Anuradha Muralidharan
Add a touch of eroticism to dance, and you have the original Alcatraz!
Just hearing "'Alcatraz" conjures up so many images, from movies to infamous prison escapes (attempts) to triathlons. One of San Francisco's most popular tourist attractions, Alcatraz Island, plopped smack-dab in the middle of San Francisco Bay, was built in 1850 as a military installation and has had many lives since then.
Posted by
Anuradha Muralidharan
Do you want to try your hand at Barn dancing the next time you throw an informal party?
Contra or Barn Dance thrives on high-energy dancing, and the dancers appear to be very much aware of their partners and neighbors. In the U.S., it's expected that everyone will change partners for every dance. Each dance is played at least 15 to 20 times through so that everyone, even in the longest lines, has the opportunity to dance as couple one and couple two. Eye contact is intense! And great fun once you get used to it. You can flirt all you want with your current partner, as it's accepted that it's just for this dance!
Posted by
Anuradha Muralidharan
Gurdas Maan's name is almost synonymous with Bhangra. No wonder he is known as "Bhangra King"
For those of you who have read my Bhangra article and wondered what this is all about, please read about Gurdas Maan the `King of Bhangra'. He really sings well! You'll find his site at www.gurdasmaan.com.
Posted by
Anuradha Muralidharan
Russian ballet dancer Vladimir Vasiliev isn't dancing all that much now, but he has not given up on life. He paints, and his paintings are sought-after.
I loved writing about Vladimir Vasiliev – not only because he is a wonderful dancer, but also for the kind of person he is! I read an interview of him recently where he says that celebrities find it difficult to stay out of the news, and when they are not in the limelight any more they create stories and scandals to get back in. The disappointment of the eclipsed fame can be severe, but in a very down-to-earth fashion, Vasiliev has converted his artistic energy to another passion which took a back seat during his dancing days: painting. Vladimir keeps himself busy with his painting and is levelheaded about the changing spectrum we call life. Thats what I admire about him!
Posted by
Anuradha Muralidharan
Belly Dance has been part of local culture throughout North Africa, the Middle East, and as far east as Iran for centuries.
Belly Dance is exotic to watch, but can it be performed by anybody and everybody, or is it just limited to only some countries? What does it take to be a belly dancer? I found answers to a lot of these questions here.
The benefits of belly dance are both mental and physical. Dancing provides a good cardiovascular workout, and helps increase both flexibility and strength, focusing on the torso or "core muscles", although it also builds leg strength. Many belly dance styles emphasize muscular "isolations", teaching the ability to move various muscles or muscle groups independently. Veil work can also build arm, shoulder and general upper-body strength, and playing the zils can build strength and independence of the fingers. Belly dance is suitable for all ages and body types, and can be as physical as the participant chooses.
The benefits of belly dance are both mental and physical. Dancing provides a good cardiovascular workout, and helps increase both flexibility and strength, focusing on the torso or "core muscles", although it also builds leg strength. Many belly dance styles emphasize muscular "isolations", teaching the ability to move various muscles or muscle groups independently. Veil work can also build arm, shoulder and general upper-body strength, and playing the zils can build strength and independence of the fingers. Belly dance is suitable for all ages and body types, and can be as physical as the participant chooses.
Posted by
Anuradha Muralidharan
It takes Two To Tango but if you watch the Lion Dance you will imagine that it is some giant animal sprinting around. Real fun to watch!
I watched this huge animal – it doesn't look exactly like a lion; more like a mythical lion – prancing around, and I wondered about the dancers inside! They are silent performers hidden behind the costume, and yet they need to keep rhythm with each other to co-ordinate the four legged animal's wild dance. Catch a quick eyeful here, and find out more here.