Interpretive Dance

Some people think that interpretive dance isn’t as beautiful and expressive as others. In fact, they pretty much compare it to the IQ’s of professional cheerleaders (pretty mean, but you understand the point). The article states that interpretive dance is meant to tell a story or relay an emotion or meant to express the emotion in the music. Or in other words, an excuse for the dancers to forget everything and just “be-bop” around the stage. (Everything2.com).

I think that these words are very harsh. I that that interpretive dance is very expressive and a beautiful way to show emotions. I think that this article has too much harsh feeling about interpretive dance and has a lot of negativity for something that is so beautiful.

"Interpretive Dance." Everything2.com. 02 Aug 2006 . 2 Apr 2009 .

Jess Hemerly expresses to us how having visuals are becoming a new “literacy” for understanding (Hemerly). He tells about a video directed by Robert Allan Weiss for Stanford’s Department of Chemistry in 1971. The video is still reenacted and shown to students today! It is a mixture of Protein Synthesis and “Jesus Christ Superstar” (Hemerly). He goes on to say that although interpretive dance can be “absurd”, it still seems to make the facts that are hard to learn, stick a little easier (Hemerly).

I enjoyed reading this article. It showed that dance is not only used for expression, but can be useful in teaching difficult topics. If it can help show how photosynthesis works, then it’s obviously doing something right. I’m quite curious to see how the video really does show how photosynthesis works, through an interpretive dance.

Hemerly, Jess. "Visualizations through Interpretive Dance." 21 Apr 2008 1. 2 Apr 2009 .

In this article by Nadia Hava-Robbins, it gives a great definition of what interpretive dance truly is. It states, “dance has always been a form of expression for speaking visually, of joy, love, fear, pain, anger, despair, death, etc” (Hava-Robbins). It tells us how our heart beats in rhythm and that interpretive dance helps the body express itself “rhythmically” (Hava-Robbins). It takes not only talent, but creativity and inspiration to pursue a positive career in dance. You gain awareness of the body, mind, and soul, natural grace, self discipline, self awareness, and self expression (Hava-Robbins).

This article was very helpful to my research. It gave me a great idea of what interpretive dance truly is. it taught me that it isn’t just a silly dance. It shows that it is in fact driven from inspiration. It is an instrument for artistic expression that comes from stories of their own personal lives.

Hava-Robbins, Nadia. "Interpretive Dance." Jan 2002 1-3. 2 Apr 2009 .