Harmony in Dance by Sandra Fortuna
Can you describe beautiful, impressive ballroom or Latin dancing in one word? Not such a challenge. The word would be harmony.
In dance, as in other art forms that excite the senses, harmony is the balance and relationship between contrasts: Harmony is the result of different things working together to produce a thing of beauty. There is harmony in nature, in music, in art, in architecture, in athletics and certainly in dance. What 'different' qualities can work together to produce harmony?
I would compare singing as being the closest other art form to dancing. What do singing and dancing have most in common?
Harmony doesn't necessarily require constant and complete cooperation -- it can thrive when it exists set between dynamic, opposing forces. Careful planning for the balance of those forces adds excitement and vitality to any performance. A harmonious performance of any kind, but especially of dancing, is dependent upon planning, preparation and presentation, and at least a touch of discord.
Can you describe beautiful, impressive ballroom or Latin dancing in one word? Not such a challenge. The word would be harmony.
In dance, as in other art forms that excite the senses, harmony is the balance and relationship between contrasts: Harmony is the result of different things working together to produce a thing of beauty. There is harmony in nature, in music, in art, in architecture, in athletics and certainly in dance. What 'different' qualities can work together to produce harmony?
- power vs sensitivity
- straight vs curved or angled
- dimensional vs flat
- intensity vs subtlety
- staccato vs legato
- sympathy vs reaction
- resistance vs compliance
- accelerando vs ritardando
- synchronized vs polyrhythmical
I would compare singing as being the closest other art form to dancing. What do singing and dancing have most in common?
- both are inspired by the music
- both can be in the music, alongside of it, or out of it
- both can follow a melodic line or the percussion
- both can create 'volume' outside the musical line
- both can be interpreted simply as in a 'couple' dancing or a 'duet' singing
- both can be interpreted with grandeur as in a formation team dancing or a choir singing
Harmony doesn't necessarily require constant and complete cooperation -- it can thrive when it exists set between dynamic, opposing forces. Careful planning for the balance of those forces adds excitement and vitality to any performance. A harmonious performance of any kind, but especially of dancing, is dependent upon planning, preparation and presentation, and at least a touch of discord.