Dance/Life: Tulsa trip (WCS party with Maria , Philbrook museum, Argentine Tango party at Coffee Grinder with Irina and Sergio) 7/27-28/2024

 There were two dance events in Tulsa last weekend. So I went. About 2 hour drive one way.

West Coast Swing (WCS) dance community at Tulsa was inviting Maria Bileychik from Dallas for workshops, party and private lessons for the weekend. 

She is an active competitor in WCS dance circuit, and All Star Jack and Jill winner at the Wild Wild Westie 2024 (just 3 weeks ago).

[Their winning dance on YouTube]

[I was watching the contest at the WWW event. I thought the guy was trying to emphasize athleticism. I guess that worked well with judges.]

Her workshops were popular. At the party, she was social dancing with everybody, which was very nice.

I danced 3 songs with her. Such fun dances they were.

All WCS follows at all star and above level can move well and each has a good intuition, so never get caught awkward (unless the lead guy do really stupid things). In addition, each has developed her own character. Some are athletic, others are playful, infusing other dances, and so on.

Usually in partner dance, women are better dancers than men. Or, men can get away with it if he can at least be a solid lead, but competition is tougher for women. (I digress).

I thought her dance was a playful kind, with a lot of tricks she can use according to the song. An interpretative artist-type dancer? She would thrive in Jack and Jill situations.

The next day I stopped by Philbrook art museum, a private mansion of a rich family turned to a public museum on 1939. 

They have eclectic mix of collections; contemporary arts, Egyptian artifacts, religious paintings, Wyeth family paintings, Southwestern Native American arts and pottery, Glassware and sculptures, etc etc.

I thought the museum might be small, but there was a lot to see.

I was particularly impressed by the  "little shepherdess".  When I walked in the room, the painting, especially her face, just popped out. I was spending for, like 30 minutes in front of the painting to figure out why the painting was so impressive to me (no answer yet).

I did not really prepare for the museum visit nor did research beforehand. But it was good to know later that the painting was a featured, famous piece of the museum. I was not alone to be impressed by the painting. The art (or NEN) was strong with it.

I had whole afternoon at the museum before I moved on to a coffee house where my Argentine Tango friends, Irina and Sergio, were teaching beginner class and hosting a milonga.

Irina and Sergio were stage tango dancers. I remember they were great. I had not seen them for quite a while (since 2016?), though. 

It was nice to see them after all these years. They are still good dancers. Their dance looked good, and her dance felt good. Their kid (who was a baby) is now a young musician, playing tango for the party.

There were about 20 people from ballroom dance club, who were new to tango.

Tulsa tango community, too, shrank quite a bit during the covid time. They are hoping to build it back.

 

Building dance community, and having good dance skills and enjoying the dance by our own, are two different businesses. They can go well together (ideally). I hope the ideal be achieved by them.

Nice mini vacation weekend for me.

Dance: Wild Wild Westie 2024 (7/5-7/2024)

 I went to Wild Wild Westie 2024, an West Coast Swing (WCS) event at Hyatt Regency DFW international Airport Hotel, Dallas. The same place as the Holiday Tango event last year.

Instead of reporting event details, following is my thoughts that came up during the event.

WCS is a rapidly evolving dance. I was curious what kind of changes I would observe this year.

I. 

The energy level of the floor was high, with many dancers in their 20's and 30's. Although WCS events have become contest-focused events, there was plenty of time for social dance with willing partners.

So, fun was still there for someone like me who is interested in dancing with anyone, but not interested in doing contest with random partners of varying preparedness for dancing for entertainment/viewing pleasure. Too much of the luck of the draw.

II. 

Social dance was good. I loved it. 

III. 

On the social and contest floor, what I saw was;

(a) swing dance with more 3-dimensional swing orbit, compared with previous (classical?) 2-dimensional swing motion on a linear track/slot, and 

(b) leads with unattractive, overactive frame.

I liked the 3-D swing motions, but not the look of leads with overactive frame, who were about 95% of all leads.

I don't think I'd use overactive frame style any time soon. Not for me. Aesthetic choice.

IV.

Direction of social dance evolution is influenced by a number of factors including; (i) how the dance is taught, (ii) how current champions dance, and (iii) how easy or fun it is to do it.

Regarding (iii), there are highly athletic top pro-followers who can merge gymnastic moves to WCS. Their ways of dancing are unlikely to be done by the most, simply because the moves are too difficult for the most. 

(iv) Another detail is more widespread inclusion of axis-based moves.

I've thought that merging axis-based dances (we see the moves often in Ballet and Tango) with WCS is tricky, because WCS basics are one-two and triple, with moving feet and hovering center.

But moves like one foot spin (taking time to "dance" instead of keep moving) opened the possibility of adopting and merging axis-based moves from Tango or Ballet. (My opinion). 

Moves formerly frowned upon in "classical WCS" (e.g., non-linear slot, showy moves from other dances, intentional disconnect/reconnect) can be done in "modern WCS".

That is wonderful (provided that they are done well and looking good).

[My attire: Gold shoes and shiny shirt]

PS 1

I noticed that some of the moves recently introduced to WCS can be refined. A WCS move in which she stands on an axis in a lunge and he runs around to present her, is basically a layman's version of the same axis, pivot spin of stage Argentine Tango.

 I am hoping to see someone bringing refinements in the move to WCS contests.

PS 2

As my summer project is ballet, I checked out a "modern ballet" class in the event. 

There was an outstanding ballerina. I loved the way she move and thought she was a real deal. In the world of sport (including dances), stars who can attract eyes exist. This kind of awe is what I really love. 

Dance: 2024 Summer project=Ballet

 I picked Ballet as my 2024 Summer project. I am "doing my research on" various but select aspects of the art of Ballet.

When I investigate an art, I do my research with a focus on (a) Basics, (b) the highest outcomes/performances, and (c) how the art is taught (teaching and culture).

For research purpose, I bought some materials (planning to add more as needed).

Books:

For Basics, Children's books:

   Ballet for Beginners (Marie-Laure Medova)

  The Ballet Book; the young performer's guide to classical dance (Bowes and Kain)

  The Ballet Book (Darcy Bussell)

For theories and detailed technical manuals:

   The Cecchetti Method of Classical Ballet: Theory and Technique (Beaumont and Idzikouski)

   Basic Principles of Classical Ballet: Russian Ballet Technique (Agrippina Vaganova)

(Vaganova and Cecchetti were big bosses of Russian and Italian schools of Ballet. Their books would be worth checking out.)

For learning teachers' viewpoints and dance culture

   The Ballet Book: Learning and Appreciating the Secrets of Dance (American Ballet Theater)

   Be the Dance Teacher They Remember: From Dancing to Teaching, Classical Ballet Pedagogy in Practice (Candace Egbert)

   Auditions, Competitions, and Intensives: Why, When, What to Expect (Dawn Crouch)

Others:

There is a Ballet-themed manga "Dance Dance Danceur".

Mangas usually don't work well to pick up techniques and skills, but can be great at learning culture, and are great for enjoying the characters and the story. The manga is ongoing one, but so far is quite enjoyable. I learned "Caught" idea there.

Videos: Performing art can be learned best from performances.

  New York City Ballet workout

  Performance videos in YouTube, both classical (Tchaikovsky etc) and contemporary (Bejart, Polunin). Research can be a numbers game.

I understood a few points, including that (a) leg turnout is a critical "body building" for Ballet, (b) the leg turnout allows clean extended lines, balance, and leg motions from the hips characteristic to Ballet, (c) when combined with foot styling and pointe shoes, Ballet dancers can really extend their limb lines for a theatrical effect, and (d) great number of Ballet moves are built on the basic Five positions.

That would mean, I will have to work on the five positions and basics first, until I can do them clean on Bar (with support) and on center of the floor (without support).

 Hence, I set my summer project goal for just that; clean five positions and basic moves.

 My current turnout is about 150 degree. While I work on turnout, I'd also pay attention to leg lines in straight and in bent positions (plie/demi-plie).

Ballet poses are highly influenced by natural body type and built-in anatomy. I acknowledge my genetics and anatomy. 

It may sound strange but I see some similarities to body building. We all got genetics and unique body to work with. Much like going to gym and lift to build muscles, after practicing the art, I'd want to see some visible difference in my movements.

Arabesque is one of my "nice to have" Ballet poses. On trial, the pose was not easy for me. I can lift a leg to 45 degree. After engaging back muscle, I can take it up to 90 degree (close to parallel to the floor). But Mrs. Vaganova says "no less than 90 degree". I'll see how I can progress from there.

What I am not going to do for this summer project is to be too ambitious.

No injury-prone moves like Polunin-style high leap (might try in swimming pool, though). No pointe shoes or tutu (they are for girls anyway). No joining Summer camp by professional ballet (OKC Ballet is having a workshop for adult, but no).

While I learn the theories, practice the basic moves, and watch impressive performances, I'll have better appreciation for the art of Ballet. 

That is the outcome I am aiming at for this summer project.

To be honest, Ballet dancers do not always make great social partner dancers (by social partner dance, I mean something like ballroom and party Latins, not Pas de deux). 

Ballet dancers are great at "ability and techniques" to move their own body. But "interactive and improvisational" social partner dance skills are not central to the art of Ballet, it seems, and that can come as a weakness. "Interactive and improvisational" belong to a different domain of dancing.

Of course there are all around great dancers among ballet pros. As trained athletes, they are not "regular people" at all.

  

 

Dance/Science: 6/1 WCS workshop and dance with Keerigan Rudd and Felicia Hoeppner; 6/10 Summer volunteer medical student arrives

 OKC swing dance club is mostly social dance club. But there are a few dancers who actively go to West Coast Swing (WCS) events for competition.

Glenda is one of such active competitors in the club in the Masters category. When I saw her dance at the last year's Wild Wild Westie event, I thought she was working on precise foot placement, which was visible from a distance. I guessed someone taught her that for competitive edge (I may be wrong).

What dancers work on is going to show.

Glenda invited Keerigan Rudd and Felicia Hoeppner from Texas for WCS workshops and dance. They are up-and-coming competitors.

WCS styling has changed a lot in 2010's, from more upright slotted dance to the "modern WCS" with influences from freestyle/zouk/fusion/blues, using active frame and more contact/leading points.

Regardless of styles, there are good dances as well as poorly done dances. 

Social dances evolve and styles change. But good dance/poorly done dance are a matter of execution, which is heavily dependent on each of the dance couple.

That said, Keerigan and Felicia are users of the "modern WCS" style. As not many people around here are using the style, I was curious.

And the dance night was fun. There demo was good with clean lines, and they both had good feel/energy flow in social dancing ( I happened to dance with both). No wonder they are "up-and-coming" in the WCS competition ladders.

Actually, a part of my ways of having fun in social dance is to appreciate the dancer's feel and their ways of "care" for the dance. Even better if the partner knows how to make the dance look good. 

They had good "care" and energy flow in their dances. I liked it.

And the WCS dance night was 11 days ago already. 

Starting this week (6/10-), we are working with a volunteer medical student for summer research activities.

Students in early career come in different degrees of preparedness. But he is pretty good (or so far so good).

When we take students, we assign a (part of a bigger) project that can get possibly published in the future. We use a "buddy system", so that he is not going to be left alone. I've even given the student an authorship when his/her results make it in the manuscript as a figure. That way, summer volunteer research may become something tangible that can help their career move.

He'll be around for the next 8 weeks. We'll find out how it would go this year.