Modern Ballet

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This is the style and clothing of modern ballet.
       Ballet is an elegant dance that is performed in theaters throughout the world. Ballet normally tells a story through many unnatural movements. Ballet dancers keep perfect balance throughout their performance as they do slow leaps and seem as if they are floating through the air.  This type of dance is performed on the tip of the toes and involves numerous hours of practice to make the performance perfect. There are three main types of ballet that can be performed, Classical, Modern and neoclassical (Ballet History). The type of ballet that appeals to me the most is modern ballet.     
     Modern ballet is a style of ballet that contains a wider variety of movements that is performed through music and dancers. Modern ballet was first influenced by classical ballet, however it involves much greater movements with not as strict steps. Although modern ballet and classical ballet have a lot in common there are a few major differences as well. Classical ballet appears to be very symmetrical; both sides of the stage are normally balanced with the same number of dancers on each side. Modern ballet does not focus on symmetry it mostly focuses on style. For the most part dancers in classical ballet keep their spines straight. Dancers performing modern ballet curve and twist their upper body (Rosenburg).
      Modern ballet was first discovered by George Balanchine. When Balanchine created modern ballet he made the costumes more basic and created many works without a story line. Balanchine also modified certain elements of ballet movement throughout his dances. All of his works that are considered to be modern ballet focus more on the structure of the movements and music rather than telling a story.  Throughout Balanchine’s career he choreographed many narrative works including one of his most famous works, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Rosenburg).
       Today, modern ballet can be choreographed to current music opposed to classical music.  Female performers wear basic leotards and pointe shoes.  Males wear a tight fitting suite and either dance barefoot or on pointe. Modern ballet movements are often sharp and show contrast and conflict through the performance. For example, instead of a leg extended perfectly into a toe point, a modern ballet dancer may show a bent stiff leg lifted up while performing. Modern ballet performers today take a new twist from the past of classical ballet (Ballet History).
      Modern ballet relates to my life in a few ways. As a child I took ballet and I first learned the basic positions that are taught in classical ballet. As I progressed in classes I enjoyed learning and performing modern pieces rather than classical.  I also get to experience ballet through my little sister. My sister, Sydney is eight years old and is involved in ballet. Over the past year she has had two performances that I have attended. Watching her is a way for me to connect myself back to when I once performed.
      Overall, modern ballet is a very unique form of dance.  Performers communicate to each other and the audience through unnatural body movements. After watching this video of a young girl performing a modern ballet piece the reader will get a better idea of how modern ballet is in many ways more upbeat and fun rather than classical ballet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVF9c5DAnOM&feature=related