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Archive for May, 2009

Tips for Putting on a Theatre Production

Friday, May 29th, 2009

If you love theatres, and you decide that you want to produce a play, the following tips will definitely ease some of the production pains.

First, choose the type of play you want its format. You can choose a family drama, a musical, or any type you like. Should you wish to enact another author’s product, remember to obtain permission from the creator or the publisher, else you will risk of a copyright infringement suit. Choose a play which is simple and has limited number of persons for the first theatre production.

Second, calculate your budget. Then decide whether you want an executive producer to fund the play or you will use your own money to finance the play. If you are an upstart, don’t expect grants to be given.

Third, find yourself a place for the play. This will depend on your budget and what play you choose. Choose space which have good lighting, and let your imagination do the rest. You can also use public parks for outdoor productions. Some community centres can also be used for staging the plays. Although you can choose to use commercial theatres, they are pricier and sometimes are booked one or even two years ahead.

Fourth, decide who will be your key team members. This is the part where you leave your one-man show as writer, director, producer, designer for set and costume and promotions, and start to find other people who may be specialized in these areas to help you out. If you can find a good stage manager who has very good organizational skills, you be helped out immensely in the production.

Fifth, read and reread the script over and over again. Then check what characters and set are needed for you to produce the play. After which, you should cast your play. You can then hold auditions or use people which you already know for it. You may need to approach actors personally if you have are an unknown director.

Finally, you now have your play, place, cast and crew and budget. It is time to start work. Do rehearsals again and again. It is never enough to do your rehearsals. Sometimes the place you rent for the play do not allow for rehearsals, so you need to rent your own space. In such event, you need to identify and locate all equipments and costumes needed for your play. Be careful and don’t use to many props for your play, as they can complicate the actions done during the play.

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The Fun of Dancing

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

We are now living in the era of dancing, whether we would like to acknowledge it or not. Although some dance with two left feet, we have to understand that dancing is significant in our world today because of certain reasons.

First, when we dance, we recognize our freedom. People in some parts of the world do not fully understand what it means to be really free. Dancing in itself is a very good expression of freedom.

Second, dance used in various reality shows now is a very distinct phenomena of our current era. The reality shows are now being televised and also viewed throughout the world. Dancing on stage, in the audience of live people, while at the same time filmed by cameras and then broadcasted throughout the world is also a potential source of great entertainment. Because the show is not edited, all that watch will appreciate the dance on a whole different level.

Third, dancing is a very unique art form that is recognized internationally. It is loved by all people throughout the world as it expresses true human nature. Dancing helps people to explore their imaginations and ideas, and also set their bodies and minds free, while all the way making way for the full manifestation of their potential.

Fourth, when a dancing competition is held, there is international challenge. Almost all participant will attempt to do something new and enjoy themselves doing it. A competition in dancing, will make it much more exciting, and on various levels. All of us who watch can also develop understanding and can also appreciate the dance itself simply because such kind of dance will challenge us, both emotionally and mentally.

Fifth, because dancing is a very excellent way to exercise physically for all, both young and old, none can then argue the benefits of dancing to your health.

Sixth, dancing is currently being brought to new levels. We now witness techniques that show unique performance skills by dancers, while on also enjoying open critique by strict critics. Although we will not be able to comment whether this is a good thing or not, because of such open criticism, dancers skills now develop to an even higher level, an the form of dancing itself is now more refined.

Seventh, dancing comes naturally to some, and is fun to all. Although some people need to work at dancing before they can master it, it is still enjoyable even in the learning process itself.

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Hip Hop Dancing

Friday, May 15th, 2009

Hip Hop dancing is now a culture which is bound through four types of expression: Turntablism, graffiti art, emceeing, and b-boying. Hip Hop started in the early seventies through parties which were held by DJ Kool Herc, b-boying part of Hip Hop has now expanded to cover all kinds of other dance styles.

B-Boying started in Brooklyn, NY in Kool Herc parties. This particular style was created to satisfy a dancer’s “breaking” point. When a breakdown record is used, b-boys and b-girls will get to the dance floor and then dance the “uprock” and “toprock” moves, therefore moving quickly following the beat and having arm movements which allow more momentum and then even more strenuous footwork. In B-Boying, most styles are freestyle, still, when the dancers hit the floor, there will come even more distinctive moves. Some of the particular styles are Six steps, swipes, spins, freezes and CC’s. They now become a more complex and artistic danceform. One of the evolution is the calling of this style of b-boying dance by Breakdancing in the east coast, while the west coast then developed their brand of Hip Hop funk dance.

One type of funk dance called Locking which was created by Don “Campellock” Campbell is very stylish. It is freestyle, however some moves, notable skeeter rabbits, scoobots, and whichaways signify a locking “feel”. Still, a dancer still needs to dance a move using lots of style to be able to lock. This Lock is a basic move and consists of the movement if stopping abruptly with arms in front as if you are riding a bicycle, sitting on one hip and then slightly bending yourself at the waist.

Other parts of this dance is the feeling of being funky. It becomes comical and can contain acrobatic movements such jumping and landing in splits, or leaping a turn in the air to then landing on your knees. Locking itself is alive and well in the Underground Hip Hop Community since its start, while a recent popularity has been detected throughout all Hip Hop fans. Lockers are findable throughout the world.

Another style of funk dance is Popping, which started with Boogaloo Sam and Poppin’ Pete. Popping started as a mix between Locking and The Robot. Although it has many different styles which range from strutting to tutting, boogaloo and others, the main movement is still the hit.

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Multi Disciplined Artists

Friday, May 8th, 2009

It is now no longer the time when an artist concentrates and spent countless hours only to learn the arts and depth of craftsmanship which may have been passed for centuries.

I just read in the current local Newspaper that Joni Mitchell is now doing a Jack of All Trades, creating music and writing lyrics, choreographing on a new dance and writing poetries. Artists now create their own brand of clothing, actors enter into the music industry, create perfume brands and also designer bags.

It is simply like the images from “Happenings” in 1960’s where the culture world is now diffusing. An artist can do anything and be whatever they want. The message sent is that there no longer is a distinct uniqueness, whether cultural or in any other discipline.

It is just like the barriers between countries which are now crumbling, the walls between different trades is now crumbling, and it is not a matter of good or evil. There has always been a goal of universality for arts. It is proven Shakespeare’s art still are loved, is that because violence, sex and comedy do sell, even now.

Still, now there are two main concerns regarding who can work on what in the cultural circus. The first concern is what all artists will need to face, which is the comparison between multi-disciplined art compared to depth of discipline in a particular art. There will be more prestige granted to whoever can do better in a particular discipline. The second concern is the result of lack of focus in our contemporary world.

Artist currently need to find their place in the world, a philosophy in making their creations, and depth of expertise so they can have balance. This is what Joni is doing with her creative life. However, the difficulty with media and popular culture is that because the covering of media of artist somehow indicate that having multi-discipline is more worthwhile than concentrating on just one. Now, a person who crosses the boundaries of one discipline is considered as the norm.

Starting artists will now get more pressure to be able to do everything. They will now try to achieve everything instead of committing to one art at a time and watching their skills develop. Doing this will then make them lose their concentration and ability to create a clear vision for themselves.

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