Belarus Cultivates New Choreography
Wendy Perron
Article Published in the December 2012 issue of DANCE Magazine
The article talks about a recent international dance competition. The competition is mostly of contestants from former Soviet States, and this year was its 25th anniversary. The article talks about one dancer named Vasiliev, and how he is becoming old compared to more recent, younger dancers. The article both compliments and critiques the choreography of the Belorussian dancers and their mesh of traditional and contemporary styles. The article ends by praising the producers of the show, as well as the many performers, for nurturing the dance scene in the Baltic States.
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This article was very interesting to me, and I looked into it further by watching some of the dances mentioned on line, like Wheel of Life. Overall it enforced my ideas of the artistic lifestyle of Belarus. I enjoyed watching their dances and am now much more interested in Baltic dance than I can say I ever have been in the past.
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This piece is important because it shows the thin line between popular culture and folk style is continually crossed in artistic and creative ways. Belarus has a long history of dance, and to see them continually evolving and progressing their art form is important to their culture and economy. Their dances reminiscent of both the Pava and modern hiphop are intriguing, sophisticated, and uniquely Belorussian.
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