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International Dance Day: Why teenagers bond with different forms of dance
While there are many youngsters who pursue classical dance with zeal and determination, there are also those who switch routes for various reasons – and succeed admirably.
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Chennai
Sixteen-year-old Mia Abraham is a champion ballet dancer in the city, most recently winning honours in Malaysia at the Asia-Pacific dance contest. The teenager says that she learnt classical dance at first inspired by her mom and sister who are both exponents – but didn’t quite enjoy it and switched to ballet. “I used to watch people dancing on TV and loved the style, the fancy costume, and so on. That really made me want to pursue it wholeheartedly. Today, I have finished my third grade and apart from my accomplishments, it’s an incredible source of relaxation for me whenever I’m stressed out as well.”
Similarly, double winner of popular reality dance show Jodi Number One (both Junior and Senior versions) Gabriella Natalie Charlton says that she never really had proper training. “I won the first contest when I was 9, and the senior one four years later. I just used to join summer camps and workshops to practise, and that’s when I got on the show. It was pretty easy for me to dance to different genres during the course of the season.”
After she won, the prodigy whose forte was hip-hop, says she had to deal with multiple fan pages and requests from ‘fans’ who followed her performances. “It is nice to be famous I guess, but there is a downside to her. Someone even runs a Facebook page in my name and people think it’s me posting!” says Gabriella, who is now 18.
She adds that while it wasn’t easy to participate, other dancers do look at her career and believe competing in shows is a shortcut to fame. “While it does present an opportunity, nothing can be achieved without serious passion,” she says.
Choose your style
While jazz, hip-hop and contemporary are the most popular styles of dance among kids and teenagers, here are some other new-age genres that has made its way into the city scene
Samba: Samba is a lively Brazilian dance form set to music of the same name. It came from West Africa. The dance is characterized by rapid, rhythmic steps and swaying and rocking motions. It was initially performed solo but later became a social dance for partners.
Tap: Tap is a form of dance that is symbolised by the sound of shoes against the floor. The sound is produced by specially designed shoes with metal plates on the heel and toe.
Ballet: Ballet is a dance form characterised by graceful movements. It is a highly technical dance form with its own vocabulary and originated in the 15th century in renaissance Italy. It is a theatrical dance combined with other elements like music, costumes and stage scenery.
Bachata: Bachata is a popular dance that has its origins in the Dominican Republic. It is associated with Bachata music. Bachata dance does not include complex turns and patterns. Dancers keep their knees bent throughout to promote hip motion.
Dancehall: Dancehall style originated after the Jamaican musical style of the same name. The moves in dancehall are gritty and energetic. It is a catchy, street-style form of dance that emphasises attitude and energy more than technique. It is ideal for parties.
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