Cirque du Soleil: Michael Jackson “The Immortal Tour”

After the “King of Pop’s” untimely death in 2009, the legacy of Michael Jackson still lives on. His musical talent is still popular and recognized throughout the world. There are tribute concerts and merchandise being released in honour of the late star, but the newest tribute to this great talent was created by Cirque du Soleil.  The newest production from the world renowned show is poignantly entitled “The Immortal Tour”. The show is a nostalgic mix of the songs that made Michael Jackson famous, starting from his days with the Jackson 5 all the way to the present, accompanied by all the theatrics and acrobatic elements that fans of the show have come to expect. Cirque du Soleil puts a creative spin on the songs with added dancing and special effects. I was lucky enough to see the show when it came to Hamilton in October. The show is the perfect mix of two iconic brands, Michael Jackson and Cirque du Soleil. I was left in complete awe and wanted to get tickets to the show that weekend in Toronto. There was so much going on and so much to focus on that I could sit through it several times and still not catch every little detail.  It was a show the whole family would enjoy and everyone should get the opportunity to experience it at least once. The show was well put together and a very fitting tribute to the late “King of Pop.” This show will help his legacy live on and allow for many more generations to enjoy his music. 

Dance Moms

So You Think You Can Dance, Dance Life, and Taking the Stage are just a few of the many reality shows based around dancers and their lives. These shows are entertaining, give performers the opportunity to show off their talent, and gain exposure in the industry. That is what those shows are meant to do, but there is a new breed of reality show revolving around dance. This new series is called ‘Dance Moms’ and it shows what goes on behind the scenes of competitive dance. The show follows a group of moms set to make their children stars. The Abbey Lee Dance Studio in Pittsburgh is the setting where all the drama takes place. These mothers are fierce, competitive, and will stop at nothing to have their child be the best. This determination causes tons of drama in the studio and the cameras are there to document all of it.

 There have been criticisms claiming the show is completely staged but I wanted to see it for myself. After watching the show and knowing what goes on behind the scenes at dance competitions, it was easy to conclude that although there are dance moms everywhere, the events were a bit exaggerated. Many of the events that happen in the show are things that I have seen, but they are never taken to extremes like they are in the show. In my opinion, this show is a poor portrayal of the dance world and the parent/adults involved in it. I will admit though that I do continue to follow it for the entertainment factor and it is always good for a laugh. Below are a few clips of the show so you can see for yourself what ‘Dance Moms’ is about!

On the Runway

A few years ago I was lucky enough to be a part of the Verve Dance team at McMaster. Over the years the team has grown into a big success and has become more recognized throughout the McMaster community. This year I have still been able to be involved with the team by helping with organization and choreography. Recently, the team has been involved in different events around the university such as football games and fashion shows.  This weekend Verve participated in the annual DeGroote MBA fashion show. It was a great opportunity for the team because we not only got to participate in an event for a good cause, but it also allowed us to be exposed to a different audience. When we first arrived at the event we were nervous because we did not know what to expect. After meeting the organizers of the event and getting to run through the routine, all those nerves were gone and the performance went smoothly. The show was a great success and we were happy to be a part of it. It was a great way to show how far Verve has come and I hope it continues to grow and thrive. 

Backstage before the show!

Top 10 Dance Movies

In light of the recent Footloose remake I wanted to share a list of my “Top 10 Favourite Dance Movies”. These are just a few of the great movies about dance that are out there. Some of them are a bit dated, but none the less entertaining and worth a watch!

1. Footloose (1984) starring Kevin Bacon 

2. Dirty Dancing (1987) starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey

3. Flashdance (1983) starring Jennifer Beals

 4. Staying Alive (1983) starring John Travolta

5. Fame (1980) starring Eddie Barth, Irene Cara, Lee Curreri, and Laura Dean

6. Center Stage (2000) starring Amanda Schull, Zoë Saldana, and Peter Gallagher

7. A Chorus Line (1985) starring Michael Douglas

8. All that Jazz (1979) written and directed by Bob Fosse

9. Billy Elliot (2000) starring Jamie Bell  

10. Honey (2003) starring Jessica Alba

Expression Through Dance

Dance can be defined as an art form which involves movement of the body in a rhythmic manner. It is often used as a form of expression, social interaction or entertainment. 

     Throughout the 18 years that I have been dancing, I have come to realize how accurate this definition is. When I first started dancing it was just a hobby to keep me occupied, but after a few months I realized how much I actually enjoyed it. Soon I began competing and travelling with my studio. Once I graduated high school I was fortunate enough to find a competitive dance team at university and a job teaching at a studio. Both these activities I am still involved with and it allows me to keep up my technique but also have the chance to explore teaching and choreography. My passion for dance did not stem from the competitive element or my desire to win, it was from having the freedom to express emotion and tell stories through dance. It offered a creative outlet to de-stress and to distract myself when school and work became hectic. I would channel any emotion into the choreography I was given.

     Through choreography, feelings of happiness, sadness, or anger can be conveyed. Adding elements such as music and costumes helps to further the story-telling. Whether dance is used just for personal expression, social interaction or even as entertainment, there is still meaning behind each movement. Before a choreographer even begins choosing movement, there is usually a meaning behind it, whether it be a personal experience/ social issue or even through a piece of music that stirs a certain emotion. It is a popular belief that lyrical and contemporary dance are the only genres that are used to tell a story, but it is really any type of dance that can be used to show emotion. Below are two examples of dance which each tell a different story for their audience.

 Evolution of Dance:

So You Think You Can Dance Contemporary Number:

These videos are two examples of the many ways that dance can be used to tell stories.