Chair Dance: Expressionism, Post Modernism, and Popular Culture

[Passionaria]

Originally Posted by Cyclopea

Chair Dancing as a post modern art form has crossed the fine art/pop culture divide to become the most widespread intersection between high and low culture in the current dance landscape.

What specific qualities contained in the Chair Dancing genre contribute to its status as a treasured art as well as a popular amateur pastime?

Is prop-based or seated dance an inferior or lesser performance of free movement?

Can expressive and classical dance intersect in the choreography of the Chair Dance?

Can Chair Dancing include narrative structure, and if so, how?


These are just a few starter questions open for Chair Dancing discussion.
Whether you are a professional dancer, an aficionado, a movement theoretician, a chairmaker or an amateur Chair Dance practitioner this is the thread for all things Chair Dance. All thoughts, opinions, reflections and links are welcome here.

YouTube- BEST CHAIR DANCE

YouTube- chair dance

Cyclopea,
Interesting questions. This is the first chair dance I have watched outside of Demi Moore in Striptease(which was stunning), but I would be happy to share regarding this video.

From experiencing this piece I think the popularity may come from the dancer having an inanimate object to relate to, emotionally. In the first video rather than relating to open space he could play off the chair, which asks nothing in return, as another dancer would demand. So his emotions are amplified, yet it's all about what the dancer is feeling. Great tool if you ask me. It adds another layer of concrete space, to play with.This man is a classically trained dancer, and he used the chair to tell his story. His technique is beautiful, especially his fluidity, that is what made the dance. His ability to express what he was feeling juxtaposed against the audiences preconceived notions of the chair brought clarity in my opinion. As a phenomenon???? I don't get it, it's a prop.

When I watch a dancer, any dancer even in clubs, I want to see what they are feeling. To me dance is a language of non verbal communication. So can they communicate? Do they believe in what they are saying? I can overlook technique if these qualities are present. If there is music can they let it into their soul and use their body as an expression of what they feel? Or are they just moving their body in dictated choreography and style? I can watch a dancer that has impeccable technique, and feel nothing other than appreciation of their training. And another, that may have no training at all, and get very excited about their dance. A good example to me is the movie Dance with me (I think) with Cheyanne and Vanessa Williams. She has impeccable technique and feeling, yet Cheyanne is a much better dancer in my opinion, because she never let's go and gives herself completely, so I feel cheated by her performance. When all the elements come together with impeccable technique, that is magic, and it has nothing to do with props.

What specific qualities contained in the Chair Dancing genre contribute to its status as a treasured art as well as a popular amateur pastime?

I don''t mean to be offensive, but I can't see this form of dance as a "treasured art", any more than clip art can be compared to Raphael.They both are born of line and pen, but their place place in reality is worlds apart. Maybe that is your point?????

Interesting subject Cyclopea, I appreciate the opportunity to have some intellectual repartee on line! Thanks.

Passionaria