Phantom of the Opera

There were very many art disciplines presented in this movie, mainly because the story itself focuses around a large group of artistic people who work together. Some of the art forms that are shown are 1) singing 2) ballet 3) music (instrumental) and 4) art (back-drops etc).
Many things would be particular about the life of a dancer at the Paris Opera Ballet in the 19th century. The students would start dancing with that program at a very young age (as young as three.) They would be taken from their parents, and live in the school itself. During the day, they would attend a variety of classes from different instructors. Their schedules would be strictly adhered to, as to when they attend what class, when they are allowed to eat, and when they are allowed to spend time outside the classroom. The original building where the school was located burned down in the 1700s, and they relocated to a different building.
When I was studying with the Royal Academy of Dance (based in England) my instructor showed us a DVD of the Paris Opera Ballet School to inspire us as a class. This particular school was very well known (as well as the Kirov Academy in Russia) as one of the top schools that turned out the best dancers. The discipline that these children were expected to have at such a young age astounded the world. They were the best.

Entry #7

Theater Diagram- Proscenium Stage

1. Proscenium
2. Built Piece
3. Off Stage
4. Curtain
5. Setting Line/Apron
6.Auditorium
7.Border

Entry #6

Why do people dance? Oh geez. Asking me this question is like asking me "why do people breathe?" and expecting an answer other than "because they just do." When people ask me why I dance I have no other answer other than- I have to. It is as much a part of me as breathing. I couldn't not dance if I wanted to.
When I look back on my life, I remember being two years old and trying to follow my older sister into her dance class. Because I was so young, my teacher would take me into the back hallway before I was able to sign up for classes, and she would ask me to do simple things. I still remember to this day her asking me to do grands battements. And I would do them, in my little shiny white Keds. To me dance is something I do when I'm deliriously happy, devastatingly sad, or feeling like I need something to pick me up. I cry when I dance, I laugh, I get frustrated and I feel invigorated. Dance is so much a part of me that I couldn't imagine not being a dancer. I always knew that I wanted to be a dancer. In my first ballet class (I was three when I started taking) my teacher would give us time at the end of the class to dance out whatever we wanted to be. Most little girls wanted to be butterflies or princesses. And my answer every single time was that I wanted to be a ballet dancer.
Last year I took an improvisation class and in a discussion that we had during this class, my teacher asked us why people dance, and why do we identify ourselves as dancers before humans when we were humans first. And as I thought about it I realized that I was only a human for two years longer than I've been a dancer.
I have to dance.

Entry #5

Every time I go through the Horseshoe (I run through there a lot) I always look for Rutledge College. It is beautiful, and it is the oldest building on campus (...when I was a freshman I had to ask the then student body president what the oldest building on campus was...believe me I never got over that...) It is such a beautiful building. There are columns supporting the entrance to the building, which give the building a strong look. There is molding at the top of the building, which is white and gives the building a polished finished look. The color of the facade of the building is a gentle peachy-pink color, which is warm and inviting. I'm from Columbia, and the Horseshoe has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, but knowing that when I stand in front of Rutledge that I'm standing in front of some history.

Entry #4

I went to see Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky. It was an incredible story for me, because as a dancer and all around girly-girl I knew the stories of both Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky very well. But I never knew that these two people's lives were intertwined. Both of these people had incredible talent, and both were condemned as being too modern.

The story was a little slow at times. I was fascinated because I love Stravinsky and know his work very well, and of course who doesn't love Chanel? I am also very familiar with Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes. I don't know very much about movies but I really did enjoy this movie. I hope at some point I'll be able to sit down and watch this movie again when I get the chance.

Entry #3

During class today we were given time to go downstairs and peruse the gallery. The artworks that were on display in this particular exhibition were truly amazing. Each one was different but at the same time they seemed connected, they seemed to be cohesive to each other.

As I was walking, many of the paintings caught my eye, but there was one in particular that I found very fascinating. I realized that it must be because, as a dancer, I have a built in fascination with the human body. This painting looked like a body in movement, and I thought that it was really beautiful. It reminded me of some of the exercises that we do in some of our movement or improvisation classes, because it looks like a spiral. The painting is very primal, the colors almost make the painting look as though it was created from clay. It was a very beautiful painting.

This painting is by Laura Ferguson. It's called Twisting Figure. It was created by mixing oil paint with bronze powders, giving it a very textured look (which is what reminded me of clay). The painting focuses closely on the flesh and muscle of the subject. The colors are muted, and natural, giving the painting an earthy look.

Overall I liked this piece because it seems so natural. The twist of the body and the colors bring the whole painting to life in a way that really captures the onlooker.

Entry #2- Aesthetics

What are aesthetics? That's not a question that I usually ask my self. Or not consciously. But I think that we all have moments when we wish that we could capture what we are seeing and have it forever. And I think in those moments we define what aesthetic is to us. Something that, even subconsciously, gives us pleasure to look at.
There are four domains of creativity:
1. Fluency- When you're coming up with different ideas, fluency is the ability to come up with many different ideas
2. Flexibility- Flexibility is the ability to move quickly from one idea to another, from different perspectives
3. Originality- The ability to think of something "first," that nobody else has thought of
4. Elaboration- The ability to add to ideas to improve them
I had a practical experience that turned into an aesthetic experience a few weekends ago. I was riding in the car, which is a mundane experience usually. I was at the military base where my fiance is stationed, and I was riding in the back of his truck out in the country. It was a really beautiful evening because it was cool and not too humid, even though it had been raining on and off all day long. When I glanced up I saw a rainbow, which was absolutely breathtaking. The way that it was such a simple thing that was so beautiful none the less was an incredible experience. Not only was I able to see the rainbow, I could also see the reflection of the rainbow as well. The colors of the rainbow were so pure and so clear, that even when I'd taken several pictures, I wasn't happy with they way they looked. The pictures did not do justice to the beauty of the rainbow in anyway.