Language of Movement

As a past English major and current writer, editor, avid reader of poetry, and appreciator of all things literary, I have always loved the language of words. So I guess it's no surprise that my love of words translated to a love of the language of the body, which I discovered through the wide spectrum of Northrop Dance performances I've experienced over the years.

Here is some of the shared vocabulary I've found between the language of words, especially poetry, and the language of movement.

Plot - The classics are all about plot: Giselle, Swan Lake, and Don Quixote are traditional, masterpiece storybook ballets that utilize the language of movement through stories of romance, tragedy, or comedy. Characters and action are the driving forces of the plot, along with our familiarity with these timeless stories.

Abstract - My preference in both dance and poetry are the contemporary works. Here, it's more about the general emotion that the dance or poem evokes, and the art puts more emphasis on the personal experience of each audience member than the traditional viewing.

Lyric - Classic dance is much more lyric than contemporary dance, as is the same with classic poetry or prose compared to today's literature. Specific dance movements flow effortlessly into the next, making the overall performance natural and beautiful. There is also structure and form that ties the movements together.

Imagery - The use of imagery in dance has changed over the years. It's gone from the collective image of the corps de ballet, as we see with the swans in Swan Lake. With modernity, and choreographers such as Martha Graham, minimalist, gorgeous, and avant garde artful costumes and sets became a part of that imagery. Contemporary companies such as Urban Bush Women or Batsheva Dance Company portray imagery through focused movements of individual dancers. Looking to the future, as we saw with Royal Winnipeg Ballet's Wonderland, imagery was aided by the use of technology.

Roots - At our last Performance Preview for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, dancer Tara Birtwhistle talked about how contemporary dance is much more physically rooted in the ground, instead of the lighter movements found in classic dance. This is true with much contemporary poetry, as well. The language of today's poets is often rooted in deeper sounds, and derives from a visercal physicality.

Does your love of dance translate to your love for another art form?

-Melissa Wray, Marketing & Communications Associate

Image credit: Carla Schleicher