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An ephemeral art, dance has a short memory. It also has a rich history. It is important, as a dance artist, to respect, understand and pursue a sense of context. Other art forms take for granted the knowledge of evolved practice that a sense of history imparts to the arts. The study of musical history and theory is integral to learning music. Learning to draw, and looking at changing perspective through the history of art is part of education in the visual arts. And in dance? The understanding that without a literature we have no history, without memory we have no context, is an understanding that is growing in Canada.
Be literate about your art. Being literate about your art form enriches your work. It supports your sense of being involved with a large, dynamic field. It helps embed dance as a significant part of our culture. Know where you are in the evolution of your art form. Read dance writing, dance magazines, dance history, go to see performances, watch dance film and videos, both old and new, see companies which maintain a sense of history through their programming. Discuss performances and works of dance with other dance artists.
Open the door to the past and the future!
Article originally contributed by Carol Anderson
LINKS:
Ballet Tanz
www.ballet-tanz.de/
Dance Collection Danse
www.dcd.ca
Bravo!Canada
www.bravo.ca
TheatreBooks
www.theatrebooks.com
The Dance Insider
www.danceinsider.com/
Dance International magazine
www.danceinternational.org
The Dance Current
www.thedancecurrent.com
Artslynx International Arts Resources/Dance
www.artslynx.org/dance/history.htm
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