This week in class we talked about the performing arts, especially about dance. We focused on the fundamentals of ballet and its influence on modern dance and other art forms. I have done Irish step dancing since I was six and I know that ballet has had an influence on both the style and the techniques over time. The traditionally bent knees in leaps is now a straight leg which extends in one line, the higher the better. When my teacher was competing she cut her hard shoes so that she walk on her toes and was almost disqualified for her "ballet" movements. Now walking, and running on the toes is an essentials movement in steps. Many movements are also influenced and taken from ballet for example a version of the cabriole, called a cross over, and the entrechat which has many slightly different styles in Irish dance. 

we talked a lot about modern dance as well. I have a great appreciation for modern dance as an art. I feel that it is a different type of art than any other dance form in that it expresses an idea or statement. Dance is the expression of feeling and emotion, and in some cases of perfection and reform. It is used to tell stories. But modern dance, at least  originally, expressed something more. Some idea that made the audience think, that left the audience with room to analyze and dig into like a painting does. Even when we watched the clip in class there was so much to say about it, so many different ideas! I really think it is amazing!