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University Daily Korean Tuesday, March 29, 1960
Ballet Compared To Modern Dance
By Donna Engle
Classical ballet is static and modern dance is improvised according to the artist's mood.
This is the main difference between ballet and modern dance explained by Janet McFarland, Lawrence freshman, in a Daily Kansan interview.
Ballet Steps Traditional
"The basic difference is that classical ballet places limitations on the dancer's movements. The present ballet steps have been handed down from the 17th century," said Janet.
She explained that modern dance has free movement. It consists of hip movements, bending of the elbows, a lot of floor movements and some abstract positions.
Because few ballet companies appear in Kansas, Janet is looking forward to seeing the National Ballet of Canada perform at 8:20 p.m. Thursday at Hoch Auditorium. She has seen the company perform before.
Professional Touch 'Lacking'
"The troupe is typical of what ballet is trying to do but it lacks the professional touch," she commented.
By this she meant that the main dancers give a professional performance, but some of the supporting dancers lack experience.
A private instructor, Janet gives 12 hours of lessons a week at her dance academy. She teaches beginning tap and acrobatics, and beginning and advanced ballet and toe dancing.
She is enrolled in advanced modern dance and beginning tap dancing at KU.
Dancing Gives Poise
Janet feels that dancing is beneficial to students because it gives them poise, good body coordination and an attractive figure.
This belief is reflected in Janet's personality. A trim, supple brunette, she speaks self-confidently and dances with poise.
Janet maintains that ballet is more difficult to learn than modern dance.
"Modern dance requires neither as much talent nor coordination of the body muscles as ballet," she said. "Many people can learn to do modern dance well, but it takes more work to learn ballet."
Janet discussed a third dance: ballet jazz.
Is it a compromise between modern dance and classical ballet, she explained, since all dance stems from ballet.
Ballet jazz, which originated about 1914 in Los Angeles, utilizes all phases of dancing. The dancer wears tennis shoes and dances in a carefree, finger-snapping style.
Janet hummed a few strains from "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" and did a few steps of ballet jazz to illustrate her description of the dance.
But while Janet likes to modern dance, she prefers ballet.
"I think it is prettier," she said, "and I can express myself better through ballet than through any other dance."
8.15 TOMORROW HOCH
P.M. EVENING AUD'T.
KANSAS CITY
PHILHARMONIC
HANS SCHWIEGER, Cond.
VERDI'S "REQUIEM"
4 METROPOLITAN OPERA ARTISTS
300-VOICE K.U. CHORUS Clayton H. Krehbiel, Dir.
— TICKETS —
75c - $1.00 - $1.50 - $2.00 - $2.50
STUDENT UNION FINE ARTS OFFICE BELL'S MUSIC STORE
COMING SOON To KU
THE MARTIN DENNY GROUP
Hoch Auditorium
APRIL 12
8:00 p.m.
Tickets $1.50 Per Person
Blocks of seats are available for this before spring vacation performance
Tickets Will Go on Sale April 4
Buy your tickets at
BELL'S MUSIC STORE STUDENT UNION KIEF'S MUSIC STORE INFORMATION BOOTH
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