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Category: 03-Dancing Wednesday

March 12: Paula Abdul ~ “Opposites Attract”

Published by Betsy R. Marks on March 12, 2014

Okay, so this is another throwback (might be that way for the whole week, at this rate), but Paula Abdul’s dance is infectious and the animation for her performance partners, The Wild Pair (originally credited as MC Skat Kat), the video employs a technique similar to Gene Kelly’s Anchors Aweigh and Invitation to the Dance.

It’s one of my favorite music videos from the ’80s, because of the animation and the dancing.

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February 26: Hollywood Movie Dance Tribute ~ We Can Dance and We Can Neutron Dance

Published by Betsy R. Marks on February 26, 2014

It’s almost time for the Oscars and it’s finally time to post these two “That’s Entertainment” style videos, produced by Robert Jones as loving tributes to dance in the movies. I think there are some key clips Robert missed in these first two takes, and he acknowledges as much in a comment on the second video:

Ive [sic] got about 250 movies/clips that involve dancing and between the two dance tributes I’ve used less than half.  There are so many movies I wanted to work into this one.  A video like this is very time consuming.  I’d love to make another one though.  It’s a lot of fun.

I sure hope he does, because I love the work he did on these two:

and…

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February 19: A tribute to Devo (RIP, Bob Casale, 1952-2014)

Published by Betsy R. Marks on February 19, 2014

Ordinarily, it’s Wednesday and I’d be featuring a video (or more) on the subject of dance. Not today. I almost — *almost* featured a trio of Devo songs for Twofer Tuesday, but I hesitated. Yesterday, I heard that Bob Casale, one of Devo’s founding members, died suddenly of heart failure.

This has already been a hard year, with losing Pete Seeger and Shirley Temple Black among others, but they were both in advanced years. 61 (Casale’s age) is no longer as hugely distant as it once was.

Devo’s music had a major influence on my life, from taste in music to the realization that being different isn’t a bad thing. We’re Through Being Cool could be considered an anthem for some of the counterculture who thought of Devo as inspirational music.

Their brand of nerd rock predated “Weird Al’s” career by a solid four years. He eventually featured their music styling in an original tribute, Dare to be Stupid.

How do these music videos qualify for Dancing Wednesday? Well, if you’d seen me while I was an undergrad at SUNY New Paltz, in the local New Wave club, you wouldn’t have to ask.

The group is probably best known for the song “Whip It” —

— but there are others that I consider to worth including in this list. They follow, in no particular order. If you’re just discovering their music for the first time, I hope you can appreciate the influence they brought to music, especially during New Wave, and beyond as well.

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February 12: Mikhail Baryshnikov & Gregory Hines ~ White Nights

Published by Betsy R. Marks on February 12, 2014

We’re on the run up to the Academy Awards, and we’re in Russia right now for the Olympics. What better reason (aside from watching these two gifted dancers) do I need to feature this clip from White Nights? Why, none at all.

They made it look easy. I know better. 

Celebrating the return of my internet, thanks to that “other” monopoly that made the news last week. Enjoy the first of five posts in the same day.

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February 5: Attraction on Britain’s Got Talent ~ 1st Audition and Final

Published by Betsy R. Marks on February 5, 2014

The nature of viral video is such that you never know what’s going to be popular or when it’s going to hit. Some videos make the rounds multiple times, and others skyrocket in a matter of weeks.

The silhouette dance is a highly specialized form of dance, and Attraction is particularly good at it, considering that each of these videos has well over 5 million hits.

If you haven’t seen the first one go round on your feed, be warned – it’s a sentimental tearjerker of the highest order.

First:

and then:

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January 29: Choreography by Balanchine. Prodigal Son (Parts 1-4)

Published by Betsy R. Marks on January 29, 2014

Today’s highlight, a 1979 performance of George Balanchine’s ballet, “Prodigal Son” in four parts, features Mikhail Baryshnikov in the title role.

My first exposure to his work, in the 1977 film The Turning Point, made me a lifelong fan. I was privileged to see his work live in 2003, when he performed at the Festival of the Arts in Columbia, MD.

I believe this is the first time I’m featuring Baryshnikov’s work, but I guarantee it won’t be the last. His diversity of style, classical and modern, and his on-screen presence places him at the top for his generation of ballet dancers, and in my opinion one of the best ever. Watch for future career highlights throughout the year.

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January 22: Zach Sherwin ~ “Goose MCs” (5th Anniversary of the Miracle on the Hudson)

Published by Betsy R. Marks on January 22, 2014

Dancing Wednesday just got a whole lot more surreal.

Okay. Really? YouTube has EVERYTHING, including “A hip-hop ballet honoring Capt. Chesley Sullenberger and the fifth anniversary of the Miracle on the Hudson.”

I swear. That’s what the clip says. You’ll find the complete lyrics on the video page.

I’ll probably resort to the classics again next week, but with a continuing accumulation of snow that’s cancelling school a second day in  a row, I have every right to be amused and I just love to share.

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January 15: Jason Brown Free Skate 2014 US Figure Skating Championships

Published by Betsy R. Marks on January 15, 2014

This isn’t an official video, so I have no idea how long it will stay up on YouTube, but it’s making the rounds on my Facebook feed and you really need to see it.

At its very best, figure skating is an art form as dramatic as anything you can put on stage, and at 19, Jason Brown is one of the very best I’ve ever seen. Even if you aren’t a fan, I am sure you can still appreciate the hard work that brought him to this moment on the ice.

I’m not generally a fan of sports (unless there’s a bat, floor exercises or ice involved) but I have a weakness for figure skating in particular, as well as dance, and Brown combines the athletic best of both.

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January 8: Baby [Cory] Dancing to Beyonce

Published by Betsy R. Marks on January 8, 2014

Yes, folks, YouTube can be serious thugs when they want to be.

This is not the original 4 million hit viral video posted by Cory’s family, but then, that’s because we can’t see the original here in the US. So I’m offering this substitute instead. Catch it before YouTube takes it down again.

If this 20-month old can get his grove on, what’s stopping you?

(Oh and? Swallow the drink if you’re one of the five people on my feed who hasn’t seen the video yet. The bouncing is nothing compared to his leg moves. Seriously.)

Next week (maybe) we’ll get into some Baryshnikov moves, but hey! They all have to start somewhere, right?

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January 1 (New Year’s Day): Steve Martin & Gregory Hines ~ Fit As A Fiddle

Published by Betsy R. Marks on January 1, 2014

Starting off the New Year in style with my favorite funny man Steve Martin and one of the best there is or was, Gregory Hines.

I would have featured this video during Steve Martin week, but I found it after I’d already compiled all the clips for the week. Which just goes to show, if you wait long enough, you can find enough material for an entire year. And so here’s to the offbeat and unexpected. And to our first Dancing Wednesday!

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