So first you should probably know a little about me. I'm obsessed with dance! Ha, could you tell at all? So I was thinking about my favorite art class and how we had to do this awesome website... and the idea came to me... to incorporate dance into my awesome webpage. Don't leave yet, I mean, I know everyone doesn't like dance... but give it a chance! I found some pretty cool paintings that will hopefully help you to appreciate it in some way, while also appreciating art! Crazy! So I decided on art and psychological expression. I thought to myself, dance is an art, and being a dancer and all I understand the psychological aspect of the dance itself. Dance is a very physical art, but many people do not know what all goes on in a dancer's mind. A true dancer has so much passion and love for the dance, it is constantly on their mind and in their heart. The mental aspect of a dancer is actually more important than the physical. If a dancer does not completely live for the dance and feel it in their soul, an audience can tell. A good dancer takes all of their inside love, energy, desires, passion, fears, hopes, failures, and dreams and dances for the pure love and joy of the liberating experience of being on stage. A true dancer courageously bears their naked soul, opening up to the world. Let me tell you dance is hard, harder than football or any sport for that matter. It challenges you to use every muscle, to reach further, to strain more, to think more than anything. Not many people make it in dance because it is a constant internicene struggle. You get rejected, you fall, you tear your feet apart until they're raw, you get told time and time again you did this wrong or that wrong, or that you are not quite good enough. However, true dancers fight through all the hardships, and when you watch them dance you can tell. They are one with the movements and the music, and sometimes it is hard to tell if they will ever stop reaching. I guess I just want to share my passion with whoever feels like looking at this site. The paintings I found represent these emotions and hardships dancers go through... but they make them look so beautiful! So hopefully after looking through my page you will fully appreciate the true beauty of dance, and see some awesome art!
The first picture I picked out is called the Ballerina Scene by Lenore Schenk. I think this is one of the most beautiful paintings I've ever seen because the artist really shows a dancer's emotions and feelings. It shows the mental pain and frustrations of the dancer, but by using the light, soft colors it conveys the pure and gentle love the dancer has even though she is so frustrated. (www.absolutearts.com/portfolio/media/static_files/Painting_Oil_Dance.html)
The second painting I came across seemed to be more famous. I am not really sure if it is, but it is one of the first paintings that came up in my search. I like this paiting a great deal because it reminds me of being back at the studio- where I spent a great deal of my life in general. The painting is called Dance Studio at the Opera on the Rue Le Peletier painted by Edgar Degas in 1872. I love how all the dancers are again soft colors in contrast to the variated dark brown wall behind them. It shows their soft beauty, but also their rich pureness. The soft colors almost make them look naive and young, perhaps to show the hopefull dreams the dancers have. Dancers have a soft exterior, but as the variated dark wall behind them shows on the interior they have wounds, sorrow, failures, hopes, dreams, and desires. (www.mezzo-mondo.com/arts/mm/degas/index.html)
This painting is called Giselle de la Nuit by Linda Paul. This painting is perfect for psychological expression because the artist is really trying to portray the beauty and passion of the dancer. Notice how he shows the muscles in her arms and legs straining, and how she is reaching to the sky. It seems as though she will never stop reaching her leg, her arms, or her soul. She is opening up her soul and the light is shining in upon her. There is darkness all around her, but she is glowing, and again in softer colors. Every inch of her body and soul is liberated and free, it looks as though she may fly away. This painting really shows the inside beauty of a dancer, not only the outside. (www.lindapaul.com/Giselle_de_la_Nuit_Ballet_Paintings_ballet_pictures.asp)
Formal Analysis: (Of the main flamengo picture up top) Dance of Passion by John Stoa 12x16 cm. acrylic. 1. Subject: Art and Psychological Expression 2. Subject Matter: A man and woman flamenco dancing at the Gran Canaria flamenco and exotic dancer show. 3. Form: Acrylic, 12x16 cm, not a clear description of figures, few details, focuses on shadowing and light, empasizes the movement and shape of the figures. 4. Content: The dark backround is smokey and smoldering looking, depicting the passion, steam, and desire of the dance. The hot spotlight is on the couple isolating them from the world. It is the two of them and their undeniable passion for eachother, it does not matter if anyone is around or watching. The man keeps his cool with his shirt open, showing the clique sexy latin lover. The women is beautiful in her red dress, the color of desire and passion. She conveys pure love and passion for the man. Neither of the individuals faces are shown, but they are unimportant. What is important is the movement, the flow of the women's dress, the hot lights, hazy look, and open skin. It all comes together to make the picture scream desire and lust. The artist shows more than just the art of the flamenco dance, but rather the psychological and inner passions and lust the dancers have for one another. The curves of the body and dress are shown very vividly to show the movement and soul of the dance. The author does a great job at showing the inner desires of these two dancers. (www.johnstoa.co.uk/danceofpassion.htm)
