LET THE FIGHTING BEGIN!

Today I am going to settle the score, once and for all, in the battle of which ranks superior....

CLASSICAL BALLET V. CONTEMPORARY BALLET

With Swan Lake finished and Nightmoves about to begin, BalletMet shows its versatility with dance. But what do fans think about this? I know there are purely classical fans out there as well as purely contemporary fans, but as long as the audience is pleased, isn't that all that matters?

There are the CLASSICS like Swan Lake and The Nutcracker--how can you do anything but love those! The score, the tutus, the choreography, its absolutely beautiful! For some people, a ballet without tutus just isn't a ballet at all! Ballet=Tutus...and lots of them.

Then are the CONTEMPOS (as we'll refer to them) like the upcoming Nightmoves. These ballets are little more updated, if you will. There are no tutus, no classical music and no classical choreography. Although contemporary ballet does it incorporate elements of traditional ballet, it also allows for more creative expression.

There is something so timeless about a classical ballet, that it is hard not to fall in love with the story as it unfolds on the stage. Classical ballet is the oldest form of dance and that in itself makes it a treasure. When it comes to contemporary ballet, it is fascinating to see how dance has evolved and how creative people can be when given the opportunity to experiment with ballet. Contemporary ballet uses the classic pointe shoe, but allows for more variety in movement.

If I were a dancer, I would love to experiment with contemporary ballet moves, and would also be honored to dance in a classical piece. For me, there is no favorite. I love the creativity that comes from contemporary ballet, and when it comes to classical ballet do I even need to answer this...I named the blog a tutu for you :-p

I asked some BalletMet dancers about their views on this issue....

When it comes to which type is superior, BalletMet dancer Adrienne Benz says it best. “I love them both, not one more than the other. There is something special about telling a story that is familiar to the audience like a full length classical ballet. With contemporary, I feel there is a little bit more room for artistic freedom and I also love getting more physical with my dancing!”

However, not all dancers feel the same. BalletMet dancer Adam Hundt refers to himself as a “contemporary baby.” And that he certainly is. In BalletMet’s upcoming Nightmoves, Adam Hundt will show audiences his contemporary side; something I, personally, am very excited about!

So who wins this battle?

No one!

That's right! The truth is, these two types of ballet are very special and very difficult in their own right; therefore they cannot battle for the best. There is no winner, but everyone has their favorite!

So, for the purpose of this blog, this debate is settled!

And for everyone's viewing pleasure, here is a clip of a contemporary piece by BalletMet dancer Adam Hundt! If you love contemporary, then you will highly enjoy this. And if you don't, give it a shot! It might change your mind! Enjoy!

Also, I can't forget to mention the upcoming holiday............

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!!

And here's a video to get you in the Halloween mood!