Character Class...  Wilor is one of a handful of teachers still teaching the art of character dance (dances of diverse ethnic and cultural origins). It is a particular specialty of hers that she teaches both the classical and the peasant forms of this exciting dance art. She has extensive experience choreographing in the genre, and has developed a syllabus for teaching beginning to advanced levels of character dance.
The czardas from “Raymonda” (choreography by Petipa) is an example of the classical form of character dance. Character dance is a form of theatrical dance which has its roots in the national dances of various countries. For those studying to become ballet dancers, it is very important that they learn character dance, for without it their performance of such essential works of the ballet repertoire as SwanLake, Sleeping Beauty, LaBayadere, Scheherazade, Raymonda, Don Quixote and many others becomes marred and inadequate, if not impossible. The style of character dance seen in these ballets is the “classical” form of character dance, consisting of dances which came out of the courts of Europe, or were a result of the interest in things oriental. The “peasant” form of character dance is closer to the roots of the folk idiom, but unlike folk dance, has been developed by a very athletic technique and theatrical flair. |
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