Currents
August 2016
> continued from page 14
NOTE: Dr. Joanie is the author of Ballet as Body
Language (Harper and Row) which won two library
prizes and has been translated into Japanese. She
has lectured on dance in the US, Europe and Asia.
Her sister Teena McConnell was a soloist with the
NYC Ballet for many years.
Executive Car Service
ONLINE RESERVATIONS
WWW.GO-AIRPORTSHUTTLE.COM
The Official Shared Ride Shuttle
and Express Service of the
Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood Int’l Airport
Conveniently located curbside
outside baggage claim
FOR RATES AND RESERVATIONS CALL
954-561-8888
800-244-8252
1010 60033
observer who, nevertheless, was both thrilled and
excited at reestablishing contact with the ballet
world.
In that moment, I realized that my ballet teacher
had been right. I may have given up dance as a
career, but I could never forget it. Ballet was still in
my blood and in my body, even though the muscles
had lost their flexibility. It was then that I changed
the way I thought about ballet. I began looking at it
not simply as a form of dance but rather as a language - that is, a highly refined kind of body language.
Many people are surprised when I talk about ballet and language in the same breath. They forget
that language is not just about words, be they spoken or written. Language also includes facial expressions, gestures, movements and even moments of
silence. As most of us know from experience both at
home and abroad, body language can be a very
powerful tool.
Now I would like to explain why I refer to ballet
as a language. Like all languages, its goal is communication. Like all languages, ballet has changed
throughout the centuries. Like all languages, it has
also changed as it “migrates” from place to place.
Like all languages, ballet will die once it stops changing.
The analogy between dance and language has
helped me understand why, as a young girl, I turned
my back on ballet. I made this choice not because I
didn't love dance enough, but rather because I
couldn't express myself fully through ballet. Instead
I needed words. That is why I decided to become a
professor and an author. Others, like my sister,
choose body language.
24 Hour Advance Reservations
Rates available for all local airports & seaports upon request
Members of THE GO GROUP
The worldwide leader in airport shuttle transportation
MAID FOR TODAY
954-968-0063
HOME CLEANING!
NEW
CUSTOMER
SPECIAL
25% OFF!
Licensed & Bonded
(3 hour minimum)
Serving So. FL for Over 30 Yrs.
15