PSY 317 "Strictly Ballroom"

Tango

     

       After watching this film, there were many uncertainties and questions that emerged and I hoped to get the answer. I didn't really gave a thought about some scenes until after the movie. For example, the dance scene with Fran and Scott. The lyrics from the background music:

You won't admit you love me

And so how am I ever to know?

You always tell me

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps

 A million times I've asked you,

And then I ask you over again

You only answer

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps

 If you can't make your mind up

We'll never get started

And I don't wanna wind up 

Being parted, broken-hearted

So if you really love me

Say yes, but if you don't dear, confess

And please don't tell me

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps

which in the movie means that Scott didn't confess to his mum and Les that he decided to dance with Fran plus the fact that Scott was having doubts whether to dance with Fran or Tina until he connected with Fran in their dance. (Ok. After typing this, only I realized why.) But, I don't know why he chose to dance with her at that time in the first place. Maybe the director wanted to show the audience how Scott , still with his doubts, got determined that his partner will only be Fran through the connection and expression they displayed with dancing.

       The other scene I still didn't understand was the scene where Liz helped out in the end after she was 'abandoned' by Scott. The change was quite immense even if she was touched by Scott and Fran's dance without music. Unless, before this she unconsciously felt that their dance really deserved credit.

       Based on the question Dr. Goh asked about why did the film revolved around ballroom dancing and not others like rugby and somewhat, other than the way dance can be expressive, I believe it is also because ballroom dancing competitions have real strict rules in the olden days.

       In history, ballroom dancing was a form of socialization and an encouragement to men going into war until it became popular and 'standardized' to everyone. Then, competitions were held where dancers were to show their mastery in basic steps while restricting new steps to be formed or displayed. Only those who are professional teachers could invent and display new steps. Until new style of musics came in -- like jazz and blues -- only then the dances became more broad and passionate that altered the rules and regulations of competitions. 

A start of new dance steps from jazz music. Swing Dance from <http://www.danceheritage.org/swing.html>

       From the film, there were scenes where Scott carried Liz and did some power moves along with Fran's father criticizing Scott's dance to be "too jazzy", so I guess these came from the growth of modern innovative dance steps and styles. Of course, there were more to it than that to have caused the change in competitions. Also, I realized from the film the paso doble dance had a stance portraying a bull and looked up on it.

       I found that it is a dance of a matador before his bullfight and now it has evolved into a partner dance where his partner is the red cape. It has a few elements from rumba and flamenco. From <http://dance.about.com/od/partnerdancestyles/qt/Paso_Doble.htm>, the author mentioned that it is a dance of "arrogance and passion" compared to Flamenco. This explains why Fran's father demanded  a strong face and focus between partners from Scott as well as Fran's dress to be in red before and during the Grand Prix.

       To sum it up, I find this movie really inspiring as it seems with almost the similar element from the "Awakenings" which was to never give up on our own dreams and hope. Therefore, we must live our lives as we want to and not live in fear, or we will be "half-lived".

Tango

References? (not all are credible, just for detailed information): http://www.danceheritage.org/treasures/savoy_essay_stern.pdf
          http://socialdance.stanford.edu/syllabi/ballroom.html
http://socialdance.stanford.edu/syllabi/English_ballroom_style.htm
          http://www.tdcomsa.com/niche_site/ballroom-dancing/history_of_ballroom_dancing.php