ART APPRECIATION REVIEWER (WITH PICS).pdf

ART APPRECIATION Humanities and other Sciences Let us quantify Humanities from other fields of studies. The Humanities are definitely different from the sciences because the latter deal with the external world of man that can be subje...

ART APPRECIATION Humanities and other Sciences Let us quantify Humanities from other fields of studies. The Humanities are definitely different from the sciences because the latter deal with the external world of man that can be subjected to measurement, observation and experimentation. The Humanities, on the other hand, deals with man's internal worlds- his feelings, perceptions and intuitions which cannot be exactly measured or controlled. Thus, Humanities is not an exact science like Physics, Biology and mathematics. For us to have an explicit understanding of what Humanities is, let us consider the viewpoint of James G. Rice which can be summarized as follows: a. Humanities is concerned with the areas in which human values and expressiveness are celebrated- such as art, literature, music, and the theatre; b. Humanities engage both our intellectual and our intuitive emotional selves; c. Humanities deepen and broaden our enjoyment at both the level of understanding and level of feeling; d. It focuses on the most human act- an artist interacting with an experience or subject, translating it into a medium using the elements of the medium, and the techniques for working in it to produce the finished work. DEFINITION OF ART We can say that ART is the lifeblood of humanities because it conveys one's feelings and expressions. Art is the essential factor which motivates an individual to create and appreciate "a thing of beauty". ART is always defined through its relative meaning or association, very seldom by its formal meaning. Many would describe art as any creative skill, a talent, a painting, a design, a colorful creation, an original composition, and a masterpiece. However, being a student of Art Appreciation, you must have a scholarly definition of Art. The best reference on the meaning of art was given by the Greek philosopher Aristotle, which is "the right reason of making things". Based on this definition, art is a process of creating things that are guided by good intention and it does not violate the universal concept of justice. Thus, to express one's feeling sincerely, and not to cause undue burden and destruction to other humans and the society can be the "right reason" for doing something. ART is therefore defined as the skillful arrangement, composition, or transformation of things in nature or from imagination to express human feelings or thought in a meaningful and useful way. FACTS ABOUT ART 1. "ART IS EVERYWHERE" Even if we try to ignore its presence, art is found everywhere. We find it in the clothes we wear, in our furniture, billboards or magazines, on tv shows, in the jeepneys, in coins, and money we pay. Only a fool will say that he sees no art around. 2. "ART IS NOT NATURE" Sunset, night sky, seashore, clouds, and singing birds are natural things. A work of art is man-made. Although art may closely resemble nature, it can never duplicate nature. For example, the physical feature of flowers may be copied but never its natural way of blooming- from bud to full-bloom. Artificial flowers are works of art and they never change. People may be fooled to think they are real, but an artificial bud will remain a bud while it lasts. 3. "ART IS IMITATING AND CREATING" Art is the process of combining or arranging existing materials so that new objects will be formed. An artist only copies the things in nature he believes would express his thoughts and feelings. Art is a process of imitating involving personal assimilation through mind, feeling and style. 4. "ART PERFECTS NATURE" Although nature displays order and harmony, sometimes we find it in chaotic state. Generally, artists only duplicate things they like and eliminate the undesirable elements in nature to convey their message of beauty and love. Cennino Cennini wrote that "Art seeks to find new things hidden within known natural forms and seeks to express them through the hand in such a way to make one believe that something which does not exist, exists. 5. "ART MESSAGE IS UNIVERSAL" Art must be universally significant. An ancient poet may be expressing his personal views and experiences while at the same time he is addressing it to contemporary readers. Great art must surpass the boundaries of time and space. The universality or immortality of art are impressed upon us through the classical works of masters like the music of Strauss, Chopin, Beethoven; the paintings of da Vinci, Von Gogh, Monet; the dramas of Shakespeare and the plays of Aristopanes. Art never grows old but thing do, to view the life and culture of every generation and civilization.  CLASSIFICATION OF ARTS A. According to Purpose: 1. PRACTICAL OR USEFUL ARTS- are those human activities directed to produce artifacts, tools and utensils used in doing households and everyday chores. Examples: basket-weaving, agriculture, etc. 2. LIBERAL ARTS- involves the development of man's intellectual reasoning. Examples: Mathematics, Astronomy, Grammar 3. FINE ARTS- are the products of human creative activity as they express beauty in different ways and media, for the satisfaction and relaxation of man's mind and spirit. Examples: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture. 4. MAJOR ARTS- are characterized by their actual and potential expressiveness and by purely interested purpose. Examples: Music, Poetry, Sculpture. 5. MINOR ARTS- are works connected with practical uses and purpose. For example, Interior Decoration, Porcelain art. B. According to Media and Forms 1. PLASTIC ARTS-are developed through space and perceived by the sense of sight. Examples, Painting, Sculpture, Architecture. 2. PHONETIC ARTS- are based on sounds and words as media of expression. Examples: Music, Drama, Literature. 3. KINETIC ARTS- make use of the rhythmic movement as the elements of expression. Example: Dance. 4. PURE ARTS-utilize only one medium of expression. Examples: Sound in Music, Color in Painting. 5. MIXED ARTS- use two or more media. Example: The Opera (Which is a combination of music, Poetry and Drama). ELEMENTS OF VISUAL ART 1. LINE Line is defined as a space between points. If you connect the dots in this page starting from any point in any direction, you are actually forming a line. You do not even have to use any writing instruments to form one because a line visible or invisible. For example. When you look at the vase on the table of a sala and your eyes continue to stare at the window curtains then to the door, you are forming an invisible line. Directions and Movements of Lines a. Straight Line continues in only one direction Mental suggestions: 1. Vertical line– stability, strength and power. 2. Horizontal line– impression of serenity and perfect stability. 3. Diagonal line– implies action, instability, uncertainty. b. Curved Line is formed when there is a gradual change of direction and movement. Mental suggestions: Femininity, smoothness, softness, affection c. Jagged or Zigzag Line results when there is an abrupt change in direction and movement. Mental Suggestions: Confusion, chaos, pain, tension 2. SHAPE Shape is an enclosed area formed when both ends of the line are joined together. Shapes may be geometric figures such as solid, pyramids, cylinders, triangles, cubes, rectangle, and circles. 3. TEXTURE Texture refers to the feel or tactile quality of the surface of an object-whether it is rough or smooth. Grooved or ridged, furry or silky. Functions of Texture 1. Provides sensation and reasons why we enjoy stroking velvet and silk and other materials we feel pleasant. 2. Means of describing groups of things whether they are flat, thick or thin. 3. Clarifies space which makes things appear either deep, hollow or voluminous. 4. COLOR Color is produced by the reflections of light which strike the retina of our eyes. Every ray of light coming from the sun is composed of different waves which travel at different speeds. This can be specifically proven when a beam passes through a prism where it breaks up into bands of colors called spectrum. The color of objects we see depends on the intensity of light shining through it. This is the reason why we only see some colors under a weak light, but there are more colors under a bright light.  But why do we sometimes see objects having only one color? Any object has a color quality called pigmentation which absorbs other colors and reflects only one. A red rose for example, appears red because it reflects red waves of light and absorbs all others. Black, white and gray are not considered colors because they are not found in the spectrum. They are called neutrals because they do not reflect any particular color. Black reflects no light at all;; White reflects all colors, and gray is produced from a partial reflection of light. Properties of Color 1. HUE is the quality which gives a color its name. Red, orange, blue, indigo, violet and green are called hues. 2. VALUE results when black or white (neutrals) are added to a hue. When black is combined with a color, a shade is produced; when white is added to a color, a tint results. 3. INTENSITY refers to the strength of the color. Colors become dull when pigments are mixed with them. When deep red, for example is combined with green pigment, it becomes dull red. LET US MIX COLORS There are three colors that are pure and are never and are never produced by mixtures of colors. These are red, yellow and blue. These form a triad in the color wheel. They are called PRIMARY COLORS. Let us mix colors: Yellow + red = Orange Yellow+blue = Green Blue + red = Violet These colors formed out of the combination of two primary colors are called SECONDARY COLORS. Yellow + green = yellow green Blue + green = blue green (aqua) Colors that are formed by mixing a primary and secondary color are known as INTERMEDIATE COLORS.  FAMOUS PAINTERS AND THEIR MASTERPIECES WORKS PAINTERS CITIZENSHIP MEDIA YEAR Italian Oil 1504 Leonardo da Vinci Mona Lisa Italian Oil 1508 The Creation of Adam Michael Angelo Bounarotti Italian Tempera 1506 Raphael Sanzi The Madonna of the Goldfinch Sandro Boticelli Italian Oil 1486 The Birth of Venus  Tintoretto Venice Oil 1578 Bacchus and Adriadne Peter Paul Rubens Flemish Oil 1625 The Landing of Maria de’Medici At Marseilles Rembrandt Van Rijn Dutch Oil 1655 Woman Bathing in a Stream Edouard Manet French Oil 1855 The Painter’s Studio  Henri Matisse French Oil 1899 The Invalid Edgar Degas French Pastel 1890 After the Bath: A Woman Drying Herself Vincent Van Gogh Dutch Oil 1889 Starry Night Pablo Picasso Spanish Oil 1907 Les Demoiselles D’ Avignon  Piet Mondrian Dutch Oil 1942-4 3 Broadway Boogie-Woogie Vasily Kadinsky Russian Oil 1913 Little Pleasures SOME FILIPINO PAINTERS AND THEIR WORKS WORKS PAINTERS MEDiA YEAR Juan Luna Oil 1881 Spolarium Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo Oil 1884 Virgines Cristianas Expuestas Ad Populacho  Fernando Amorsolo Oil 1922 Harvest Time in Pinaglabanan Simon Flores Y Dela Rosa Oil 1902 Dead Child Victorio Edades Oil 1928 The Sketch (wala ako mahanap) Onib Olmedo Ink Wash 1976 Adelle 2 (no pic) Fabian Dela Rosa Oil 1921 Planting Rice Ang Kiukok Water Color 1981  Fish Teodoro Buenaventura Oil 1927 (no pic) Rio De San Juan WAYS OF REPRESENTING A SUBJECT There are seven basic ways used by artist in representing their subject matter. 1. Realism Things are depicted in the way they would normally appear in nature. But no work of art is truly realistic because artists adapt the selective use of details. There are parts that they would leave out, alter and add from nature. 2. Abstraction This is the presentation of original objects into geometric shapes, unnatural lines and colors. Objects and subjects are difficult to identify, unless the artist puts it in the title. There is no intention of giving resemblance to natural appearance. Among the famous abstract painters are Kadinsky and Mondrian whose works were composed of non-representational forms, and colors were used freely. 3. Distortion The figures of the subject have been deformed from their natural shapes and measurements. An artist would stretch, twist or exaggerate the natural form of the objects 4. Impressionism Pictures were executed in bright contrasting colors in order to convey the impression of light. Impressionist artists usually work out-of-doors recording landscapes, scenes of leisure, and fleeting moments. Impressionists sought to capture the momentary appearance of objects in full light. Some impressionist painters are Monet, Manet, Degas, Pissarro, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and Gauguin 5. Expressionism  Emphasizes the inner world of subjective feelings and emotions. It depicts extreme states of mind. Expressionists use intense coloring and primitive forms to convey emotions directly. PRINCIPLES OF ARTISTIC DESIGNS People of the arts follow three basic principles of artistic composition and design which make art universally acceptable. These principles serve as standards in all art language and expression. These have been achieved by time, space and the power of the imagination. 1. The Principle of Unity This art principle produces an impression of harmony through the selection and arrangement of consistent objects and ideas. Unity in art is achieved when all are integrated together for a specific purpose. The point of unity may be in terms of medium, plot, theme, movement, moods, sounds, etc., Unity or integration in art can be obtained in three ways: a. By repetition or uniformity. For example, the most harmonious shape that can be put into a rectangle is another rectangle of the same shape, and a circle make the closest harmony within another circle b. By contrast or elements that oppose or contradict each other form. Examples are the use of combination of strong and delicate lines, light and shadow in painting, or the use of loud and soft sounds in music. In literature and drama, there may opposing or conflicting characters. In the dance choreography, variety of contrasting movements is used to avoid monotony. c. By transition or bringing the elements together in graceful, softening effect. Transitional techniques are important in achieving the power of unity, harmony, ace and smoothness. 2. The Principle of Dominance Every work of art has a dominant element or characteristics that stand out from the rest. It may be the characteristics that stand out from the rest. It may be the subject, color, line or the message that an artist wants to emphasize in his work. Dominance in art, however, does not mean singularity or repetition of an element used; one can possibly see numerous things in an artwork. But not all objects are given equal importance and emphasis. In the same manner with what we experience in real life, we focus only on some things not everything, otherwise life would be very cluttered, difficult and confusing. Thus, there are objects we consider superior and the rest subordinates. There are things we place on elevated levels while the rest are on the underground. In the drama and novels, there are main characters and secondary ones; in music, there are major keys as well as minor keys. This art  principle is essential in poetry because prominent images play a dominant role and the rest are relegated in the background. 3. The Principle of Equilibrium or Balance Balance in art is achieved when there is a restful effect in the arrangement and grouping of things. It can simply be called "rest and repose" in art composition. The principle of balance is used in weight which is commonly illustrated by a "see-saw" which is the same as in art. However, art is not much concerned with how things really weigh but with the feeling and impression on how things are arranged or placed in an artwork. There will be a restful feeling or balance when the objects are seen to attract each other toward the center or fulcrum of the entire piece of art. The word center can also mean the dominant subject of the composition. THE ELEMENTS OF MUSIC A. Rhythm - is the most basic of the elements which gives us a sense of movement. Rhythm pervades all nature. We can sense it in the movement of the tide, seasons, beating of a heart. In music, it is the organization of long and short notes, and their accentuation. It provides regular pulsations and beats to the music. Sometimes we clap our hands "to keep time" while we sing to coincide with each of the syllables of the lyrics. B. Melody - refers to the series of tones of varying pitches sounded in succession. Tone in succession is achieved when the keys of the piano are struck one after another. If we combine the various pitches with defi- nite tones and varying durations, a melody is produced. Melody affects us emotionally. When we say that a song is sad or happy, we are actually referring to its melody. It is synonymous to tune, ai theme, motif, and melody line. C. Harmony - is the study of chords or the sounding together of separate tones and their relationships. If rhythm is physical and melody is emotional, harmony is an intellectual conception. It is the sophisticated and scientific organization of tones which add beauty and style in music. D. Tempo - shows the duration of each note with reference to the other notes of the piece. We can say in general that in terms of unit of value song with half-notes are supposed to go more slowly than song written in quarter-notes or eighth-notes. E. Tone color  - is the quality of sound produced by a particular medium of tone production. It is the result of tempo or the speed at which musical may move, as well as the dynamics or changes from loudness to softness in a musical composition. MUSIC Music is the art of arranging sound. It consists of tones and silences arranged together to produce a sound that convey the composer's ideas and emotions. Sound is the essential material in music that touches our senses. All sounds are produced by vibrations. Thus, when the vibration is regular, it produces tones or musical sounds. When it is irregular, noise is produced. Four Qualities of Sound 1. Timbre is the quality which enables us to distinguish one sound from another. ex. violin has a different tone quality from a flute or a piano; a voice of a man from that of a woman. 2. Pitch refers to the highness or lowness of a tone rate: Male pitch 1. Bass (lowest voice) 2. Baritone (flexible) 3. Tenor (highest voice) Female 1. Alto (Lowest voice) 2. Mezzo soprano (flexible) 3. Soprano (highest voice) 3. Duration is a quality that describes how long a sound is heard or the length of time a sound is spent. 4. Intensity is the quality that provides the loudness and softness of a sound. Our descriptions of the sounds around us are based on these Qualities. When we say the music in the jeepney was very loud, we are referring to its intensity, or the man's voice is husky, we are talking about the timbre of his voice. TERMS USED BY MUSICIANS TO INDICATE INTENSITY 1. forto – loudly 2. fortissimo – very loudly 3. piano – softly 4. pianissimo – very softly 5. crescendo – becoming louder 6. decrescendo – becoming less loud 7. diminuendo – becoming softer MUSICAL TERMS WHICH DENOTE TEMPO  1. presto – very fast 2. allegro – fast 3. moderato – moderately speed 4. adante – moderately slow 5. adalgo – slow 6. laugo – very slow MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS There are two mediums in music: a. the vocal medium is a musical sound produced by human voice b. the instrumental medium uses manmade instruments which when played vibrate, amplify to produce varying tones and pitches Musical Instruments are group into four: 1. The stringed instruments: Ex: violin, viola violancello, double bass 2.. The wind instruments which may either be a. The wood winds, so-called because they were originally made of wood. Ex: piccolo, flute, bassoon b. The brasses, which are usually made of brass or other metal; Ex: French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba 3. The percussion choir, grouped into: a. Those that produce musical tones and have definite pitch b. The noisemakers, which do not have definite pitch Ex: drum family 4. The keyboard instruments Ex: piano, organ FORMS OF MUSIC 1. Sonata is a composition in three or four movements. The first movement is fast and has three sections: a. Exposition – usually vigorous and forceful b. Development – themes are broken up into fragments, played by different instruments c. Recapitulation – a restatement of the exposition but with certain changes, such as with coda or an extended section. The second movement of the sonata is usually slow, in a contrasting key. Third movement has a tempo that ranges from moderate to fast. 2. A concerto is a composition on sonata form but the third movement is omitted. It is meant to be played by an instrument with an entire orchestra. 3. An opera is a drama set to music. It combines poetry, scenery, costume, acting and dancing in addition to vocal and instrumental music. 4. An oratario is a dramatic, religious work but it is performed without costumes or scenery. It is based on Biblical or other religious texts. The words are set to music. The participants sing their parts but do not move about on a stage like the opera. 5. Free form refers to composition which have no structural plan or definite structure. Among the common free forms are the prelude, the fantasia and capriccio, and symphonic poem. 6. Jazz is a form of music which grew out of the Southern US black culture. It is rhythmically complex, with a strong emphasis on syncopation 7. Folk music is a traditionally popular song belonging to a regional or ethnic group. 8. Rock music has been the dominant pop-music style since the late 1950’s. First emerged as “rock n’ roll”. Rhythm-and-blues” with amplified instruments with heavy beat, country and western with lyrics that are simple and earthly, and directly deals with the emotional concerns of the young. SOME CLASSICAL MUSICIANS AND COMPOSERS LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) He was regarded as one of the greatest masters of music. Although Beethoven began to go deaf about 1800, he continued to compose and produce superlative music, including the Ninth Symphony and Missa Solomnia. Died at the age of 57 He became deaf, the more he became deaf mas gumanda music taste niya. JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1735-82) The great German composer and organ virtouso who brought baroque music to its peak, Is depicted here in a portrait by E. G. Hausman. Much of his finest music was written for the church, including the St. Matthew Passion and the Mass in B minor. Died at the age of 47 WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART (1756-91) He is widely regarded as the greatest composer who ever lived. He began writing minuets at the age of 5, and by the time of his death at age 35, he had produced 626 catalogued works. GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL (1685-1759) one of the greatest composers of the baroque period, is portrayed in a painting by Thomas Hudson. Born in Germany, Handel composed most of his better-known works in London, including his famous oratorio, the Messiah (1741). Died at the age of 74 Hallelujah GIUSEPPE VERDI (1813-1901) One of the greatest Italian composers of the 19th century, created operas of dramatic intensity, soaring melody, and subtle characterization. La Traviata (1853), Aida (1871), and Otello (1887) are three of his most highly acclaimed operas. His works are still among the most popular in the international operatic repertoire. died at the age of 88 JOHANN STRAUSS, JR. (1825-99) He immortalized the Viennese waltzes with such compositions as "The Beautiful Blu Danube" and "Tales of the Vienna Woods." He composed his first waltz when he was only 6 years old. Died at the age of 74 ENRICO CARUSO (1873-1921) An Italian tenor, is considered one of the greatest opera singers of all time. At the Metropolitan Opera (1903-20), he gave more than 600 performances in early 40 operas. Died at the age of 48 MUSICAL TERMS 1. Absolute music – instrumental music that does not make use of a poem or a story for its idea. The composer is interested only in the expressive pattern of sounds. 2. Acappella – choral music sung without instrumental accompaniment. 3. Anthem – a religious or patriotic song. 4. Aria – an extended song for a soloist, usually accompanied by an orchestra. This is usually found in operas, cantatas, and oratorios. 5. Barcarolle – a song which imitates the leisurely rhythm of songs of Venetian boatmen as they row their gondolas. 6. Cadenza – a difficult passage added to a piece in order to show off the virtousity of the performer. 7. Canon – a short piece in which the instruments or voices perform the same melody but not precisely together. One performer starts, the next comes in a few beats later, and so on. The art of combining melodies in this fashion is know as counterpart. 8. Cantata – a work usually based on a religious subject for a varied combination of soloists, chorus, and instrument. 9. Capriccio – a playful and frivolous piece which does not follow any strict pattern. 10. Chamber music –music played by an ensemble of two nine instruments. 11. Chanson – song. 12. Chorale – a religious song often sung by a congregation. 13. Concerto – a composition for a solo instrument and orchestra. By 1800, it became a showpiece for the soloist. The solo part, usually for the piano or the violin, is difficult to play. Most concertos have three movements like the sonata. where the composer's imagination is giv composition is sometimes called "rhapsody". 14. Fugue – a piece where the themes are repeated and transformed many times. 15. Impromtu – a piano piece that is meant to sound off-hand and made up at the time. 16. Intermezzo – an instrumental section between major parts of an opera of any large work. 17. Lied – a type of German song (plural: lieder). The best are those written in the 19th century, especially those written by Schubert, Schuman and Brahms.  18. Madrigal – a contrapuntal song without accompaniment popular in the 15th to the 17th centuries. 19. Movement – a section of an instrumental work, such as a symphony or a string quartet, that is a complete unit within the composition. 20. Nocturne – a dreamy piece, usually for piano. 21. Oratorio – a work usually religious in nature, that requires soloists, chorus and orchestra. 22. Overture – a piece of orchestral music that is played at the start of an opera. 23. Pastorale – any piece of music in a rustic mood, using a short piano piece 24. Prelude– a general name for an instrumental piece; usually a short piano piece. 25. Scherzo – a high-spirited usually, often brusque musical composition, either separate or part of a longer composition. 26. Sonata – a composition usually in three movements which makes use the formal pattern of fast. The sonata structure is the basic form: statement of the theme, contrast, and repetition of the theme. 27. Suita – any instrumental piece made up of various movements. The term can be also employed for arrangement of excerpts from an opera, ballet, play or poem. 28. Symphony – a piece for orchestra based on the same principle of the sonata: three movements- fast, slow, fast. Sometimes, because of the influence of Haydn, an extra movement, the finale, is added. 29. Symphonic poem – an orchestral suite with no pattern where the composer expresses a series of thoughts or events. Sometimes, this is called a tone or movie. 30. Toccata — is a fast, brilliant, and difficult piece for a keyboard instrument. 31. Variations – a musical composition based on a theme which is repeated and transformed. Different aspects of the theme change while others remain the same. DANCE Dance is considered the mother of all arts: Even before alphabets and words were invented, early man had used dances to express his thoughts and emotions. He danced to communicate with the supernatural being for survival. Because primitive men believed that their gods controlled the weather and other phenomena so they danced to please their gods. He had courtship dance to attract a (man ?) victory dance in time of battles, and the hunt. He had ritual dances during planting season, harvestime, weddings, baptism and even in his death, practically in all social activities and religious life. Dimensions of Dance A dance execution is enhanced by using the three dimensions: 1. Time provides tempo, may be fast or slow.  2. Space determines the position of the dancer in relation to the background, whether at the center, in front, at the back or it may be the body posture such as standing, lying, crouching, stooping, running, etc. - Block is the other term for space 3. Dynamics refers to the rhythm and graceful movements of the dancers. Types of Dance 1. The ritual dance was employed by ancient people in their religious worship. They perform ritual dances in every celebration and important events surrounding their primitive life - such as birth, marriage, war, illness, death. - ceremonial (other term for ritual) 2. The ethnological dance is native to a specific ethnic group or tribe. This type of dance usually express the cultural and racial pattern of the tribe which it belonged. 3. The folk dance is based on the tradition of the folks of a region. It is usually handed down from generation to generation and follows a basic pattern and therefore it does not require training for execution. 4. The social dance refers to any dance form which brings individual together for group enjoyment. Today, social dancing is related to ballroom dancing which were adaptations of folk dances and other foreign styles. 5. 5. The theatrical dance is a dance intended for exhibition in a theater. Jazz, ballet, modern, folk, ethnological, et. have been used for variety shows and theatrical productions. Classical ballet is the mother of all educational dances. All theatrical dances are built on the pattern technique of the ballet. The basic quality of ballet is buoyancy and grace. This quality is the basic difference between the ballet and modern dance: while the ballet expresses buoyancy and grace, the modern dance is executed with tension. Dame Margot Fontoyn (1919-91) wears a striking costume in a scene from the ballet La Pori (1956). Fonteyn's exquisite style and characterization brought her great admiration as a dancer. In 1956, Fonteyn was created a Dame of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of her contributions. Actor and dancer Fred Astaire (1899-1987) and singer, actress, and dancer Ginger Rogers (1911-) were America's most famous dance team. Many of their routines - in films such as The Gay Divorcees (1934) and Top Hat (1935) -- told romantic tales via dance with a skill unmatched to this day. QUALITIES OF A CLASSICAL DANCE 1. Form or a perfectly moulded and proportioned body.  - "With firm but flexible knees straight leg-line, a well-arched strong but slender ankles and calves, elegant shoulders and arms, a well-poised neck, and a face capable of giving the expression of beauty on the stage." 2. Lyric Quality or "a dancing from the inside." - This quality is indicated by the dancer's movement of lightness, faultlessness, balance and finesse. 3. Musicality - means a strong sense of rhythm, her movements blends with the music and feels its emotional content. 4. Intelligence or talent - to be able to interpret and project deeper meaning through movements. Natalia Makarova (1940- ) is seen in a performance of Swan Lake. Makarova was acclaimed for her lyrical interpretations of roles in both contemporary and classical ballet, most notably for her performance in the title role of Giselle.