Can dance reduce people to tears?

[dolorous_ett]

I've just had a flyer for a Chinese dance performance. It informs me that if I attend, I will be deeply moved - very probably to tears.

I have two left feet, and no sense of the beauty of dance, so perhaps one of my more enlightened friends can enlighten me:

1. Is it actually possible to be reduced to tears by watching dance?

2. Would I be allowed to sue the company if I went, and didn't cry?

Comments

[saralinda.livejournal.com]

The last time I was moved to tears by dance was when Dan trod heavily on my foot after kneeing me in the shinbone.

I don't know why he insists on flinging his limbs about in that way but there you go, till death do us part and all that.

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

Heh. Sounds like I'm more likely to induce weeping in others than the other way round! It's those Doc Martens I wear...

[zoepaleologa.livejournal.com]

Is it actually possible to be reduced to tears by watching dance?

If it's very bad.

Generally, I prefer to see something that makes my jaw drop with amazement. Something that did just that, AND made my eyes emo was Nureyev and Fonteyn in the tomb scene in Romeo and Juliet. He dances with her on discovering she's 'dead'. It sounds weird, but Fonteyn was awesome. It's a standard in that ballet, but only they got it terrifyingly perfect.

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

The death scene sounds gorgeous... in a way that I'm completely unable to imagine, if that makes any sense. Though I like to think I'd be able to be at least able to have a stab at guessing that I'd beheld something awesome if I saw it...

[lyras.livejournal.com]

Well, Swan Lake makes me cry, particularly the Matthew Bourne version. I also remember shedding a tear at the Northern Ballet's Romeo and Juliet many a year ago.

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

I envy you your sensitivity. I can't stop treating ballet like a very elabrate, very long drawn out mime. It doesn't do anything for the appreciation of it!

[lyras.livejournal.com]

like a very elabrate, very long drawn out mime

I dunno why, I just get drawn in quite easily. Clearly I am a sap!

(Now I am reminded of Rowan Atkinson miming and wearing tights. I haven't seen that sketch for about fifteen years!)

[dbassassin.livejournal.com]

Is it actually possible to be reduced to tears by watching dance?

For me, only either by:

1) tears forcing their way out because I'm successfully suppressing the overwhelming urge to laugh uproariously, or
2) tears of rage at having been duped by my sister into attending the ballet with her, thereby wasting four hours that could have been better spent pumicing my feet or watching paint dry.

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

I lol'd. Was almost reduced to tears, in fact...

[st-aurafina.livejournal.com]

1. Is it actually possible to be reduced to tears by watching dance?

Yes, though I am a pathetic sap who cries over cereal commercials.

2. Would I be allowed to sue the company if I went, and didn't cry?

See how they've cunningly failed to use the word guarantee in there? Cunning bastards.

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

You cry over cereal commercials? That's rather sweet.

See how they've cunningly failed to use the word guarantee in there? Cunning bastards.

I know! Is their no end to their fiendish devilry?

I am with dbassassin, supra,

[wemyss.livejournal.com]

All dance reminds me of what Verdi says of Wagner's operas: You arrive at 6.0 and you look at your watch three hours later and it's 6.15.

Re: I am with dbassassin, supra,

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

That is a wonderful quotation. And pretty much sums up my opinion of both ballet and opera. I'm glad I'm not the only one!

Re: I am with dbassassin, supra,

[shui-long.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure it was Verdi who said it, but I agree with the sentiment - or Rossini's comment:
"Wagner has some lovely moments but awful quarters of an hour".

(Wagner's comment on Rossini, if any, doesn't appear to have been as memorable...)

Re: I am with dbassassin, supra,

[dbassassin.livejournal.com]

Wagner would have considered Rossini so far beneath his notice he wouldn't have bothered. ;)

Re: I am with dbassassin, supra,

[dbassassin.livejournal.com]

I'll have to remember that one for the next time I hear someone drivelling on about the wonders of Puccini. *ick*

[bookwormsarah.livejournal.com]

I had damp eyes at the Northern Ballet Theatre's Romeo and Juliet...surprised myself mightily. It wasn't so much the beauty of the dance, but because the story was *sad* (the tomb scene, natch). I've had my jaw drop with the beauty, but I've never cried.

I think the only time I've had a physical teary reaction to a piece of art was a painting in the National Portrait Gallery's BP Portrait Award competition a few years ago. It was a painting of an elderly woman, and I don't remember whether it was called 'Mum' or if it just looked as if it should be. There was so much love in the painting it had a real effect on me. Sorry, random aside...

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

Not at all - I am very bad at emotional reactions to anything non-verbal, so it's very interesting for me to hear about this sort of thing. Thank you for sharing it here!