2002-01-03 - 6:22 PM
Dancer X (The Realm Of Cotillions)
I guess this is my first entry of the year. All I can say is, don't expect a very poignant or profoundly moving entry here. This is more of a way to just bide my time, as I wait for Dale to get here from the practice that I should be at.
Hmm...
For those of other influences, I guess I'll take the time out to let you all in, to this venerable subworld of cotillions. Asian, more specifically Filipino, teenage females (more widespread and practiced on the East Coast, more specifically New Jersey) throw these brouhahas called cotillions. Originating in France in the 18th century, cotillions were used to present young women to society. Nowadays, our modern cotillions double as sweet sixteens and elegant eighteens. We also do heavy duty things, usually at the age of eighteen, called debutante balls. They're basically the same thing - I just differentiate between them because of the funding put into them and the professionalism, I suppose. In any case, the cotillion courts (consisting of couples, ranging from at least five couples to however many the young lady in the spotlight prefers) learn specific dance routines to perform for the guests at the cotillion or the ball. These dances, which are done in formal-wear (tuxedos and dresses, respectively), range from the cha-cha to the waltz to the tango, anything, all depending on the prize female, of course. These are all pretty fun, I guess - they get a lil' too damn easy for my likes after a few cotillions, and they kind of become routine, so to speak. And it's for this reason, that I love the other, and notably the most enjoyable aspect of the realm of cotillions - "the modern".
The modern is a dance routine choreographed to modern music (up-to-date hip-hop and whatever else is nice in pop culture at the moment). This is where all the potential and upcoming choreographers and future Wade Robsons get to test their britches and try out their stuph. This is where all the couples (the whole cotillion court) get to have their fun. This is where we can imagine ourselves as background dancers to the hottest pop act around. This is where we go all out.
And all of this excitement that goes along with doing a modern, fuels competition - another great thing (especially in the urban mindset). There's competition between choreographers, between courts, to see who's is better, who's more original, more breath-taking. And I love that aspect, even though most cotillion participants deny the fact that there's competition, more often than not, there is - at least, I can say that in MY experiences.
I'm in one cotillion now - putting together a surprise modern at the last minute, consisting of a mix made by moi, incorporating quotes from the movie The Emperor's New Groove and the songs "More Than A Woman" by Aaliyah and "Smooth Criminal" by Michael Jackson. Yup, this shit's gonna be fabulous, I tell ya. But right now, I have to go - sorry to cut this explanation of this world short - I'll continue next time, I suppose. Until then. Try dancing.
