3 pages outline xzpq

Cultural Artifact Speech Outline

I. Introduction

A. Attention getter: From the moment my name was given to me by my mother, my family knew I would be put on the path of being a dancer. The name originates from the 1841 famous ballet “Giselle”, which tells the story of a peasant girl with a passion for dance who later passes away due to a broken heart over finding out that her lover was unfortunately promised to another. I know it sounds like a tragic story, but it was a story that inspired my mother (who actually was also a previous dancer) to give me this name and to be one who convinced me to take dance classes to begin with.

B. Revealed object: Since dance has been apart of my life for so long, an object that will always hold significance to me is my first dance shoe but also my last dance shoe. As I’m sure many of you can relate to, one never forgets where they started from. As these shoes do for me and remind of how far I’ve progressed since then.

C. Speaker credibility: It still blows my mind that I’ve been apart of the dance culture since I was 5 years old. From ballet classes till I was 11, to competing throughout high school, and to choreographing in shows here at our very own PCC currently. Though I still push my self to always keep learning from those more experienced than me, I do believe I have a fair amount of knowledge of dance culture as a whole.

D. Thesis: Though different genres of dance began as forms of rebellion against formality and structure of society, today it has become a form of art for people of any shape, size, and age to enjoy and gives people around the world a way to escape their own reality to be themselves.

E. Preview of main points: Today I’m going to be talking to you about how dancing has grown into what it is today, as well as how much dance not only benefits and inspires me, but also hopefully how it can do that for you as well and maybe inspire you to enroll in a dance class one day!

II. Body

A. Culture object represents

1. So although there are hundreds of dance styles today, when dancing begun there was really only one type, Classical. Especially the 16th century were the “Elizabethan Era” was known for its regal dances that were used more for socialization than for technique. But all that changed when Ballet was created to introduce structure into poetry/operas, and create storylines through technique and costumes. The highest of societies would gather and line up at theaters all around Europe to see these graceful yet strong dancers. But what no one would see is actually how abusive the art of ballet really was towards its dancers. That is until the late 1800s when some of the most formally trained ballet dancers decided to break the structure and create the rebellion known as “modern dance”

2. Modern dance was lead by four legends known as Martha Gram, Loie Fuller, Isabelle Duncun, and Merce Cunningham. For all of them, they were sick of the suffocating costumes, the artificial storylines, and most importantly the emotional strain they felt caused by the need to be “perfect”. Though ballet isn’t as bad as it sounds and to this day is one of the longest surviving genres in the dance culture. But modern dancing truly opened the doors for so many other generes that also rebilled against the rules of classical dancing and allowed one to move their body in a more natural and freeing ways other than having one balance on their toes for hours at a time. From the era of Flappers, to todays rise of hip hop and ravers! Dancing has slowly but surely given people the chance to move the way that they want in order to help them express what emotions they’re feeling without the need for any words at all.

B. Why I identify with this culture

1. When I began dancing at the age of 5, I actually hated it. I would cry before going into classes and scream when I would have to wear makeup for recitals. Unfortunately It was due to me being picked on at my ballet school for not having the “ideal ballerina body” as a little girl. I eventually quit ballet at the age of 11 and didn’t begin dancing again until high school. And didn’t even fully fall in love with it until college. Where it was no longer a competition over how many turns someone could do, but instead about how much heart and emotion was put into a piece. No matter how many times I tried, nothing else in my life gave me the mental break I needed like how dance did for me.

2. On even my worst days, panic attacks, break ups, etc; nothing gave me more of a distraction like putting on my half soles, pushing shuffle on a playlist, and beginning to move and start choreographing in the studio. Dancing gives me and so many others, the freedom to get our bodies moving while also getting our minds to move and focus on something that can help us creatively instead of destructively.

III. Conclusion

A. Review thesis: Though different genres of dance began as forms of rebellion against formality and structure of society, today it has become a form of art for people of any shape, size, and age to enjoy and gives people around the world a way to escape their own reality to be themselves.

B. Review main points: There are hundreds of different styles in the dance culture but none would be where they are without the structure and technique of ballet or the freeing movments that were brought to light by the modern dance rebellion. I also discussed my personal journey with dance and how being apart of the dance culture has helped me mentally and physically.

C. Memorable closer: So with that all in mind I urge you all to find something in life that allows you to feel free and confident in your choices but also be your escape from reality while keeping your mental health in check! Whether that’s sports, arts, or even enrolling yourself in a dance class here at PCC and becoming apart of the dance culture yourself!