Simon Edmondson Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 A friend spotted this today. Its part of a sequence from a 1937 "Crazy gang' film with an astonishing dance sequence of a fight between a man and woman. Some jaw dropping moves and a lot of implied violence. simon This would be fun to animate ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Rodney Posted November 17, 2012 Admin Share Posted November 17, 2012 Since seeing some of the early film era dance routines I'm a bit more understanding of the views of folks from that generation that looked upon these dance things sinful. Some are a bit over the top even for this day and age and in today's venue where everything goes that is really saying something. I must assume that by the use of the term 'apache' they were using that word to invoke 'wild' but with a focus toward 'savage'? One can only imagine what a native American indian (or esp. an apache) might have thought as they viewed this routine dubbed 'Apache Dance'. It was definitely not what the title suggested to me at a glance. There is an interesting element of humor that seems to always be thrown into the mix of these dance routines as a means to bring the audience back out of the serious parts of the performance and to suggest, "Hey, relax, we aren't really all that serious here." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hash Fellow robcat2075 Posted November 17, 2012 Hash Fellow Share Posted November 17, 2012 I was confused when I ran into this term in an old silent movie. It seems to be a french notion borrowed from "our" Apaches but then sent off on a life of its own. From the always reliable Wikipedia... Apache is a highly dramatic dance associated in popular culture with Parisian street culture in the beginning of the 20th century. The name of the dance (pronounced ah-PAHSH, not uh-PATCH-ee, like the English pronunciation of the Native American tribe) is taken from a Parisian street gang, which in turn was named for the American Indian tribe due to the perceived savagery of the hoodlums. The term came to be used more generally to refer to certain vicious elements of the Paris underworld at the beginning of the 20th century... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyGormezano Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 Mais Oui - stereotypes galore! I was familiar with the apache dance (from my dance school days), but I always associated it with the stereotypic costumes that we used: horizontal stripe knit tops, berets, net stockings, slit skirts, ciggies dangling from mouth, red gaudy lipstick, so the first clip surprised me. The routine in the video was way wilder than anything we ever did. But speaking of stereotypes, and if you have a 1/2 hour to kill, and can stand to sit thru some commercials, here's a classic "I Love Lucy" episode where Lucy wants to appear in Ricky's show as one of the "Apache" dancers. This is typical script of that show that the writers (and probably audience) never seemed to tire of being re-cycled (just change the nouns). I never really enjoyed "I love Lucy" re-runs as a kid, but this clip is fascinating as a documentary of the times, attitudes and so outrageous with the stereotypes of the day, that it made me chuckle many times at the ridiculousness and predictability of it all. Simon - The "lindy hop" is another dance routine I have thought to animate someday (the Apache, not so much). The "lindy-hop" clip you referenced has some good sequences for rotoscope use. However, in general, I have found it hard to capture from youtube a good copy of most long clips (using free software of course). Haven't yet wanted to shell out bucks for something better, and I'm not sure they would be better? And youtube keeps changing, I suspect to thwart this very activity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Edmondson Posted November 17, 2012 Author Share Posted November 17, 2012 Mais Oui - stereotypes galore! ... Simon - The "lindy hop" is another dance routine I have thought to animate someday (the Apache, not so much). The "lindy-hop" clip you referenced has some good sequences for rotoscope use. However, in general, I have found it hard to capture from youtube a good copy of most long clips (using free software of course). Haven't yet wanted to shell out bucks for something better, and I'm not sure they would be better? And youtube keeps changing, I suspect to thwart this very activity. Nancy I was surprised at the level of violence in the clip. If it was shown as a 'straight' action sequence rather than it dance it would be very scary. Good job the woman gets the upper hand at the end. I would love to do a lindy hop sequence and maybe will in a couple of years ( must get the current and the next out the way first ). I have wanted to do a version of "Sing Sing Sing" with contemporary instruments for a long time and would try to use that as the basis for any animated dance but getting close to the Benny Goodman versions may be impossible. I can't hear that without my pulse increasing and wanting to leap about it is so good.. My friend who spotted the apache sequence is a dance specialist ( she was actually honoured for her services to dance it on the queens birthday last year )., and I'd try to reference her knowledge as well as Youtube. Having seen what you achieved with your dance sequence I would love to see what you'd do with a Lindy Hop routine ??? regards simon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hellzapoppin-DVD-O...4105&sr=1-1 A quick look on Amazon showed this which, when I looked on youtube, was one of the films referenced for the Lindy sequences... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyGormezano Posted November 18, 2012 Share Posted November 18, 2012 I have wanted to do a version of "Sing Sing Sing" with contemporary instruments for a long time and would try to use that as the basis for any animated dance but getting close to the Benny Goodman versions may be impossible. I can't hear that without my pulse increasing and wanting to leap about it is so good.. I know what you mean - it's impossible to sit still while listening. "Sing Sing Sing" would lend itself to also having a story told, and does not have to be only a dance routine. It has lots of variation, even tho it has a driving beat thruout. Doing an animated dance routine is a fun activity for the animator, but ultimately it can't hurt to also weave a good story story story into it. Sing sing sing at Carnegie Hall - 1937 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Edmondson Posted November 18, 2012 Author Share Posted November 18, 2012 Sing sing sing at Carnegie Hall - 1937 Nancy Thank you for the link. Thats the most famous recording. You might be interested by this ? Its by the Inkspots and features several of the musical themes in Sing sing sing. It also has a story. regards Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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