Tag: Dance
When I use the term “physical comedy,” I’m usually thinking full-body involvement, and I often cite not only comedians such as Buster Keaton and Bill Irwin, but dance troupes such as Pilobolus and Momix. Lately I’ve taken to calling it “(Very) Physical Comedy” to distinguish it from certain clown work that, though mostly non-verbal and often making very imaginative use of objects, is more static, less kinetically explosive.
After six months with only a handful of posts, this blog is back, and what better way to restart than with something sublimely silly: Japanese Synchronized Walking!
[Some of you must have noticed that I’ve neglected the blog big time this year. It’s not that I’ve lost interest in physical comedy. In fact, in New York I’ve been busy directing physical comedy, and this week I’m in Barcelona teaching it at Jango Edwards’ Nouveau Clown Institute. Nope, the problem is that I’ve gotten involved with other stuff, the main one being learning Spanish! Had been meaning to do it for over 40 years, and now I’ve thrown much of my spare time into it. But the plan is to get back to the blog, and here’s a post to prove it.]
It’s almost Thanksgiving. Much to lament, much that needs fixing, much that can’t be fixed, but as always ever so much to be thankful for. Somewhere on that list be sure to include all the talented physical comedians who have left us such a wonderful legacy. And to that list I’m adding guest blogger Betsy Baytos, who once again is favoring us with some more insights and fantastic footage on the subject of eccentric dance. —jt
We continue our series of popular guest posts on eccentric dance by Betsy Baytos with a piece on the multi-talented Red Skelton. I was actually on his show (in a skit with Jackie Gleason!) a few days after my seventh birthday, and 28 years later he consented to be honorary chairperson of the first NY International Clown-Theatre Festival, but (unlike Betsy) this time around I did not get to meet him. Click here for all of Betsy’s posts on eccentric dance. —jt
Pop quiz: What do King Kong and eccentric dance have in common? I had no idea, but it turns out the missing link is Andy Serkis, known to millions as Gollum in Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, as the giant ape in King Kong, as the chimpanzee Caesar in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and as Captain Haddock in The Adventures of Tintin. Millions except for me, that is, but now thanks to our resident eccentric dance expert, Funny Feet director, and guest poster Betsy Baytos, I am being properly schooled. In addition to voicing these characters, Serkis’ body language and facial expressions were digitized by means of motion capture technology and formed the basis for animating each one of them. Not surprisingly, this leading motion capture actor with the circus name is also a student of eccentric dance. Take it away, Betsy! —jt
Duck Soup is my favorite Marx Brothers movie, but it was not a big box office hit. I loved the satire and anarchy, but the general public apparently less so. The reaction of Irving Thalberg at MGM was next time to bring in playwright George S. Kaufmann (You Can’t Take It with You) and give the boys a script where they’d have more pompous (and nasty) straightmen to do battle with. The happy result was the mega hit, A Night at the Opera.
I have the honor of turning my 300th post (!) over to eccentric dancer Betsy Baytos, whose documentary film project, Funny Feet: The Art of Eccentric Dance (see two posts ago) draws upon this dance background and her work as an animator with Disney Studios. A twin threat! Betsy has graciously agreed to favor us with a few guest posts on eccentric dance. For starters, she’ll share some of her own work with us and explain how she came to straddle the worlds of animation and eccentric dance. (And by “straddle” I mean a full split!)
In my next life I’m hoping to come back as an eccentric dancer. I wants me some rubber legs. I’m sure you feel the same.
Two dance legends with some funny moves and sharp partner work. I’ve been known to include back-to-back leans when teaching counter-balace techniques, so I especially appreciated this!
Here’s a charming piece where comedy-dance greats Donald O’Connor and Gene Kelly decide to reprise their greatest hits — sitting down! Fun, especially if you’re familiar with the dance numbers they’re referencing. Thanks to Riley Kellogg for the link!
Stephen Colbert hosts David Hallberg from the American Ballet Theater, first American to perform with Moscow’s legendary Bolshoi Ballet, and joins him and Hee Seo in a selection from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. Not uproarious, but you have to give Colbert credit here — better ballet chops than you’d expect from a stand-up comic!
A few posts back we looked at Lou Costello taking a dance lesson. This time we see Martin & Lewis going at it. Yes, I know the world is divided into those who like Jerry Lewis and those who don’t, but whichever side you’re on I think you’ll enjoy the physical comedy moves in this piece from the old television show, the Colgate Comedy Hour. Dean Martin is the instructor, Lewis the oafish and slow-witted student. The first half is full of solo gyrations by Lewis, while the second half has some real nice partner work.
If you’re not into musicals then you’ve probably never seen MGM’s 1954 movie, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Starring Howard Keel and Jane Powell, the movie is especially known for its robust dances, choreographed by Michael Kidd, whose Broadway and Hollywood credits are about as impressive as you can get.
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Workshops & Other Events
My first book (1976)
My book Clowns has long been out of print, but you can borrow it for two weeks at a time from the Internet Archive. More information is available here.
My second book (2015)
Visual and verbal humor for the cognitively and artistically curious! Available here.
“A book to treasure!”
—Bill Irwin