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Fast and Furious Feet 热力四射踢跶舞

 

课文朗读

 

课文讲解

 

繁體中文譯本

 

If you think that tap dancing is fuddy-duddy and out of step with the times, you might want to think again. Modern tap is fast-moving, energetic, and highly entertaining. In fact, even back when Fred Astaire was taking the world by storm, tap dancing could hardly be described as dull.

如果你认为踢跶舞是老掉牙又过时的东西，那你可能要换个想法了。现代踢跶舞的速度非常快、充满活力又具有高度的娱乐性。事实上，早在佛列德．阿斯泰尔掀起一阵踢跶热潮时，踢跶舞就很难和「无聊」扯上关系。

 

Tap takes its name from the rhythmical tapping noise made as the dancer strikes the ground with their feet. The metal plates on the tap shoes create a percussive sound. So, the more intricate the dance steps are, the more intricate the noise that’s created. Therefore, when it comes to tap, you’re getting music as well as dance.

踢跶舞的名字源自于舞者用脚敲击地面所产生一连串充满节奏感的踢跶声。踢跶舞鞋的金属片创造出如打击乐器般的音效。因此，舞步越是琐碎繁复，所创造出的踢跶声也越复杂精细。所以，在跳踢跶舞的同时，音乐也随之而生。

 

This form of dance has its origins with the African Slaves who were brought to work in the southern United States. They figured out a way of communicating through playing the drums, but when slave traders realized what slaves were doing, they banned the instruments. However, the slaves adapted their communication system by tapping their feet instead of playing drums.

这种舞蹈起源于被带到美国南方工作的非洲奴隶。他们想出一种用鼓声来沟通的方法，但是当这种传递讯息的方式被奴隶贩子发现，他们就被禁止使用打击乐器。然而，奴隶便将他们的沟通系统从原本击鼓转换成用脚拍打。

 

Tap continued to evolve in America, and elements of the Irish and English tap styles were introduced. The style became popular on stage and screen, and audiences loved to watch the rapid movements of the dancers’ feet and enjoyed the jaunty, upbeat, lighthearted performances.

踢跶舞持续在美国发展，还增添了爱尔兰式与英式踢跶舞风的元素。这种舞风在舞台及屏幕上都越来越受欢迎，而观众喜爱看舞者急速舞动的双脚，欣赏这种活泼欢乐又轻快的表演。

 

Dancers and choreographers were not afraid to combine tap with other dance genre, such as ballet, jazz, and hip-hop. However, no matter how much tap is vamped up, though, it always retains its appeal as a classic dance style.

舞者和编舞家们勇于尝试将踢跶舞与其他例如芭蕾、爵士或嘻哈等舞蹈结合。不过，不论踢跶舞怎么创新，它总是能保有其经典舞风的吸引力。

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

fuddy-duddy [ˋfʌdɪ͵dʌdɪ] adj. 过时的

dull [dʌl] adj. 乏味的，单调的

percussive [pɚˋkʌsɪv] adj. 敲击的; 冲击的

intricate [ˋɪntrəkɪt] adj. 错综复杂的；复杂精细的

adapt [əˋdæpt] v. 改建，改造

evolve [ɪˋvɑlv] v. 使逐步形成；发展

jaunty [ˋdʒɔntɪ] adj. 轻松活泼的；快活的

upbeat [ˋʌp͵bit] adj. 乐观的; 欢笑的

lighthearted [ˋlaɪtˋhɑrtɪd] adj. 轻松愉快的，无忧无虑的

choreographer [͵korɪˋɑgrəfɚ] n. 编舞者

 

 

Idiom

片语发音

 

out of step (+ with) 与…不协调 not as up-to-date as someone or something 

take someone or something by storm 完全征服 to conquer someone or something in a fury

figure out something 想出, 理解, 明白 to understand something by thinking about it

vamp [væmp] up【口】(用旧的或现有的材料)做出新的东西  piece (something old) with a new part

 

 

课文朗读

 

课文讲解

 

Nowadays, there are several standout dance troupes that are boosting tap’s popularity around the world. A night at the theater watching professional tap dancers is certainly a sight – and sound – to behold.

现今许多杰出的舞团将踢跶舞推广至全世界。晚间在剧院欣赏一场专业踢跶舞者的表演绝对是极具声光效果的影音享受。

 

Arguably, the most famous show in this genre is Riverdance. Irish stepdancing ischaracterized by exceptionally fast footwork and a mostly still upper body. When a long line of cast members simultaneously performs a stepdancing routine, the effect is quite amazing, as dozens of feet move swiftly and in perfect synch with one another.

这种舞种最知名的表演可以说就是大河之舞了。爱尔兰踢跶舞的特色就是非常迅速的脚功与几乎闻风不动的上半身。当一长排的演出者整齐划一地表演时，能看到许多脚迅速又整齐的舞动着，其舞台效果相当惊人。

 

Tap Dogs is an all-male Australian act which combines contemporary tap with props, sound effects, and industrial themes. Dressed in tight T-shirts and ripped jeans, Tap Dogs creates big steely sounds by dancing off scaffolds, ladders, and metal panels. Thesensationaltroupe has found international success.

踢跶狗则是一个来自澳洲的纯男性舞团，此舞团将现代踢跶舞与各种道具、音效以及工业场景加以融合。踢跶狗的者们身穿紧身T恤和破牛仔裤，在鹰架、梯子和金属板上发出巨大的钢铁声响。这个舞团以十足的舞台魅力征服了世界各国的观众。

 

In Taiwan, tap has been flourishing since the 1970s, when Xu, Ren-shang founded Wu Yi Dance Studio, one of the nation’s best known modern dance schools. In addition, Taipei Irish Dance Academy is a pioneer of Irish dance in Taiwan. The academy was set up by Hsiao, Yi-han, who studied Irish dance in Europe. She went on to become the first Taiwanese dancer to appear in Michael Flatley’s Feet of Flames.

在台湾，踢跶舞从1970年代开始风行，当许仁上创立台湾最有名的当代舞蹈教室之一──舞艺舞蹈补习班──开始。此外，台北踢跶舞蹈学院则是台湾的爱尔兰踢跶舞先驱。该学院是由曾在欧洲进修爱尔兰踢跶舞的萧逸涵所创立。她更是第一位参与麦可．佛莱利火焰之舞表演的台湾舞者。

 

In 2001, Dance Works was established by a group of dancers who wanted to share their passion for tap with the Taiwanese people. More than performers, Dance Works’ dancers are committed to the community and put much effortinto coaching children and students and organizing mass events like the annual Tap Together festival. So, if you’re in the mood to move, tap into your inner dancer and book a lesson today.

一群想与台湾民众分享对踢跶舞的热情的舞者于2001年组成了舞工厂。舞工厂的舞者不只从事表演，还致力于经营社群、孩童、青年学子之教学与筹办大型活动，例如一年一度的台北踢跶节。总之，如果你也开始脚痒、蠢蠢欲动，今天就去报名上课，释放出你内心的踢跶舞魂吧！

 

－by Alice Davis

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

standout [ˋstænd͵aʊt] n. 优秀而显著的人物

troupe [trup] n.（演员等的）一团

arguably [ˋɑrgjʊəblɪ] adv. 可以认为地 as can be supported or shown by persuasive argument; possibly

footwork [ˋfʊt͵wɝk] n.（拳击、舞蹈等中的）步法

still [stɪl] adj. 静止的，不动的

simultaneously [saɪməlˋtenɪəslɪ] adv. 同时地

routine [ruˋtin] n.（经常表演的）固定剧目

swiftly [ˋswɪftlɪ] adv. 迅速地，敏捷地

synch [sɪŋk] n. 同时发生（= synchronize）

contemporary [kənˋtɛmpə͵rɛrɪ] adj. 当代的

prop [prɑp] n.【口】道具（= property）

industrial [ɪnˋdʌstrɪəl] adj. 工业的，产业的

rip [rɪp] v. 撕，扯 to become torn apart or split open

steely [ˋstilɪ] adj. 钢铁的

scaffold [ˋskæf!d] n. 【建】鹰架

 

 

Idiom

片语发音

 

a sight to behold 值得看的人（或物）a person or thing that is particularly impressive or worth seeing

in the mood 做某事物的心思或兴致  having the proper state of mind for a particular situation or for doing something

tap into 开发; 接进  to establish a connection with; have access to

 

 

Reading Questions

 

1.    What does the article imply about tap dancing?

(A)  It’s old-fashioned and not attractive to young people.

(B)  It’s in fashion now, but people will soon lose interest.

(C)  It’s the most simple style of dance for people to learn.

(D)  It has performers and fans from many nations.

 

2.    What does the article say about Riverdance?

(A)  All the dancers in this company are Irish men.

(B)  Its performers are known for their quick, intricate dance steps.

(C)  The Irish dance group was founded by Hsiao Yi-han.

(D)  It features broad movements of the arms and shoulders.

 

3.    Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the article?

(A)  Tap dancing started with slaves in America.

(B)  Metal shoe plates create the noise associated with tap.

(C)  Tap can be mixed with other dance styles.

(D)  No Taiwanese have ever performed in the show Feet of Flames.

 

4.    According to the article, who was Fred Astaire?

(A)  He was likely an internationally renowned dancer.

(B)  He was likely a slave trader in the southern U.S.

(C)  He was likely a journalist who pioneered tap dancing.

(D)  He was likely the man who gave tap a bad image.

 

 

Swing Time - Rogers and Astaire

 

 

Riverdance Finale

 

 

Tap Dogs I Beams

 

 

「火焰之舞」登台亞洲首位舞者蕭逸涵

 

 

Cadeson 凯德森 赞助 台北踢踏节Tap Together 华山Open Jam .avi 

 

Answer

 

1. ( D )

2. ( B )

3. ( D )

4. ( A )