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The Elegance of Ballroom Dancing 国标舞的典雅与热情

 

课文朗读

 

课文讲解

 

繁體中文譯本

 

An enduring image of ballroom dancing might be in black and white – one of Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, exquisitely dressed and looking into one another’s eyes. They are in a classic pose – she’s leaning back in his arms, her leg gracefullyoutstretched – then he waltzes her across the stage. Perhaps the most esteemed dance partnership of all time, the elegant duo took the 1930s by storm and revolutionized dance.

讲到国标舞就让人想到一幅不朽的黑白画面：琴吉．萝洁丝和弗雷德．阿斯泰尔穿着典雅精致的舞衣，深情款款地注视着对方。他们摆着很经典的姿势：萝洁丝靠在阿斯泰尔的手臂上，优雅地伸长了腿，而阿斯泰尔则领着她舞过整场。这对高雅的舞者在1930年代卷起一股风潮，并对国标舞产生革命性的影响，可说是长久以来最受人景仰的舞蹈组合。

 

Ballroom dancing has always had fans, but recently it has become even more popular thanks to movies like Jennifer Lopez’s Shall We Dance and the success of television shows such as Dancing with the Stars. This program, in various forms, broadcasts in more than 30 countries and was the most watched TV show in the world in both 2006 and 2007. Ballroom dancing has come a long way since the pre-war days, and in the 21st century it can be fast, athletic, and sexy, as well as graceful and romantic.

国标舞一直都很受欢迎，不过最近又变得更加热门。这要归功于一些电影，像是珍妮弗．洛佩兹的《来跳舞吧》，或是成功的电视节目如《与巨星共舞》。《与巨星共舞》在超过30个国家以不同形式播映，是2006和2007年全世界收视率最高的电视节目。国标舞从世界大战之前就不断发展、进步，直到21世纪的今天，国标舞可以很性感、迅速、运动性强，同时又非常优雅浪漫。

 

Historically, ballroom dancing was a pursuit of the higher classes. The Viennese Waltz is recognized as the oldest dance in the genre, emerging in the 18th century. The waltz was subject to criticism as some expressed distaste for the fact that the couples faced one another as they danced, regarding it as vulgar and scandalous compared to the communal, non-contact dances that had come before. However, the elite loved it, and many new partner dances were developed from this original waltz.

在历史上，国标舞曾经是上流社会的消遣。维也纳华尔兹起源自18世纪，是公认最古老的国标舞类别。但华尔兹曾遭受批评，因为有些人对于舞者相向的舞法感到反感。相较于更早出现、没有肢体接触的群舞，华尔兹显得过于鄙俗煽情。不过菁英份子深爱华尔兹，往后更多种类的双人舞也是由华尔兹发展出来。

 

These days, ballroom’s appeal reaches far beyond parties thrown by the wealthy. Whether as a hobby or profession, dancing or spectating, the magic of ballroom is universal.

现今国标舞的魅力可不局限在富家子弟举办的派对之中。不论是当作消遣或是职业，亲身参与还是在旁观赏，舞厅的魔力可说是世界共通。

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

image [ˋɪmɪdʒ] n.（心目中的）形象；印象

exquisitely [ɛkˋskwɪzɪtlɪ] adv. 精致地

esteemed [əˋstimd] adj. 受人尊敬的

partnership [ˋpɑrtnɚ͵ʃɪp] n. 合伙（或合作）关系

broadcast [ˋbrɔd͵kæst] v. 广播，播送

have come a long way 大有进步 to make a lot of progress and improvement

athletic [æθˋlɛtɪk] adj. 运动的; 行动敏捷的

historically [hɪsˋtɔrɪk!ɪ] adv. 根据历史事实

pursuit [pɚˋsut] n. 消遣  an occupation, hobby, or pastime

genre [ˋʒɑnrə] n.【法】文艺作品之类型

be subject to 受...约束, 得经常忍受...。

vulgar [ˋvʌlgɚ] adj. 粗俗的；下流的；粗鲁的

elite [ɪˋlit] n. 优秀分子

 

More Information

单词发音

 

ballroom dancing（两人跳的）交际舞

pose [poz] n. 姿势; 姿态

outstretched [aʋt`strɛtʃt] adj. 张开的﹐伸开的

waltz [wɔlts] v. 与……跳华尔兹舞

duo [ˋduo] n.〔在一起表演的〕一对艺人﹐两人的搭档

distaste [dɪsˋtest] n. 不喜欢﹐ 厌恶﹐ 反感

scandalous [ˋskænd!əs] adj. 可耻的，丢脸的

communal [ˋkɑmjʊn!] adj. 公共的；共有的

hobby [ˋhɑbɪ] n. 业余爱好，癖好，嗜好

spectate [ˋspɛktet] v. 出席观看

 

 

 

课文朗读

 

课文讲解

 

With the activity in vogue, interest in dance contests has naturally increased. Competitive ballroom dancing, also known as dancesport, encompasses the classic styles – the waltz, foxtrot, and quickstep – and the Latin styles, including the paso doble, the rumba, and the chacha-cha. Each dance ought to communicate a story – the paso doble is the tale of a bullfight, while the tango is a battle of seduction – so the expressiveness of the dancers is vital to the performance.

随着国标舞的流行，人们对国标舞比赛的兴趣自然而然也开始增加。竞技性国标舞称为运动舞蹈，包含了经典舞步像是华尔兹、狐步和快步，当然也有如斗牛舞、伦巴及恰恰的拉丁舞步。每种舞都是在诉说一个故事──斗牛舞描述了一段斗牛比赛，而探戈则是一场诱惑的斗争。因此，舞者感情的传达对于舞蹈而言极为重要。

 

While many countries host domestic and international dance contests, the most distinguished of all, and the one that attracts the most attention, is the Blackpool Dance Festival. Held annually since 1920 in Blackpool, England, the event was the first of its kind. At present, it attracts many hundreds of couples who wish to participate in the illustrious championships in the hope that they will waltz their way into the history books.

许多国家都会举办国内或是国际性舞蹈比赛，但其最为人所知也最受人瞩目的就属英国黑池舞蹈节了。黑池舞蹈节是最早的舞蹈公开赛，自1920年起每年都在英国的黑池举办。今日黑池舞蹈节每年都吸引了好几百对舞者，他们都希望能参与这项卓越赛事，并在历史上舞出自己的光彩。

 

Certainly, a dance contest like Blackpool is bound to be a feast for the eyes. Glamor and glitz are a part of ballroom dancing’s history. Therefore, couples go the extra mile when it comes to looking good. While the male dancer is always immaculately dressed, it is the woman who lights up the dancefloor in an extravagant gem-studded dress and jewelry that shimmers like stardust.

像黑池舞蹈节这样的舞蹈比赛绝对称得上是一场视觉飨宴。迷人魅力与绚丽光彩本来就是国标舞历史的一部分。因此，舞者们费尽心力就是为了让自己更加耀眼。男舞者的服装大多以整洁利落为主，而真正点亮舞台都是女舞者，她们镶满奢华宝石的舞衣和首饰有如星尘般闪耀。

 

Rather than the fancy costumes, judges are supposed to focus on, among other things, poise, musicality, footwork, and chemistry between the dancers. Blackpool’s festival, beginning on May 27th, decides which twirling twosome will be crowned the new world champions. So, don’t be out of step; there could be a new Rogers and Astaire.

不过裁判的焦点可不是那些华丽的服装，而是舞者的台风、节奏感和步伐，乃至于舞者之间的默契。今年的黑池舞蹈节将于5月27日开幕，届时又会选出一对轻旋起舞的搭档冠上冠军头衔。所以脚步可千万别落后了，搞不好会有新的萝洁丝和阿斯泰尔出现！

 

−by Alice Davis

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

in vogue [vog] 正在流行 in the current fashion or style    

competitive [kəmˋpɛtətɪv] adj. 竞争的；竞争性的

encompass [ɪnˋkʌmpəs] v. 包含﹐包括

seduction [sɪˋdʌkʃən] n. 诱惑

vital [ˋvaɪt!] adj. 极其重要的

domestic [dəˋmɛstɪk] adj. 国内的

distinguished [dɪˋstɪŋgwɪʃt] adj. 卓越的；著名的

participate [pɑrˋtɪsə͵pet] v. 参加，参与[（+in）]

be bound to 必定 certain to

glamor [ˋglæmɚ] n. 魅力，魔力，迷人的力量

go the extra mile 做比期望的多得多的努力 to make more effort than is expected of you

extravagant [ɪkˋstrævəgənt] adj. 奢侈的；浪费的

crown [kraʊn] v. 为……加冠；为……加冕

 

 

More Information

单词发音

 

dancesport 体育运动舞蹈

foxtrot [ˋfɑks͵trɑt] n. 狐步舞；狐步舞曲

quickstep [ˋkwɪk͵stɛp] n. 快步舞

paso doble [ˌpæsoʊ'doʊbleɪ] n. 斗牛舞

rumba [ˋrʌmbə] n. 伦巴舞；伦巴曲

tango [ˋtæŋgo] n. 探戈舞

glitz [glɪts] n. 浮华；耀眼；炫目

immaculately [ɪˋmækjəlɪtlɪ] adv. 干净地; 完美地；毫无过失地

studded [ˋstʌdɪd] adj. 镶满饰钮[宝石]的

shimmer [ˋʃɪmɚ] v. 发微光﹐闪闪发亮

stardust [ˋstɑr͵dʌst] n.（大群小星）星团；宇宙尘

poise [pɔɪz] n.（头部，身体等的）姿势，姿态; 自信

musicality [͵mjuzɪˋkælətɪ] n. 音感

footwork [ˋfʊt͵wɝk] n.（拳击、舞蹈等中的）步法

twirl [twɝl] v. 快速转动；快速旋转

twosome [ˋtusəm] n.〔两人组成的〕一对﹐一双; 搭档

out of step 步调不一致; 不同步 not aware of something; not as up-to-date as someone or something

 

 

Reading Questions

 

1. According to the article, what type of person was originally interested in ballroom dancing?

A. Someone who enjoyed watching dancing TV shows.

B. Someone who was searching for a partner.

C. Someone who had money and was well-educated.

D. Someone who was looking to get back into shape.

 

2. Which of the following statements about the waltz is true?

A. It is the oldest form of dance in the world.

B. At first, many people thought it was morally wrong.

C. It was created sometime in the 1980s.

D. Most people today feel that the waltz is inappropriate for TV.

 

3. Which of the following statements about dance competitions is NOT true?

A. More people are interested in them than ever before.

B. Many competitions feature a variety of styles.

C. Female dancers often wear lots of rings and necklaces.

D. Men usually wear casual clothing while dancing.

 

4. What would be another suitable title for the article?

A. Learning the Basic Steps of Ballroom Dancing

B. A Brief History of the Blackpool Dance Festival

C. Ballroom Dancing: A Forgotten Art Form

D. The Evolution of Ballroom Dancing

 

Best ballroom dance ever!!

 

Fred & Ginger & Rita: Dancing In The Street

 

Shall We Dance? Movie Clip

 

Dancing With The Stars Season 10 Week 9: Chad Ochocinco & Cheryl Burke - Samba

 

Hilton basic foxtrot

 

more videos:

Hilton basic quickstep

Paso Doble - Michal Malitowski & Joanna Leunis

rumba - dance with music

Cha Cha Dance Lesson for Beginners

Tango Passion: Tanguera

2011 Blackpool Dance Festival Pro Latin - Jive Final

 

 

 

 

 

Answer

1. ( C )

2. ( B )

3. ( D )

4. ( D )