Jazz Dance :: essays research papers

Afterreading the article on jazz dance, I had found out a number of interestingthings that I hadnt known before. I thought it was a dance form that wasfairly new, starting in the early 1900s. I then found out that it actually pre-dates all the way back to theseventeenth century. I also thought itcame from the United States, when it really originated in Africa and wasbrought here by the slaves. The dancingand drumming was such a part of their lives; it was eventually continued by theslaves on the plantations with dancing and the clapping of their hands forrhythm. It was used as a form ofentertainment, as well as enjoyment, and sometimes, even for competition. It wasaround the 1830s when the song and dance of the Africans began being performedin theaters, called Minstrel shows,but the dancers were actually white. Then in the 1860s, blacks were finally aloud to perform in these shows. They became very popular and then diedout in the early 1900s, which lead the way for new shows. The most popular of these being the Vaudeville show. The Vaudeville show, presented a numberof different acts with all different cultures of people and dance, whichencouraged diversity. It served as aprofessional school, a training ground and an experimental station for dancersdestined for Broadway, nightclubs and film.-Richard Kislan. The Vaudevilleera began the emergence of jazz music, which mixed ragtime and blues. The dancers would then begin to connect tothe condensed rhythms of jazz music. Nowjazz incorporates a gathering of styles and movement, which can mean a lot ofdifferent things to different people. When welearned jazz dance in class, I found it hard to keep up at first. I liked the way it looked, when someone whoknew what they were doing, was dancing. I remember changing directions a lot. I also noticed while dancing that you use pretty much every part of yourbody. I thought I would be good at it,considering I am an athlete, and I am tune with my body. But I wasnt, I just felt like so manydifferent things to remember. Maybe if Ipracticed it more, I could pick it up. What I didlike about jazz dance, is how free it is. It really gives you the opportunity to express yourself. Even the guy who came in to instruct us wastelling everyone to perform the moves in your own style. Since we didnt really have any jazz music, Ifound it hard to keep rhythm.

Ball corporation Essay

1. How do you think a small margin for error affects communication on a project? I think that it can affect the zero error margins. By not listening and paying close attention to the information, room for error can occur. Also after knowing that there zero room for error the people working on the project will pay close attention to any communication. 2. In what ways do you act differently in a face to face meeting than you do during a telephone conference call? I have not have the experience, but may I feel that the difference would be that during a conference call, the person who is talking will not be able to see and body expression thus thinking that everything is okay. In a face to face call the person that relates the info can see anybody that might not agree and ask why they might feel this way. 3. Why is it written communication essential in some situations (such as conveying specifications), while oral communication is essential in others (such as technology interchange transfers)? Written communication sometimes is a necessity it’s like having an architect and telling the contractor what to do. It will be quite hard for the contractor, because he might know where to start; miscommunication and the architect might have other projects. So it might be easier to have the plans on hand and the contractor can go over it several times to ensure the building is coming along to specification. The oral communications are just simple decision that will be agreed upon not really giving any numbers because it will be harder to explain in detail than having the plan in front. 4. What listening hurdles do you find yourself facing as you listen to others? How do you handle it when you believe someone you’re speaking to is not hearing what you say? Some hurdles I find myself facing would be distractions, such as watching the T.V. and having a conversation with the family a lot of communication can be lost by trying to listen to both at the same time. I have found several ways to combat this issue, one that the text give is asking questions to see if the audience is listening. Another that I have learned from my supervisor were if there are people talking during a speech he brings the attention to the coworkers by asking everybody to pay attention to them because I guess there conversation is more important than the information that is being given, he then proceeds back to the information. I have seen this one work several times.

The Life History of Elvis Presley

Elvis Aaron Presley was born into a poverty stricken family on January 8, 1935. He and his twin brother (Jessie Garon who died at birth) were the sons of Vernon Elvis Presley and Gladys Love Smith Presley. Gladys Smith gave birth in two-room house built by her husband and her brother – in -law. His way of life was rough in Tupelo, Mississippi where he was born. He was born during the Great Depression. Elvis and his parents attended the Assembly of God Church; the music and preaching registered very deeply in Elvis. In 1945, ten year old Elvis stands on a chair at a microphone and sings † Old Sheep † in a contest at the Mississippi – Alabama Fair and Dairy Show, which was held in Tupelo. Elvis wins second prize, which was $5. 00 and free admissions to all rides at the fair. In 1946, Elvis's parents couldn†t afford the bicycle that Elvis wanted, so Gladys talked him into accepting a guitar instead. The guitar cost $12. 95 and was purchased at the Tupelo Hardware Company. He and his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1948 to pursue a better life. They lived in low – income housing. He buys his clothes on the famous, Beadle Street, and he absorbs the gospel and blues that he hears there. Elvis graduated from Hughes High School in 1953. He recorded an album for his mother as a present at Sun Records in 1954. In late 1955 his recording contract was sold to RCA Records. The songs that he recorded was † My Happiness and â€Å"That's When Your Heartaches Begin†. Sam Phillips, finally calls him in to record â€Å"Big Boy† Crudup's † That's All Right† and song was backed by â€Å"Blue Moon of Kentucky†. By 1956, he was an international sensation. With a sound and style that uniquely combined his diverse musical influences and challenged the social and racial barriers of the time, he began a whole new style of music. He was highly criticized for his music that had African American roots and his swiveling hip movements. Elvis was a total original! August 15, 1955, Elvis signs a management contract with Hank Snow Attractions, which was equally owned by Snow and Colonel Tom Parker. Colonel Tom Parker will be Elvis' manager from this time to the time of his death. Snow, soon is no longer connected to Elvis. On November 20, 1955 Elvis signed his first contract with RCA Records, which will be his label to the time of his death. Colonel Parker negotiated the sale of Elvis's contract to RCA, which included Elvis's first five singles with SUN and unreleased material of SUN. The final price was a whopping $40,000 with $5,000 bonus. No artist at that time was paid that much. September 9, 1956 † Elvis Presley Day† was proclaimed in Tupelo, Mississippi. December 31, 1956, the front page of the Wall Street Journal reported that Elvis' merchandise had grossed $22 million in sales. This would be forever part of the market of Elvis Presley, and non- – stopping never ending demanded. Elvis buys Graceland Mansion for himself, his parents, and his great – grandmother to live in on March 1957. It would be ready for them to move into by April of 1957. After two successful films, Elvis began work on â€Å"Jailhouse Rock† for MGM in May 1957. October 17, 1957; † Jailhouse Rock † premiered in Memphis. Jailhouse Rock† would come to be known as the ultimate classic of all â€Å"rock opera† movies. The â€Å"Jailhouse Rock † production number in the film would be later be recognized as the grandfather of pop and rock music videos, a music format that would become a widely popular by the 1980's. Many women were crazy over him, and were saddened when he was drafted into the army in December of 1957. March 24, 1958 Elvis was inducted into the United States Army at the Memphis Draft Board and was assigned the serial number 53310761. In August of 1958, Gladys Presley dies of acute hepatitis. She was laid to rest at Forest Hill Cemetery, a few miles down the road from Graceland, but later her body was moved back to Graceland after Elvis' death. He was stationed in West Germany. That is where he met Priscilla Ann Beaulieu. March 1960, he was discharged from the army. After he was discharged, he missed Priscilla. He asked Priscilla to move in with him at his legendary home, Graceland in the year of 1963. They married on May 1, 1967 in Las Vegas, Nevada. They spent their honeymoon in Palm Springs, California. On their honeymoon Priscilla got pregnant with their only child, Lisa Marie Presley. Lisa was born on Feb. 1, 1968. The busy schedule of concert tours left very little time for his family. Priscilla filed for divorce and which went though on October 9, 1973. Elvis and Priscilla made a court appearance. Priscilla was awarded custody of Lisa Marie, there is no formal visitation, but Elvis and his daughter would spend time together regularly. He loved spending time at Graceland with family and friends having backyard barbecues and riding horses. He also enjoyed the times with his daughter, Lisa Marie, at Graceland has well. He loved driving his pink Cadillac†s and riding his Harley Davidson motorcycles. After years away from the stage, he final appears on television singing on December 3, 1968 on NBC – TV. This special would be known as the â€Å"Comeback Special†. It was the biggest television hits of the year. Elvis took his crown back as â€Å"The King of Rock and Roll†. You have to remember Elvis comeback during the time of Vietnam War and hippie movement, and Elvis had all things that were not popular. Elvis was against the hippie movement and the Vietnam War. He liked President Richard M. Nixon. During July 31 – August 28, 1969, Elvis was booked for a four-week engagement at the International Hotel in Las Vegas, which was just built, has the largest showroom in the city. The engagement did break all existing Las Vegas attendance records and gets rave review from the public. Elvis opens up what is called his â€Å"Vegas† period. January 1973, Elvis makes television and entertainment industry history with his † Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii – Via Satellite Special â€Å". It was the concert by a performer to be broadcast around the world by satellite. Elvis performed for free to help benefit for the Kui Lee Cancer Fund. Elvis was not know for his charitable events, but Elvis helped local organizations and pay off people's bill silently. The concert was seen by 1/4 of the world's population. It was saw by more American households has than man's first walk on the moon. Never has one performer held the world's attention in such awe. It was definitely one of the greatest moments in his career. He starred in 33 successful films, made history with his television appearances and specials, and knew great acclaim though his many, often breaking, live concert performances on tour and in Las Vegas. Globally, he has sold over one billion records, platinum or multi-platinum awards for 111 different albums and singles, far more than any other artist of group. Among his awards were the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, which he received at the age of 36, from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, and his being named One of the Ten Most Outstanding Young Men of the Nation for 1970 by the United States Jaycees. This award is giving to people who are bound for the Presidency of the United States of America. Without any special privileges, he honorably served his country in the United States† Army. Millions loved his talent and good looks, sensuality, charisma, and good humor. Known the thoughout the world by his first name, he is regarded as one of the most important cultural figures of the twentieth century. Elvis Aaron Presley (The King of Rock and Roll died in his legendary home, Graceland, in Memphis, Tennessee on August 16, 1977 of cardiac arrest. Elvis Presley†s death sadden the world for years to come. Elvis also influenced many generations of entertainers and musicians. † Elvis Aaron Presley is one the biggest cultural figures of the twentieth century. With passion and integrity, he has reached the world like no else has. With talent and charisma, his heart and soul embraced it all. His music was diverse: country, gospel, rock, pop, soul, rhythm and blues. He obtains all these assets. He was the true King of Rock and Roll. Elvis sang it all†, said by his former wife, Priscilla Presley on the Elvis: The Tribute (It†s now or never), an ABC special.

Hammer-Headed Bat Facts (Big-Lipped Bat)

Hammer-Headed Bat Facts (Big-Lipped Bat) The hammer-headed bat is a real animal, and its scientific name (Hypsignathus monstrosus) references its monstrous appearance. Indeed, websites and social media describe the hammer-headed bats appearance as the spitting image of a devil and even claim that its a cryptid known as the Jersey Devil. Despite its fearsome attributes, however, this bat is a mild-mannered fruit-eater. Nevertheless, you shouldnt get too close, because its one of three species of African fruit bat believed to carry the Ebola virus. Fast Facts: Hammer-Headed Bat Scientific Name: Hypsignathus monstrosusCommon Names: Hammer-headed bat, hammerhead bat, big-lipped batBasic Animal Group: MammalSize: Wingspan 27.0-38.2  inches; Body 7.7-11.2  inchesWeight: 7.7-15.9 ouncesLifespan: 30 yearsDiet: HerbivoreHabitat: Equatorial AfricaPopulation: UnknownConservation Status: Least Concern Description The hammer-headed bat is a type of megabat and the largest bat native to Africa. Both males and females are grayish brown, with brown ears and flight membranes, and tufts of white fur at the base of the ears. An adult bat ranges from 7.7 to 11.2 in body length, with a wingspan of 27.0 to 38.2  in. Males range in weight from 8.0 to 15.9  oz, while females weigh 7.7 to 13.3  oz. Male hammer-headed bats are larger than females and look so different from their mates that it would be easy to think they belonged to a different species. Only the males have large, elongated heads. Female hammer-headed bats have the fox-faced appearance common to most fruit bats. This hammer-headed bat looks unnaturally large because it is closer to the camera than its handler. Per Se, Flickr The hammer-headed bat is sometimes confused with Wahlbergs epauletted fruit bat (Epomophorus wahlbergi), which belongs to the same family but is smaller. Wahlbergs epauletted fruit bat (Epomophorus wahlbergi) also has a hammer-head face. Michele DAmico supersky77 / Getty Images Habitat and Distribution Hammer-headed bats occur across equatorial Africa at elevations below 1800 m (5900 ft). They favor humid habitats, including rivers, swamps, mangroves, and palm forests. Hammer-headed bat distribution map. Chermundy Diet Hammer-headed bats are frugivores, which means their diet consists entirely of fruit. While figs are their favored food, they also eat bananas, mangoes, and guavas. The bat has a longer intestine than that of an insectivorous species, allowing it to absorb more protein from its food. There is a sole report of a bat eating a chicken, but no carnivorous activity has been substantiated. The bats are preyed upon by humans and birds of prey. They are also susceptible to severe parasite infestations. Hammer-headed bats are prone to infection by mites and Hepatocystis carpenteri, a protozoan that affects the liver. The species is a suspected reservoir for the Ebola virus, but as of 2017, only antibodies against the virus (not the virus itself) have been found in the animals. Whether or not the bats can transmit Ebola infection to humans is unknown. Behavior During the day, the bats roost in trees, relying on their coloration to camouflage them from predators. They pick and eat fruit at night. One reason large bats such as the hammer-headed bat are nocturnal is because their bodies generate considerable heat when they are flying. Being active at night helps keep the animals from overheating. Reproduction and Offspring Breeding takes place during dry seasons for some populations and at any time of the year for others. Most members of this bat species reproduce via lek mating. In this type of mating, males gather in groups of 25 to 130 individuals to perform a mating ritual consisting of wing flapping and loud honking. Females fly through the group to evaluate potential mates. When a females selection is made, she lands beside a male and mating occurs. In some hammer-headed bat populations, males perform their display to attract females, but do not form groups. Females usually give birth to one offspring. The time required for gestation and weaning is unclear, but females are known to mature more quickly than males. Females reach sexual maturity at 6 months of age. It takes males a full year to develop their hammer-head faces and about 18 months before they reach maturity. The bat has a life expectancy of thirty years in the wild. Conservation Status The conservation status of the hammer-headed bat was last evaluated in 2016. The bat is categorized as least concern. Although the animal is hunted as bush meat, it occupies a large geographic range and the overall population has not experienced a rapid decline. Sources Bradbury, J. W. Lek Mating Behavior in the Hammer-headed Bat. Zeitschrift fà ¼r Tierpsychologie 45 (3): 225–255, 1977. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0310.1977.tb02120.xDeusen, M. van, H. Carnivorous Habits of Hypsignathus monstrosus. J. Mammal. 49 (2): 335–336, 1968. doi:10.2307/1378006Langevin, P. and R. Barclay. Hypsignathus monstrosus. Mammalian Species 357: 1–4, 1990. doi:10.2307/3504110Nowak, M., R.  Walkers Bats of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press. pp.  63–64, 1994.Tanshi, I. Hypsignathus monstrosus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T10734A115098825. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T10734A21999919.en

Sophies World essays

Sophies World essays REMARKABLE... a whimsical and ingenious mystery novel that also happens to be the history of Philosophy. Jostein Gaarder made his Norwegian literary debut in 1986 with a collection of short stories, followed by two young adult novels. In 1990 he received the Norwegian Literary Critics Award and the Ministry of Cultural and Scientific affairs Literary Prize for his book The Solitaire Mystery. Mr. Gaarder taught high school philosophy for eleven years in Norway, giving him a strong basis for writing Sophies World, his first book to be published in English. After its three-year spot at number one on Norways bestseller list, it has held the same status in Great Britain, Germany, and France also appearing on bestseller lists in Italy, Spain, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, and the United States. In Sophies World, Jostein Gaarder twines the history of philosophy with the supernatural antics of Alice in Wonderland. The main character is a girl named Sophie Admunsen, the novels namesake. Sophie is fourteen years old, and lives in Norway with her mother and all of the animals in her Garden. She is soon joined by the mysterious Alberto Knox, first through correspondence, and then linked by a full-scale philosophy course he has chosen her for. He seems to have lived forever, with the ability to bring magic and supernatural lessons into her life. Alberto is old, kind, extremely wise, and cloaked in mystery for much of the novel. It is difficult to explain the relationship between all of the main characters outside of explaining the plot. Sophie and Alberto are the initial main characters. Sophie comes home from school to find a white envelope addressed to her. Who are you? Where does the world come from? This begins her thinking about the major questions of existence, and then the philosophy course began. Alberto is not physically revealed until late in the first quarter of the novel. Throu...

Evaluating People Skills Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Evaluating People Skills - Research Paper Example A competent manager with a team of unskilled individuals will not be able to score big on performance charts. On the other hand, a competent manager with a competent team always delivers satisfactory results. â€Å"One project management shoe no longer fits all feet† (DeCarlo, 2003). Trends in project management are constantly changing. Different project management techniques work for different projects. Moreover, certain project managers prefer particular project management technique and tools. In other words, project management gets customized frequently. New methodologies and templates are emerging to satisfy the needs of various projects. Trends in people skills have been shifting towards hiring people with tangible ‘People Skills’. Budget, schedule and technical specifications are the three features that determine the success and quality of a project. That is why project management trends are shifting towards putting together a team that can deliver according to the changing requirements of the projects. Accordingly, the trends in processes are also changing. More focus is now on the processes that deliver the most in relatively less amount of time as dramatic changes can be observed in technology leadership and practices. Usually, projects have technical difficulties and the needs for achieving more with less only puts pressure on team members of a project. Teams with significant human dimensions are successful in completing better projects. Virtual teams are the best examples of such human dimensions (Flannes, n.d.). These teams are better at handling cross-cultural variables. There is no doubt that project teams are facing more complexity and strain than ever. The world is recovering from a global economic downturn and this recovery process involves more innovation and more complexity in business projects. Moreover, there is more strain put on project teams due to global business competition. Now the projects generally involve people from

Summarization for chapters of the weather makers, and The author name Essay - 2

Summarization for chapters of the weather makers, and The author name is Tim Flannery - Essay Example Although it is cheaper for some countries to produce electricity from wind power as compared to burning fossil fuels, the chief disadvantage of wind is that it is not always blowing. It has also been argued that the wind turbines that are currently in use are responsible for the killing of many birds each year, this argument has been effectively countered by Flannery who points out that in the United States, more birds are killed by cats than those killed by turbines (Flannery, 267-271). Chapter 30: Nuclear Lazarus? This chapter focuses on discussing nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is a crucial alternative source of energy in light of the emerging climatic issues. James Lovelock, who is the originator of the Gaia Hypothesis pleaded for the expansion of nuclear energy programs in 2004. Nuclear power plants are however complicated to construct and their safety is a huge concern in their construction. Disasters such as the Chernobyl disasters are always being brought up in discussions of nuclear power safety. With the increasing movement of tectonic plates, more and more geothermal power sources are seen to be constantly coming up on the earth’s surface (Flannery, 272-278). ... Flannery also introduces the reader to the idea of CAT vehicles that efficiently run on compressed air and are extremely eco-friendly. Flannery also points out that despite their harsh emissions, one redeeming element of airplanes is that the contrails that they create help in reducing the average amount of light that manages to reach the earth’s surface, a factor that help in keeping the earth slightly cooler (Flannery, 279-283). Chapter 32: The Last Act of God? It is projected that human influences will eventually overtake natural factors. Flannery evokes the question of â€Å"what is the price of this injustice?† This question is in reference to the story of most of the world’s powerful nation not only polluting, but also preventing rain from falling in developing nations. An example being the Inuit whose traditional food sources such as bear, caribou and seals are fast disappearing as an effect of global warming. The Inuit land is also seen to be fast disappe aring. The Kyoto Protocol has allowed only the ratifying nations to pollute within certain given limits (Flannery, 284-289). Chapter 33: The Carbon Dictator This chapter mentioned Paul Crutzen who once helped save the world from ozone depletion and is yet again, back trying to help with the current climate issue. Flannery draws up three different possible climate change outcomes. The first being that human response is too slow and results in the end of the earth as it is currently known. The second scenario allows for humans to avoid destruction by acting in good time, while the third possibility is where by establishing an Earth Commission for Thermostatic Control, we reduce emissions just enough so as to