westside story research blog

this is a video from the popular website youtube taken from west side story.Here we see the Latin American group talking about America and comparing it to their home country Puerto Rico. We see a clash between the males and females in the group. The dancing seems to take on the style of a latin /salsa type of movement. Both the ales and females in this piece use alot of stomping and clapping movements aswell as some almost balletic style high kicks mixed with some sharp foot movements.The dancers costumes allow us to get a feel of their surroundings and the style and fashoion of when the piece was set.

In order to begin working on my article I will have to research west side story although i have already seen the film I will need to watch it again in order to refresh my memory on the story line. I will also research the origins of west side story and where the idea came from,the characters, choreographer and why they chose the setting among other things. My first stop was YouTube to watch videos on west side story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8R9GiLImSw

In this video we see the jets in their first routine. Immediately we can see the differences between this and Kenneth Macmillan's Romeo and Juliet the surroundings and the costume are completely different even the way the gang talks is current in that time.

The musical itself is about two young rivalry gangs in new york city two members from opposing gangs fall in love - Maria (played by Natalie wood) and Tony (played by Richard Beymer)

whilst researching i found this website : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055614/
this website holds a lot of key information on the production including directors and a cast list as well as the budget for the film.