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Writer's pictureFreddie Brock

Origami for Dance


It is feminine, beautiful, and incredibly creative! Enjoy the unusual and intriguing art of Origami in honor of Mother’s Day and Dance from the Fordney Foundation!


It could be in your lifetime, that somebody will make you a little Origami bird or some other shape or structure, out of paper. Even if you’ve never seen an Origami creation, you may have heard the word. This little blog will tell you a lot more about Origami and all the creative things you can do with it. First, let’s find out what Origami is and how it got started.







Origami, literally means, folding paper. It originated in Japan and has been embraced, as part of Japan’s culture. It is the art of paper folding to make designs. Origami has been practiced since 1603. Remember the bird I was referring to, that is the famous Japanese paper crane. Personally, I never learned how to make one but I’ve always marveled at the ones I’ve received as little artistic gifts from friends, through the years. These Origami cranes represent happiness and good luck. So, besides being clever and fun, they are symbolic.



The procedure on how to make an Origami design, structure or creation is to begin with a square sheet of paper with sides that may differ in color, pattern or print. I must say, there are many variations on how to fold paper and what kind of paper you can use. Also, designs and creations are infinite, there is so much you can do with paper with very few tools. Historically, it is said that Origami is to be done with paper only. Traditionally, there is no cutting, gluing, taping or even writing. Obviously, when you see elaborate creations, much thought and ability has gone into it and some tools have been used in modern times.



If you are an artist type and like to try new things, or want to take a break from dancing to online videos, these days, why not try Origami practice. It is great for the brain! Origami allows you to develop eye hand co-ordination, sequencing and spatial skills, math reasoning, and also patience and attention skills. Who knows, this kind of artistry, could make you a better dancer? Sometimes, if we try new things, it makes everything else, fall into place, even better!












Since we are all about dance, enjoy this display of various artistic endeavors; where Origami is used, in the name of dance. Can you say, “cutting edge?” These eye-opening masterpieces, are all spectacular, Origami creations. I’m sure you will agree, all of your senses will be equally amazed and delighted, at once!













**We have received contributions from individuals who would like to have a dear relative or friend who passed on remembered that loved to dance or was a dance aficionado. We call these memorial contributions. Perhaps you would like to have someone memorialized in this manner. Make a donation and give us their name. We have on our website a yellow brick road to engrave their name to a brick as a memorial to that person. This contribution will assist future generations of dancers and help keep young people more positive and healthy.


Thought Of The Week:


Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way – Edward de Bono


Sources:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origami


https://www.redtedart.com>educational-benefits-of-origami

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DIRECTOR PHOTO.jpg

SHANE MEUWISSEN

Shane Meuwissen is the Media Specialist for Fordney Foundation.  He is a former dance instructor who know works with his company Slow Motion Dance Videos capture the beauty of dancing. If you would like to learn more about Shane and his video work, visit his website https://slowmotiondancevideos.com/

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