Good evening. My name is Pam Jones, and on behalf of the Modern Dance club, I'd like to welcome you to tonight's program. The club is pleased to present the TV version of The Catherine Wheel, Twyla Tharp's rock ballet. This video version of the ballet has been even more successful with audiences than the original theater production. It includes some animation, slow motion, and stop-action freezes that really help the audience understand the dance. The title of the piece refers to Saint Catherine, who died on a wheel in 307 A.D. Nowadays, a Catherine wheel is also a kind of firework. It looks something like a pinwheel. Anyway, the dance is certainly full of fireworks! You'll see how Twyla Tharp explores one family's attempt to confront the violence in modern life. The central symbol of the work is a pineapple, but exactly what it represents has always created a lot of controversy. As you watch, see if you can figure it out. The music for this piece is full of the rhythmic energy of rock music. It was composed by David Byrne. Of the rock band Talking Heads? And the lead dancer in this version was Sara Rudner, who is perfectly suited to Tharp's adventurous choreography. Following the video, dance teacher Mary Parker will lead a discussion about the symbolism Ms. Tharp used. We hope you can stay for that. So, enjoy tonight's video and thank you for your support.
生词解释
1. present: v. to give a performance in a theatre, cinema, etc, or broadcast a programme on television or radio 上演;演出;表演;播出(电视或广播节目)
2. ballet: n. [C]a performance in which a special style of dancing and music tell a story without any speaking 芭蕾舞剧;芭蕾舞曲
3. animation: n. [U]the process of making animated films 动物片的制作
4. wheel: n. [C]one of the round things under a car, bus, bicycle etc that turn when it moves (汽车、公共汽车、自行车等的)车轮
5. firework: n. [C usually plural]a small container filled with powder that burns or explodes to produce coloured lights, noise, and smoke 烟火，烟花，焰火
6. pinwheel: n. [C]a toy consisting of a stick with curved pieces of plastic at the end that turn around when they are blown 玩具风车(windmill, BrE)
7. pineapple: n. [C,U]a large yellow-brown tropical fruit or its sweet juicy yellow flesh 菠萝，凤梨
8. controversy: n. [C,U]a serious argument or disagreement, especially about something such as a plan or decision, that continues for a long time 争论;辩论;争议
9. rhythmic: 又作rhythmical, adj. having rhythm 有节奏的
10. adventurous: adj. 又作adventuresome, AmE eager to go to new places and do exciting or dangerous things 喜欢冒险的，有冒险精神的;not afraid of taking risks or trying new things 敢作敢为的，大胆创新的
11. choreography: n. [U]the art of arranging how dancers should move during
a performance 编舞(艺术);舞蹈设计
12. symbolism: n. [U]the use of symbols to represent something 象征主义(手法)