Google Now Lets You Travel the Dance World
If I could dream up the most epic vacation for myself, it would be to travel from city to city to see every major dance company and historical dance site. (Hey boss, do you think this could count as a business trip?)
Okay, so I’m going to assume that’s not really in the cards for me right now. But Google’s new Cultural Institute can get us a little closer to The Dream. Its arts “museum” went live this week, and there are plenty of dance (and fine arts, and opera, and music) goodies to explore. It’s an online database of exhibits that allows you to look inside the walls of huge arts institutions and view historical photos, sketches and videos.
Dreaming of taking a tour of the Palais Garnier? Plop yourself center stage. Or better yet, watch Benjamin Millepied’s new Clear, Loud, Bright, Forward from every angle in this 360-degree video.
Had enough of Paris? London is just a click away. Take a look at some exclusive photos of Sadler’s Wells, and sneak inside a rehearsal to see Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui dance with Shaolin Monks.
Back in New York, the Martha Graham Dance Company offers a look at Graham’s technique that’s so clear it becomes absolutely mesmerizing.
And there’s plenty of other traveling left to do. The Google Cultural Institute also features American Ballet Theatre, the Bolshoi Ballet, Latvian National Opera and Ballet, Hungarian State Opera, the National Ballet of Canada, and much, much more.
Personally, I’m heading off to see the National Theater of Korea next. Maybe this will make up for all the whining I did when my mom dragged 6-year-old me to Korean dance performances.
