West Side Story: From the Dark Ages to Perfectionism. A masterpiece by a leading choreographer of the 20th century

"West Side Story" synopsis

Downtown New York, West Side. In this city with many immigrants, two groups were at odds with each other. The Jets are European immigrants led by Riff, and the Sharks are Puerto Rican immigrants led by Bernardo. One day, Bernardo's younger sister, Maria, is taken to her first dance party by members of the Shark Gang. There, Maria falls in love with a young man. However, it was an unforgivable love. His name is Tony, and he is the former leader of the rival jet group...

Index

• Choreography that influenced Michael Jackson
• A traitor who accused his comrades' names in the Red Scare.
• After a dark history, he became a perfectionist that everyone around him feared.

Choreography that influenced Michael Jackson

The main premise of musicals is that ``characters suddenly start singing and dancing,'' but as Tamori has said many times, some people feel uncomfortable with this style and don't accept it. In that sense, ``West Side Story'' is perhaps the most disturbing work. A group of delinquents hanging out on the street suddenly start dancing.

The opening video shows a bird's-eye view of Manhattan, New York, as it approaches a plaza with a basketball court. The young members of the Jets, consisting mainly of Polish and white people, play the riffs of the leader and continue to snap their fingers in time with the music playing in the background. Up until this point, there was nothing particularly strange about him stealing a basketball from a boy who was playing with him. However, as the group emerges from the plaza into the street, they soon begin to perform a ``dance'' movement that is clearly different from their everyday movements, leading to a conflict with the competing Puerto Rican ``Sharks.'' The steps incorporate the basics of classical ballet, and if you look at it calmly, it might be a strange sight.

However, the moment when the three members of the Sharks, led by Bernardo (George Chakiris), showed the left leg Batman(a movement in which they raise their leg greatly) became an image of the work for decades afterward. The disparate combination of a street delinquent group and classical ballet created a special chemical reaction, giving viewers a catharsis they had never experienced before. ``West Side Story'' opened up new horizons for musicals.

Michael Jackson “Beat It Tonight” PV

Several times during this opening "Jet Song," the Jets riff utters the line "Usero." In the original language, it is "Beat It". It's the same as Michael Jackson's famous song. It is a well-known story that Michael's PV (promotional video) for ``Beat It Tonight'' was inspired by ``West Side Story.'' Not only is the setting a war between street gangs, but the depiction of a duel between bosses is very similar to the climax of ``West Side Story.'' In the music video for "BAD", Michael also references the choreography of "Kool" from "West Side Story" and the movements of the three left-legged Batman, including the aforementioned George Chakiris.

Michael Jackson “BAD” PV

The choreographer for ``West Side Story,'' which had such a huge influence on future generations, was Jerome Robbins, one of the most famous dancers and choreographers of the 20th century.

A traitor who accused his comrades' names in the Red Scare.