Musical Theater West Side Story

West Side Story, filmed in 1961, was one of the most ground-breaking works not only in terms of subject and genre, but also in terms of the boundaries it broke with its musical scores and choreography. Indeed, the film's dance sequences often form part of its plot. Its musical scores depict the deep distrust and underlying violence in the uneasy truces between the street gangs whose members form the basic plot background of the film. What is most interesting is that the film not only broke the romantic plot norm with its "Romeo and Juliet" story, it also broke some norms in the minds and physical exertions of its dancers. One example of such norm defiance is "Cool," one of the songs just before full violence broke out between the gangs and the final tragedy of its outcome.

The first and most important pioneering element of the dance sequences in the film is the "dance-fight" sequences, in which both fights and other everyday movements are portrayed by dance. In "Cool," dance is used as a pre-violence way to blow off some of the frustrations that have built up between the gangs, the Caucasian Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks. What is interesting is that not only the movements, but the words and rhythm of the song itself interact with its main theme, which is to cool down and to let go of immediate urges to fight and destroy at random, but rather to focus the pent up anger towards a common and focused goal. Indeed, this is a break from the norm that is the case throughout the film. Both the dance and song sequences follow plot lines based upon a deep sense of discontent, unhappiness, and ultimate violence. At the time, this represented a break from the upbeat norm that was generally the trend among popular musicals.

Technically, the music reflected the unusual themes treated by the musical. Leonard Bernstein's music, for example, used time signatures such as 5/4, 6/8, and 25/6 time, which made it very difficult for the dancers to interpret through their art. Nevertheless, careful choreography created a platform for a truly new form of dance throughout the film, which was never to be used as a happy, conventional type of escape for the audience. Instead, it was to interact with the plot, making the dance part of the characters, characterization, and the plot itself.

The song "Cool" is also positioned in an important way in terms of plot sequence, coming right before the violent episode in the film. In this way, it sets the stage for character development, both of the individuals in the Jet gang, and for the collective character of the gang as a unit. Riff, the leader, urges his friends to "be cool," to maintain a sense of restraint, and to direct their angers towards the rival gang, the Sharks. In this way, the movements, along with the lyrics and singers, establish Riff as not only leader, but also as strategist. Action, A-Rab, and Baby John display body language that make them appear to listen attentively and respectfully to Riff. Through a common strategy, the group becomes a unit once again, with a collective external threat to focus their anger, rather than the internal threat that their own anger would destroy themselves and each other. This passionate anger is coupled with a sense of detachment from a society that has ultimately failed them.