Thursday 8 December 2011

Forward in Motion: Unwritten Dance Review

Forward in Motion Dance Festival 2011
Shifting Time
Choreographed by Andrea Buckley
Performed by Unwritten Dance

This performance was more like a ‘conventional’ one in the way that the audience were seated and they had to remain there throughout. There was no interaction made between performers and dancers unlike Influx’s piece. The performance had a clear structure from beginning to end and the same group of dancers were used all the way through. They had a very large area to dance in and they made use of the many different entrances, exits and small areas at the side of the performance space.
On the whole, I really enjoyed watching this piece because it flowed so well together. Each sectioned blended into one another and the dancers complimented this with their ease of movement. The style of movement was lovely to watch and it is something I would like to do if I had the opportunity to. It was so fluid and always continuing, I felt as if I could have watched them moving for hours on end. They used the whole space with their movements and they were weaving in and out of each other effortlessly.  I liked the use of props because it was different to the other piece I saw. It was very clever how they were used and where they were placed in the space. On the other hand, they also used vocals like Influx and it was interesting to hear people speaking in their native language.
From watching the piece, I have a lot of unanswered questions which I am still trying to figure out by myself. I believe that the title of the piece, ‘Shifting Time’, was reflected very clearly throughout the performance. When the dancers created a line it almost felt as if they were creating their own time line. The bouncing of the ball represented the seconds. When they created a diagonal line with the props it appeared to me that the old was transferring into the new. More antique, old props were used and they slowly became newer and more recent. This shows the shift in time.
I also feel the name of the company can be seen as a theme during the piece.  When the dancers were talking in their own language and whispering to each other, it made me think that the information was unwritten. When one of the dancers was writing on the wall it didn’t make any sense, this also made me think of unwritten.

Forward in Motion: Influx Review

Forward in Motion Dance Festival 2011
Walking Piece
Choreographed by Matthias Sperling
Performed by Influx

I was able to see this performance several times because I was a member of the front of house team for this company. I have never seen a durational piece before and I think this is what intrigued me the most. In conventional theatre, the audience come in as the piece starts and leave as it ends; they stay in the same place throughout.  However, in this piece, the audience could come and go as they pleased staying for a little or as long as they liked. They were also free to move around the space and interact with the performers. There were two groups of performers who took in turn to come into the space.

Overall I thought the piece was very entertaining and I liked the way in which it moved around the space, it wasn’t stereotypical of a normal dance piece.  The movements seem very pedestrianized yet random at the same time. They could play around with the piece and make it fun to perform. The piece consisted of the same elements every time but done in slightly different ways, this kept the performers on their toes. It meant they never knew what to expect and they could humour themselves without having to worry about keeping a straight face. I liked how vocal was also used by the dancers as it gave the audience the opportunity to interact and answer the question. I also liked the lifts used because I haven’t seen anything like that before in dance.
From watching the performance, I still don’t have a clear understanding of why it was called ‘Walking Piece’.  Having listened to the Yr2 students talk about how they created the piece, I can now understand why it seems so random. They played a series of games with the choreographer Matthias Sperling and then he put those games into an order and this became the piece. The piece did seem to have a lot of walking in it though so that may explain the reasoning behind the title.

Monday 5 December 2011

Weekly Overview

Monday 28th November - Friday 2nd December 2011

For me, there had been a big build up to this week and I was looking forward to getting to do my solo and get it out the way. Then, I would feel like I have achieved my first major milestone being at uni and something I could be proud of before we break up for the hoildays.

I spent a lot of time this week concentrating on my solo and the written element to go with it. I wanted to convey something that showed my own personal style of dancing but also showed my experimental side and not being scared to try something new. I wanted this to come across in my written work too.

When it came to performing my solo I was nervous however, not as nervous as last week. I think the taster last week helped me to control this because I knew what to expect. I felt like I was being viewed from every angle because the group were sitting in a cirlce around me. I would find it interesting to have been watching myself from different areas of the room to see if my piece portrayed a different perseptive from varied angles. it felt like I was dancing forever, like my piece had become never ending. I almost became lost in the silence and caught in the moment. I began to enjoy dancing my solo rather than being scared of it. Once I had finished, I was overcome with a sense of relief that it was over and I could enjoy and appreciate the work others had done.

Being a member of the audience watching others, was almost as important as the dancing for me. It was the first time I had seen everyone in the group dance individually and I could get to know them as a dancer. Some dances were really engaging to watch because the movement style and quality was something I hadn't witnessed before.  It was challenging to be able to guess what the movement score was because most of them were very deep and complex. I could just about make out the body parts and possibly the quality.

I also found our improvisation lesson very interesting too. Towards the end of the lesson, we had to draw or moving selves, thinking about the skeleton and muscles. My drawings interpreted both of these. I tried to show my muscles in large shapes and the skeleton in thin lines in movements I had used throughout the lesson. I will upload the images when I have chance.

Overall, I was both looking forward to and dreading this week but I must say, it hasn't been as bad as I thought. I can breath as sigh of relief that my solo is complete, on the other hand, I still have other work to think about for next week!

Sunday 4 December 2011

Solo Progression, Video 4

The video I would like to put in this space cannot be uploaded with the internet connection I use in my halls. When I can used the wireless internet, I will upload it. Here is the writing to support my video.

Recorded: 30/11/2011
This video was taken after I was happy with the overall piece of work I created. From the previous video it has been slighty adapted and the end section has been added on. I have used a lot of repetition towards the end of my piece to relate it back to the start. I feel that my piece ends in a good place because the audience can feel comfortable that it starts and ends the same.

Please excuse limited space, pjs and the alcohol collection! And now the lights don't work either!

Solo Progression, Video 3

Video to follow
 
Recorded: 30/11/2011
This video shows the next stage of my choreography. Since showing our work last week, I have really tried to experiment with ways I can move differently and use my hands and feet more intricately. I have kept the majority of the work I previously cretaed and have altered and added to this. I feel I have improved my dance a lot during this time and  showed many different sides to my choreographic score.
Please excuse limited space, pjs and the alcohol collection! And now the lights don't work either!

Sunday 27 November 2011

Weekly Overview

Monday 21st- Friday 25th November 2011

This week has been quite a significant one for me becasue I feel I have learnt a lot of new things. Looking back at my journal has refreshed my mind of all the smaller details in lessons as well as the main aims.

In the technique phrase class on Monday, we started by focusing on the shoulder blades. I did not realise mine pinched together when my arms were in second. To begin with I really struggled to understand how to put it right by using my muscles. I needed a partner to place their hand on my back in order for me to feel the problem and begin to put it right. Now I understand, I need to keep working to improve it. I have put an image in my journal that will stand out and help me to remember this in future.




In our Experiential Anatomy lesson, we learnt how to body surf. It is used as a basic tool in contact improvisation. I haven't ever done anything like this before and it was so much fun! This has been one of my favourite lessons so far because we got to learn something new and still enjoy it.

In the Choreographic Workshop, we had to perform our solos. I was really nervous about this because I had never been watched alone by this group of people before. Once Ih ad done it I felt so relieved and now I know it won't be as bad next time! I also had some valuable feedback from the lecturers, year 3 students and members of my class.

In improvisation we learnt about the apendage and axial skeleton. I have looked into anatomy before but I have never heard of the skeleton being split into two sections. I found it interesting to try and inititate movement from each one and how the style of movement differed.

I hope next will bring as many new thoughts as this week did...


My Final Choreographic Score


Move through the space with a gliding motion, initiated from
 the extremities of the body, the hands and feet.

Explore interchanging levels, circular pathways
and stillness at an andante tempo.

Solo Progression, Video 2


Recorded: 23/11/2011
This video was taken not so long after the previous one. I began to dance to music to get an idea of the speed I was going to dance at and how much choreography I had already created although I didn't use the music in my video. In the time between the two videos, I made a few alterations to the end of my choreography.
Please excuse limited space, pjs and the alcohol collection!

Solo Progression, Video 1


Recorded: 23/11/2011
This video was taken in my accomodation hallway of the progress I am making with my solo. I have made some small progress from the first session on this work. I found it easier to concentrate when I was on my own rather than in a room full of others. I was not distracted by them or their music. I really tried to experiment with new ideas but be true to my choreographic score as well.
Please excuse limited space, pjs and the alcohol collection!

Technique/CI: Floor Phrase R&L


The video I would like to put in this space cannot be uploaded with the internet connection I use in my halls. When I can used the wireless internet, I will upload it. Here is the writing to support my video.

Recorded: 18/11/2011
This video was taken in our Technique: Phrase based and CI lesson. It was a self directed study session and we were set the task of rehearsing the phrases we had learnt in previous weeks. This phrase is the second we have learnt this term, it is a floor phrase rather than standing like the first one. The aim was to think of bone and how we use it during the phrase. The exerpt is performed on both the right and left side by some members of our group
.

Axial and Apendage Skeleton

Left Image: Apendage Skeleton
Right Image: Axial Skeleton

In our Improvisation classes, we have learnt the difference between the two types of skeleton. The axial skeleton consists of the skull, spine and pelvis. The apendage skeleton includes the arms and legs. We had to move with each skeleton individually. I found when moving with the axial skeleton, my movements were slow and controlled. I was really concentrating on initiating with the skull, spine and pelvis and then my other body parts had to follow. However, when I lead with the apendage skeleton, my movements were very free and fast, almost like I had no control. I was producing quirky movements that I hadn't before.

Improvisation: Human Skin


In our improvisation classes, we began to look at the anatomy of our own skin. I did some research and found this image a good resource. It clearly shows all the layers of the skin and I didn't realise how complex it actually is. We then began moving, inititating from our skin, imagining trying to get every last inch of skin to touch the floor. My movements became very abstract and I wasn't trying to make them asthetically pleasing like I usually would. I found myself only using the top layer of skin because this is the one that is in contact with the floor, not the inner layers. We have continued to develop this in our lessons and draw the ways in which we move too.

Thursday 17 November 2011

Solo Session 1, Video 1


Recorded: 17/11/11
This video was taken from my first rehearsal session on my solo for assesment. It shows the start of my choreographic process and a small sequence I began working on. I would like to keep this section and build on it for my final finished piece.

I have decided I would like to use the extremities of my body, the fingers and toes, as the initiation of my movements.

Journal Entry: Choreographic Workshop




These images were taken from sketches I have put into my journal. In our Choreographic Workshop lesson we were thinking about ways in which we can move our body and what word we would use to describe our quality of movement. I chose these 5 words because they were the ones that most stood out and interested me.

Technique Class: 2nd Phrase


Recorded: 17/11/11
This phrase is taken from our technique lesson. I wanted to add this to my blog becasue we only learnt this previously in the week and this is the first time it has been recorded. From this first video, I will be able to assess my own progress when we continue to go through this in the upcoming weeks. It will also be helpful for me to look back on in the future if I need to sraw from it as a resource or source of inspiration.

Journal Entry: Improvisation and Technique/CI


This picture shows my refelctions in my journal from two different practical lessons. The first page is my mind map from my Improvisation lesson. The second is our technique and CI lesson, both on the 7/10/11. I chose to add this image to my blog because I have a tendancy to just write a whole page of writing without anything to break it up. However, on these two pages I have used a different technique to document my work such as a mind map and adding images.

Tuesday 15 November 2011

How can blogging assist and support you as a dance student and dance artist?

Having a blog to write on is like having a personal diary. All your important information can be kept safely and you can return to it to look back on what you've written. It is also possible to add videos and pictures to your blog, this can help you to document your progess in media forms rather than just writting.


This is a very helpful thing being a dance student and dance artist. I can write about reflections from lessons to look back on in the future. I can talk about work I have seen and how it was inspiring, I can even talk about how it inspires me to dance. Videos and pictures can be taken in lessons and rehearsal to help see the progress being made over a period of time. Other dancers can also look at my blog and the work I have posted on it. Likewise, I can look at others blogs for inspiration and to gain understanding of new ideas.

Thursday 10 November 2011

What inspires me about dance?

Dance means something different to each individual, we all have our own opinion and perception of what dance is. This is what inspires me about dance. It isn't something that is the same for everyone we can all make it our own and interpret it in different ways.