Technique Class

Here are some of the phrases we have learnt in our Technique: Phrase Class during the term.

All Recorded: 2/02/12

Turnout, Parallel, Run 1234
My aim was to concentrate on articulating the feet when both runnung and jumping. I also wanted to keep my skull floating throughout, not letting my chin drop or lift. Did I acheive this?



1234 and 1234 (Take 1)

My aim was to use the arms in order to help me with the feet. After watching this video back I feel as though I need to bend my knees more. Can you give me any other feedback?



1234 and 1234 (Take 2)

In this video, I feel like I can still get lower to the ground and make each step flow.

to follow

Snap Shots

These are some photos we took whilst exploring the improvisation section of our duet. We wanted to take the pictures to see what lines and shapes we created while moving in contact with each other.
Taken: 27/02/12

...and my two favourites...

Experimenting

In this video we are experimenting with having our eyes closed after we tried this in the Charlie Morrissey workshop and really gained a lot of inspiration from it. This was our first attempt.

Of course there are going to be things that are challenging with having the eyes closed but it all part of the process and the fun of it. So here is our attempt...

Recorded: 8/02/12

Sorry its took a while getting on here!!!

23/02/12 Duet

After the feedback we received and our self feedback video, we wanted to create some choreographed sections as well as the improvisation. The section we have created so far is going to be danced before the improvisation but may not necessarily be the start to the piece.


The choreography focuses on the hinge joints in the body, the elbows and knees. It  is also repeated in different areas of the the space.


Is there anyways we could improve this??

Recorded: 23/03/12

Self Feedback

Before continuing with any more of our duet, we reflected on the feedback we were given during the work in progress. Here is what we aim to do after looking through the feedback sheets and through our own notes. We discuss:

• Blindfolds
• Eyes open or shut
• Personal challenges
• Proximity
• Choreographed sections
• Resources
• How our movement was affected by the blindfolds
• Audience positioning
• Possibilities for development

Recorded: 23/02/12

Images from our Objects Lesson

These are the images taken in the Improvisation lesson inspired by Collect, Categorise, Recycle.

This is the sculpture we made and put ourselves into.

Collect, Categorise, Recycle

Wednesday 22nd February
Old Lanchester Gallery

After our improv lesson inspired by the idea of Collect, Categorise, Recycle we actually went to go and see what they had been doing. I was a durational piece starting at 10am and lasting until 3pm. The group had collected items such as plastic bags, bottle tops, paper, china and material over several weeks. These items could then be organised into different categories such as size order, colour and material type.

They encouraged people to bring unwanted items to add to the collection and then take away any items if they wanted them. It was a recycling process, given something away in exchange for something new. People were also encouraged to join in with the organising process.

By the time we got to them, a lot of the clothing had been taken away. We joined in and help them organise the collection into colours and size before creating one final picture.

Once they had finished and they were tidying up, I decided to look through some of the items to see if there was anything I wanted. I looked through the papers they had brought with all their class notes on. I managed to find a book list that may help me as well as notes about a particular artist we were recently looking at. I also took the book of notes created by Influx in the first term for the performance projects to look at and find inspiration from.

After getting involved and helping the 2nd and 3rd dancers, it made me want to do a project like this one at some point. It probably feels like a long time when your doing it but it looked really fun too.

Pictures to follow

Our really fun lesson! :)

Our lesson today was inspired by the 2nd and 3rd year performance in the Old Lanchester Gallery, Collect, Categorise, Recycle.

We had to collect 3 items from around the room and get into a group of 3. We had to create sculptures with the items by taking it in turns to move one at a time. We had the chance to observe everyone elses sculptures as well.

We moved around the room rearranging other sculptures too. Then, we had to create a group sculpture as a whole group. This is when people became more creative with the way and where they placed objects. We had the cd player playing a cd, sticky tapestuck half the length of the studio.

After we had caused chaos doing this, we put ourselves into the sculpture. People tucked under blankets, under chairs, sitting on chairs, under books...

We then had to pick an item to explore individually. I picked a flask to move with. I rolled it around the floor and experimented with the inside space.

After this we had to tidy it all away!!!! :(

Even though we had used completely random items you could still see it being something artistic. We created a still image/ sculpture by comstantly moving.

Here are my words to describe what I thought of the lesson.

Rehearsing with Emma

After one of mine and Emma's duet rehearsals I created this journal entry. It includes all the things we have talked about during the rehearsal and the practical stuff we did too. The aim of this page was to get all my thoughts down on paper and then use the lines to connect and relates things together.

Images

In our SRT we use a lot of imagery in order to help us understand the quality we need to be moving with or what we need to be feeling within ourselves. Here are some pictures I put into my journal after the lesson, 9/02/12.

The images are, puppet strings, a sponge, a hammock and a body with space in between. Not everyone will have interpreted it in the way I have done but here is what I thought of.

Free Writing.

Tepid, cold floor, warm body, cold outside, happy, thinking, thoughtful, waiting, hoping, success, 1 day left, nearly there, excited, conscious, annoying, tonight, windy, dull, black, purple, cosy, shower, spoke to someone new, sniveling, walk, strawberry, apple, labels.

Duet- Work in Progress

Monday 20th Feb

The Aim
Today we had to show the ideas we have for our duet so far. We wanted to explain how the score we have currently been working with is an improvised score but we would like the score to have the potential to develop into a set piece of choreography.

We have been exploring the proximity between us. By using the blindfolds we wanted to portray how our other senses have been heightened because of not being able to see. I believe that sight is the most important sense and without it you become more aware of everything around you by relying on the others.

In the section we showed, we explored the awareness of the spine and the joints. Only I was blindfolded which was something new we hadn't tried before. We started close together and then moved away from each other to dance independently.



The Feedback

• Should the blindfolds be used or should we see the eyes closed? The image of blindfolds relates to many other things and the audience may be distracted by this.
• Rather than staying in one place, can you travel the piece more?
• Maybe change the position of the audience? Bring them in closer so its more intimate.
• Develop the studio practise into a piece.
• Vary the contact between each other rather than just using the arms.
• Switch between dependence and independence.
• It stood out that the person blindfolded just moved whereas the other dancer was conscious of what they were doing. Is this because they knew the audience was watching?
• Look at Lisa Nelson.

My feelings after the feedback
After the feedback, I think both me and Emma were a bit lost and bewildered by the whole showing. We had mixed opinions for the blindfold idea and this really made us question whether we should continue with or without them.

I didn't understand if what we had being to develop was right or suitable. I felt the feedback was really inconclusive and just left me confused. I had a million and one questions that I felt were left unanswered. Saying all of that though, watching everyone elses pieces really benefited me. I was able to learn, observe and make notes about what I thought which we could then bring forward to our own piece to review.

I think me and Emma would like some more personal feedback in order to really establish our next move.

Improv Task

We had to continue the task in groups of three from the previous lesson.  Beginning  by taking the weight of the arms and then finishing by echoing the movements of the middle person. Here are my thoughts on this:

• I found it hard to grasp my arms doing two completely different things even though I knew I wasn't in control. I felt really unco-ordinated.
• Lifting the shoulder blades was a nice feeling. It felt as though space was created within and belowe my rib cage.
• When I was lifting the others shoulder blades, I didnt realise how high they would go. They seem really tollerent to a lot of force.
• When the arms were being brushed as I moved them it reminded me of how seaweed floats.
• I found it hard to transition from my arms being lead to then leading them myself. Almost felt unsure and insecure.
• I didnt feel the touching was beneficial for me. I dont quite know why but it didnt help. I found it hard to continue touching someone and echo them at the same time. I couldnt co-ordinate myself.
• Being copied felt unnatural. Maybe this is because I was sandwiched between two people who couldnt predict what I was going to do next. I felt restricted.
• Maybe I would have found different results with different people.

Movement Studies Tasks

Task 1

• Whilst doing the task, I felt as if I concentrated on how the different areas of my body moved together and how the felt against the floor, rather than independently.
• I found it hard to isolate some areas in my body. It sets off a chain reaction into other body parts.
• Explored only only the floor rather than standing.
• Arms experienced different feeling to what the legs did.

Arthrometric Model >

Task 2

• I really enjoyed exploring the ribs. I found it interesting because I haven't done this before.
• It made me think about my ribs in a new and different way.
• I would like to try this exercise again to explore in more detail and to spend more time on it.
• The others I worked in the space with found it hard to feel their ribs therefore, I was trying to feel them in order to help them to find them.
• It helped me to feel someone else's ribs as well as my own.
• I didn't realise how they slanted upwards at the back and how they hinged. I found it quite strange to visualise this.

Task 3

• I did this task several times to really understand it.
• I'm still not sure how the iliopsoas all connects inside the body, although the picture on the work sheet did help.
• Requires deep concentration and thought.
• Could have done with someone to read the exercise first time through before I knew it.
• I found it helped wearing less layers of clothing.
• I think I need more practise at this one to fully understand and be able to feel it.
• Very complex, deep within the body.

Initial ideas

Mine and Emma's initial idea was to use the wall as part of our duet. We discovered we wanted to play more with this idea after our Choreogrpahic Workshop lesson together giving each other instructions. Here are a few videos that we recorded of use just exploring the wall.

Exploring the wall with our hands

Exploring the wall through our back



Exploring the wall using hands and feet

We did find these quite difficult to move using the wall because it is very limiting and restrictive.

It was also hard to continue after a short period of time. We were running out of ideas because it was so limiting.

At least we had made a start and began to explore possible ideas and then develop from this.



More Rehearsing!

After completing the improvisation with awareness to the spine and giving ourselves feedback, we wanted to try another idea.

As we discussed in the video we are also working towards our body stories. We have already coved the spine for Emma but now we wanted to introduce the awareness of joint in order to help with mine too.

So heres the video of us improvising with awareness of the spine and joints...

Recorded: 16/02/12

Rehearsal for Duet

During our self study week, me and Emma have been doing some more work on our duet.

Our aim is to work with an improvised score with our eyes shut. We have been trying different movement scores to see what works best.

This video shows us working with our eyes closed and thinking about using our skull, spine and pelvis within the score.

Recorded: 16/02/12

This second video shows the feedback we gave ourselves after watching the footage back.
Not only are we working towards our duet but also continuing to think of our body story ideas.
Next time, we would like to intergrate the use of the joints too. ie. elbows and knees.

Recorded: 16/02/12

Inspiration for Duet

Emma and I decided that we liked the idea of working with our eyes close and maybe using a blindfold to represent this.

I have some videos of our ideas that I wanted to put on before this one however, the videos won't upload to Blogger.

So here is a video that Emma found on YouTube based on improvisation with blindfolds.

What do you think of this idea?

Nutcracker Review

Nutcracker!
Choreographer: Matthew Bourne
Venue: Birmingham Hippodrome
10/02/12

I have become interested in watching Matthew Bourne's work since I worked as part of his 'rebourne' project in 2011. So far, I have seen Dorian Gray, Cinderella and now Nutcracker! There's something about the way he regenerates classic pieces into abstract contemporary that makes me want to see it. It is so clever how he can keep the storyline similar but change the setting, the characters and the whole portrayal of the piece.

As soon as I found out Nutcracker! was coming to Birmingham, I knew I had to see it. I have watched a small clip of the show before and I wanted to see the piece in its

entirety. I did not know the storyline to the show before hand and I was hoping I was going to be able to follow.

The whole piece was very theatrical and comical for contemporary dance, but I guess that comes with the nature of Matthew Bourne's ideas for the piece. It was bright and colourful in every aspect, costumes, set and choreogrpahy.

I feel that even though he is a contemporary choreographer, his work is still very classically based. Many of the dancers within his company have been classically trained. Is this just for Nutcracker! or for his other shows aswell? I like his style of choreography because I am very much a classical dancer myself. I feel it gives him permisson to do ballet turned in, in a contemporary fashion. There's something about his work that I really understnad and grasp, I just don't know what it is myself.

Overall, I enjoyed this show so much, even though I may have a slightly biased opinion! Everything about it is witty and clever and mezmorising to watch. Now I just want to see it again!!

 

 

Workshop with Charlie Morrissey

Lifting in Partners

• Found the lifting lighter than I expected because of momentum and counter balance.
• My partner Ben, helped me to improved how I was doing something if it wasnt quite right.
• We worked out the problems and faults to put them right and do it better the next time.
• This is also how I got my black eye!!!

Observing -with a hint of ice ;)

• Using partners weight.
• Resisting your partner.
• Flowing, relaxed, effortless, inventive, beauty.
• Unrehearsed and improvised, yet organised and controlled.
• Moving each other across the space.
• Almost a sense of caring for your partner.

Working with my duet partner

• Working with our eyes closed was better than when they were open.
• Gave us some inspiration and ideas to play around with in the studio.
• We created some interesting, unusual shapes.
• Creative without intension.
• Like working with skull and body contact.
• Need to remain focused.

Free Writing

When I am part of a group, I feel... connected, close, together, unity, comfortable, safety, aware, looking, bonded, one, eye contact, sense, touch, feel, body contact, contact improvisation, exploring...


As an individual, I like being... expressive, classical, flowing, unique, my own person, quiet, frustrated, warm, cosy, security, happy, having friends, being appreciated by others, equal, being cared for, having someone close to me, having people who love me around me, freedom, expression, light...
 


A constellation of... star, planets, shapes, pattern, universe, group, lines, colours, frames, shooting stars, rocks, balance, thinking, daily pattern, movements, organisation...



Between people there is... tension, relationship, connection, energy, love, freedom, reliance, safety, ability, comfort, space, distance, closeness, searching, unity, acceptance, bonding, coming together, emotions, feelings, wishes and regrets, anything, possibilities, opportunities, chances, meetings, partnership, soul mate, nothing, forgetting what you have...

Random Ideas...

30/01/12

I think I mentioned that I have done a mind map of duet ideas. As time has gone on, ive been adding to it. Together, me and Emma have looked through them, talked and experimented with some ideas.

Soon there will be some videos of our progress so far...

Sorry if I'm going a bit out of order recently. Im trying to find all the pictures I've took and get them on here, even if it is taking me a while! I'm sure I'll get there eventually...

Back to it then! :)

Vestibular System

We were asked to research the Vestibular system as part of our Experintial Anatomy work. I found it would be good to look in my anatomy colouring book first to see if that could help me. And this is what I found...

The ear is organ of hearing and equillibrium, (We looked at this previously). It has helped med to understand why we looked at equillibruim and balance first. Without this system, we wouldn't be able to balance very well or even at all. It seems very complex and I don't think I quite understand it yet! I enjoyed the colouring bit though!

Equillibrium and Balance

For our EA homework, we had to research about equillibrium and balance. From doing this task I realised that these two words were synonyms of each other, they basically mean the same sort of thing. This is what my internet research told me...

Trip to the Gallery...

 


















As part of our introduction to working with a duet partner, we were set a number of tasks to do together. One of those, was taking a trip to the art gallery. We went with a few others to the Herbert and Lanchester galleries to do this. Whilst we were there, we picked up any information that we could find to draw from when looking for inspiration. Here is what we found, put into my artist journal ^

I fell that I could have spent more time in the gallery than I did. Maybe I could go back to do this again.

I don't know if we will find anything useful from this visit but it was still good to go and have a look :)

Weekly Overview

Monday 30th January- Friday 3rd February

At the start of our phrase class, I felt engaged in the task but completely out of focus. I didn't know how to bring myself into the space without being covered in a sort of haze. However, my focus soon improved. 
We learnt a new phrase from the corner '1234 and 1234 and 1234...'. To begin with, I found it difficult to match the timing with the feet however once I had got this working for me I found it quite easy. I felt I travelled across the space well and remembered all the key elements associated with the corner sequences. We added in arms after which didn't necessarily help me to do the phrase easier, but added to it.

In choreographic workshop, we talked about how the work we create is seen by the audience. We discussed where to place the audience, their interpretation, expectations, duration, proximity, amongst others. I believe that this discuss will really help when creating my duet with Emma because they are all important factors to consider.

I spent some time thinking of what ideas I would like to present to Emma for our duet. I created a mind map of basic ides that we could build on and add to. I asked myself questions such as sound or no sound? props or no props? I want to see what ideas Emma has so we can collaborate and begin to try some ideas in the studio.

Experiential anatomy was a really interesting lesson for me this week. We spoke about the 3 points of contact in the hands and feet which I have previously blogged about. I don't know why but something really clicked inside my head. I think its because my attention has never been drawn to thinking about this before. I honestly could have spent hours just experimenting and playing with this idea and then going against the natural ways to move. I would like to spend more time doing this sort of work because it really interests me and boggles my brain!! :P

This was our first SRT lesson with Polly. I was really looking forward to seeing how she taught us in comparison to the guest teachers we had previously. The partner graphics were really easy to follow and understand. The way Polly explained them was very similar to the way I felt them. I guess this is due to the experience she has doing them. I am looking forward to learning even more graphic over the coming lessons.

Overall, I have enjoyed the lessons this week. I know I probably say that every week but I like to learn new things and experience them for myself. We are constantly building on what we have already learnt to further our experimenting with movement.

Improvisation

Friday 2nd December 2011

In this lesson we talked about how the body twists and curves. We experimented with ways in which we could move the body and then had to draw about our experience. These drawings show how I interpret the way we moved and how I imagine it to look.

Improvisation

Friday 11th November 2011

We took part in a task thinking about the relationship between our skin and the floor. I found this easy to understand and grasped the concept quickly. Here are some things I noticed:

• Smooth floor helped me to move with ease. Almost gliding.
• Floor felt cold in contrast to the skin.
• Different parts of my body felt a different temperature against the floor.
• I subconsciously responded to changes in the music.

Here is my drawing to explain this. Rather than it being a drawing, I used words to describe how I felt. I coloured the background in so it looked smooth, in keeping with the way I felt about the task.

Choreographic Homework

Thursday 10th November 2011

The task we were set:
Move alone in the space for 20 minutes. Pick 2 body parts to stick with... Then add a quality... Then add a spacial instruction. Reflect in a drawing. Move without music.

This is the drawing I created after doing the task. I chose to use my elbow and palm of the hand, with a fluid quality and circular pathways. I have portrayed the two different body parts with different colours and different lines. In some areas they are on there own and in others they come together. This represents the style of movement I created; some of the time I moved with just my elbow or just my hand, they also moved at the same time.

Swinging Phrase and Feedback

Recorded: 6/02/12
Technique: Phrase Class
Dancer: Emma Woolley
Feedback: John Danaher

I was aiming to continually think about the connection between my arms and my spine. For example, not letting my arms go behind my body, resulting in sticking out the ribs. Here is the Swinging Phrase:

After watching the video, this is the feedback I was given by John. Do you agree with the feedback? What feedback would you give to me?

to follow

Warm up

6/02/12
Technique: Phrase Class

Today we warmed up in the way we usually would:

• Walking becoming running: Floating skull, relaxing the arms, leading with the toes.
• Lunge and lifting the arm: Keeping arms in connection with the spine.
• Rolling down and padding out: Going through the vertebrae, weight distribution, loose skull and shoulders, keeping head and tail connected.
• Plie in second: Keeping knees over toes, dropping pelvis.
• Arms in second: Shoulders down, hands in front of the body, arms lengthening away, not straight.
• Rising: Skull lifting upwards, not rising forwards, going straight up.

When doing the tasks I try to think of all these points in order to improve my technique. I also try to take theses forward into the phrases we learn to help me to perform them better.  I felt that today I was quite focused in this task which enabled me to do all the movements to the best of my ability.

Blogging...

What is useful about blogging?

• You can record something and then look back at it in the future with a different perspective to the time you wrote it.
• Record your own development over a period of time.
• Add pictures, videos and links.
• Other people can look at your development.
• Other people can leave comments on your posts.

What is challenging about blogging?

• It is a time consuming process and therefore it is difficult to find time to keep up to date with.

Weekly Overview

Monday 23rd January- Friday 27th January

The first lesson of the week was Technique Phrase Class. We went through the movement phrase we have been looking at for a number of weeks. We gave individual feedback to another member of the group; the feedback I received and discussion I had really stood out to me this week in particular.

Feedback:

·         Believe in what you’re doing.

·         Don’t look at others dancing around you.

·         There is no competition in the class, everyone is equal.

·         Dance because you love it.

In Choreographic Workshop, we looked at the resources we had for choreography. I really liked the idea of experimenting with sound, temperature and speed.  It is something I would like to explore further maybe to find some inspiration for our duets.

Sound:

·         Listening to others in the room

·         Listening to water/ liquid

·         Covering the ears to make everything echo

·         Feet shuffling and stamping (contrast)

Temperature:

·         Wall/ Radiator

·          Using different body parts

·         Hands were warmer than my feet

·         This affected how they responded to the same temperature

Speed:

·         Slow walking pace

·         Running around the room

·         Didn’t really explore a mid pace

·         I was observing other peoples paces

Our Experiential Anatomy lesson was one that I really enjoyed again. I found myself with a partner that I haven’t really worked with before. I didn’t know how we would respond to each other’s movements. However, I was really pleasantly surprise! We were very creative with the movements and experimented with ideas that I didn’t expect to. I came away from this lesson really positively and I would like to work with this person more often to see if we could create the same atmosphere again.

Part of our homework was to go on a trip to the art gallery with our duet partner to see if we could gain any inspiration from it. We went as a small group of people together. I feel I would have like to have spent more time looking and reflecting on what I think the art is trying to portray. I feel others in the group were less appreciative and therefore, I felt rushed to finish. Maybe I will need to find time in order to try this again on my own.

Our final lesson of the week was SRT with a guest lecturer, Suzanna Recchia. I was very fond of the work that we did in this lesson because we got the chance to learn many different phrases. I enjoy learning phrases because I get to try movements I haven’t attempted before. It challenges my ability and develops my knowledge. I also like the fact she wanted the class to be very disciplined. This is something I am used to and I like to have.

Overall, I have enjoyed the lessons I have taken part in this week.  Next week I would like to start doing more work towards my duet with Emma. I would like to come up with some ideas so we can start moving together in the space.

Running Phrase

Technique: Phrase Class
Recorded: 2/02/2012

Points to consider:

• Not lifting the chin
• Articulating the feet
• Equal sized paces both forwards and backwards
• Shifting with the pelvis

Can you add any more points to consider? ...

Anatomical Diagrams

Muscular System

Skeletal System

Knee



Body Story- Initial Plans

I wanted to start doing some research about what areas and questions I would like to cover in my Body Story. We were given the brief before Christmas to look over, and I was really excited about what I could learn from doing this study. I have wanted to look into areas of anatomy in depth before but never had the chance to. However, doing this Body Story will give me the perfect opportunity to conduct my own research and question aspects of my body I may not quite of understood before.

I created a mind map for each section to help me come up with ideas I would like to continue to develop.

 

Section 1

In this section, I would like to focus on the first question.

1.  Select two systems of the body that you have studied (skeletal, muscular, articular, respiratory). Discuss their structure, function, interconnectedness and how this understanding contributes to your development as a dancer.

I would like to study the muscular and skeletal systems for my Body Story. The word interconnectedness really stuck in my head, and with these two body systems, I think I could really explore and research this. I can research how one system cannot work without the other and how important they are for humans to function correctly.

Planning:

·         Closely related to each other.

·         Discuss how they are connected with tendons and ligaments.

·         Osteoporosis article.

·         Remember structure, function, interconnected!

·         Research articles, books, data, images, journals.

·         Anatomy colouring book.

How it contributes to your development as a dancer:

·         Growing rates can cause imbalances and alignment problems.

·         Injuries.

·         Recovery time.

Relate Section 1 to Section 2!


Section 2

Reflect on your own experiences of your body moving. These may include critical events in your life that shaped your opinion of, ideas about, image of, attitudes towards your body.

This section is where I need to talk about something more personal to me and something that is of interest to me. I would like to talk about an area of my body that I have experience slight problems with during the past. I have had to retrain this area in order to function properly and continue my dance training in a safe manner. The area I would like to focus on is my knee because I have had previous alignment problems which I have seen a physiotherapist about. Therefore, I would like to look into this in more depth in order for me to understand the problems I have had.

Planning:

·         Look into joints, fluid, muscles, nerves, tendons and ligaments surrounding it.

·         How could my previous problem have been caused?

·         Is it inherited or self-inflicted.

·         Images.

·         Where problems can stem from.

·         Studying at University has made me think about alignment in parallel more (knees falling over toes). How have I become more aware of it over last few months?

·         Maybe do a self-directed study over a period of time to aid research and to use as evidence. Aim is to correct knee alignment until it becomes a subconscious process. Keep a record of this to put into Body Story.

·         Anatomy colouring book.