Wednesday 26 January 2011
Wednesday 12 January 2011
So We Dance and Eden Dance Company
In December of 2010, we had opportunity to see amazing performances of undergraduate 2nd year students’ at Coventry University. They presented to us new works ‘Inhabitation’ in collaboration with Alex Howard and ‘Lot 12’ in collaboration with Rick Nodine. These works were performed by Eden Dance Company and So We Dance at Ellen Terry building.
This opinion essay goes on to discuss both of these performances. First of all, I want you to pay attention and notice that these two works are totally different. Eden Dance Company presented ‘Inhabitation’. I think it was based on response to the environment. In the beginning all dancers’ movements were very slow. They were walking through the space, exploring everything and touching textures with interest and wonder. I liked that performance for many reasons. One of them is improvisation. I saw a lot of people in space and everyone was different as individual. Their movements were slow, soft and fluid. What I liked the most, was the second part of performance which consisted of Silent Walk leading us through the streets, some old and modern, on the way to Lady Herbert’s Garden. In the garden the dancers were doing the same movements as earlier, but on their own time and rhythm. It was really interesting to see that good dancer can dance anywhere. It does not matter – outside or inside.
In contrast to ‘Inhabitation’, So We Dance performed full of energy, colours and chaos dance ‘Lot 12’. In my opinion, the greatest effect on that performance had costumes. Every dancer was dressed in his own style. Apart costumes, I really liked all movements which sometimes were done together in a group, sometimes separately. In addition to everything, I noticed that in that performance was clearly used contact improvisation. As in dance company were man, it was a great opportunity to see their strength during lifting and catching women. ‘Lot 12’ was spectacular performance based on rush, exact, sudden and sharp movements. Second part of performance was ‘Come to Mamma’ presented by Bryony Perkins and Gabriele Reuter. I have never thought that duet could be so interesting. Women, performing that dance were physically strong and vocal. They were lifting each other without any problems, they were laughing, they were singing. Everything was in one piece. I was amazed, how two so different people can dance together and feel each other. Their movements were weaved with different strange noises, quiet song and humour.
In conclusion, I think that all three performances were unique with different music, costumes and movements. In my opinion, it strongly depends on choreographer as well as on dancers in which way they want to present their idea for the audience.
This opinion essay goes on to discuss both of these performances. First of all, I want you to pay attention and notice that these two works are totally different. Eden Dance Company presented ‘Inhabitation’. I think it was based on response to the environment. In the beginning all dancers’ movements were very slow. They were walking through the space, exploring everything and touching textures with interest and wonder. I liked that performance for many reasons. One of them is improvisation. I saw a lot of people in space and everyone was different as individual. Their movements were slow, soft and fluid. What I liked the most, was the second part of performance which consisted of Silent Walk leading us through the streets, some old and modern, on the way to Lady Herbert’s Garden. In the garden the dancers were doing the same movements as earlier, but on their own time and rhythm. It was really interesting to see that good dancer can dance anywhere. It does not matter – outside or inside.
In contrast to ‘Inhabitation’, So We Dance performed full of energy, colours and chaos dance ‘Lot 12’. In my opinion, the greatest effect on that performance had costumes. Every dancer was dressed in his own style. Apart costumes, I really liked all movements which sometimes were done together in a group, sometimes separately. In addition to everything, I noticed that in that performance was clearly used contact improvisation. As in dance company were man, it was a great opportunity to see their strength during lifting and catching women. ‘Lot 12’ was spectacular performance based on rush, exact, sudden and sharp movements. Second part of performance was ‘Come to Mamma’ presented by Bryony Perkins and Gabriele Reuter. I have never thought that duet could be so interesting. Women, performing that dance were physically strong and vocal. They were lifting each other without any problems, they were laughing, they were singing. Everything was in one piece. I was amazed, how two so different people can dance together and feel each other. Their movements were weaved with different strange noises, quiet song and humour.
In conclusion, I think that all three performances were unique with different music, costumes and movements. In my opinion, it strongly depends on choreographer as well as on dancers in which way they want to present their idea for the audience.
The first successful solo :)
REFLECTION ON MY PROCESS
To begin with, I want to explain why I have chosen this idea to create my solo. I was inspired by picture where was shown person with face full of fear. I caught myself that I have never noticed how looks frightened man and what happens with his body. In addition to this, I have never thought what exactly fear is and what can cause it.
I found information that a vivid description of fear was provided by Charles Darwin. He said that fear is an emotional response to a perceived threat. It includes such emotions as sadness, joy, anger, hatred etc. In all cases the eyes and mouth are widely opened. The heart beats quickly and violently. The breathing is hurried.
The idea of my solo is to introduce one cause of fear. Nowadays, a lot of people are constantly suffering from unsuccessful love. This situation can be the reason of fear. During my solo I will try to show the emotions which are or can be associated with fear.
How I started to create my solo? We know that many verbal expressions describe moods or thoughts in movement terms. So I chose for myself the main ‘key’ points: stamped in anger, didn’t know which way to turn, rush through the space, shout. The most important thing, which helped to start creation of my solo was improvisation and exploration of my body, space and boundaries. In addition to this, imagination was my best friend. I started to search different body shapes, place in space, size of movements and different levels. Moreover, another thing which helped me, were scores of my performance. I tried to do my best and wanted to feel in my own body the emotions of frightened person.
My solo is made of two peaces, which are mixed together. That means that one part of my dance will be calm, when another aggressive and static. I think that person, who feels that he can loose everything and stay alone, can not coordinate his emotions. I explored a range of movements, which could help me to express two contrary emotions: calmness and anger.
To help me with that process, I asked myself questions: what I want to do now and what my body wants. Sometimes I caught myself in stillness and silence, sometimes I felt lost and did not know what to do. During rehearsals I made scores, drawings and records of my dance. These things helped me to stay with idea. Everytime I changed movements in order to find something interesting and different. However, I still remembered that I should not forget about action forms, qualities, space environment and relationship to people as well as objects which were near me. In addition, I played with sudden, unexpected effects as jumps and claps, breath and sounds.
Finally, after long (sometimes successful, sometimes not) rehearsals, my solo was finished. With the help of imagination and intuition, inspiration and exploration, improvisation and feelings, I have the opportunity to perform my final work.
To begin with, I want to explain why I have chosen this idea to create my solo. I was inspired by picture where was shown person with face full of fear. I caught myself that I have never noticed how looks frightened man and what happens with his body. In addition to this, I have never thought what exactly fear is and what can cause it.
I found information that a vivid description of fear was provided by Charles Darwin. He said that fear is an emotional response to a perceived threat. It includes such emotions as sadness, joy, anger, hatred etc. In all cases the eyes and mouth are widely opened. The heart beats quickly and violently. The breathing is hurried.
The idea of my solo is to introduce one cause of fear. Nowadays, a lot of people are constantly suffering from unsuccessful love. This situation can be the reason of fear. During my solo I will try to show the emotions which are or can be associated with fear.
How I started to create my solo? We know that many verbal expressions describe moods or thoughts in movement terms. So I chose for myself the main ‘key’ points: stamped in anger, didn’t know which way to turn, rush through the space, shout. The most important thing, which helped to start creation of my solo was improvisation and exploration of my body, space and boundaries. In addition to this, imagination was my best friend. I started to search different body shapes, place in space, size of movements and different levels. Moreover, another thing which helped me, were scores of my performance. I tried to do my best and wanted to feel in my own body the emotions of frightened person.
My solo is made of two peaces, which are mixed together. That means that one part of my dance will be calm, when another aggressive and static. I think that person, who feels that he can loose everything and stay alone, can not coordinate his emotions. I explored a range of movements, which could help me to express two contrary emotions: calmness and anger.
To help me with that process, I asked myself questions: what I want to do now and what my body wants. Sometimes I caught myself in stillness and silence, sometimes I felt lost and did not know what to do. During rehearsals I made scores, drawings and records of my dance. These things helped me to stay with idea. Everytime I changed movements in order to find something interesting and different. However, I still remembered that I should not forget about action forms, qualities, space environment and relationship to people as well as objects which were near me. In addition, I played with sudden, unexpected effects as jumps and claps, breath and sounds.
Finally, after long (sometimes successful, sometimes not) rehearsals, my solo was finished. With the help of imagination and intuition, inspiration and exploration, improvisation and feelings, I have the opportunity to perform my final work.
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