Dance Lesson 3

Today we recapped our phrases for the 'Into the Woods' song section. We then created a mind map for a certain dance scene within the whole musical, our group focusing on the Witch and Rapunzel scene. Between us we discussed what dynamics, actions and even props could be used to suit the mood/atmosphere of the scene. We used this to prepare for when we start to construct a dance for each of the scenes.

For black history month, our group is performing a monologue as well as a dance piece. Our dance reflects the emotions of the african-americans who were subject to racism, torture, slave labour etc. This can help with my need for improving my characterisation as i have to portray the discriminated minority.

Rough rehearsal of BHM Dance piece

As we have to maintain a strong persona for this performance, these skills will help contribute to our musical production. As we may be dancing and singing especially, we need to learn how to not lose focus of our characters and feed it into our movement, such as our use of body language whilst dancing.

BHM 6 - Evaluation of Performance

BTEC MUSICAL THEATRE 2014-15

EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

PLANNING

Comment on the following –

the number ofREHEARSALS and how effective your target-setting was	effectiveness We managed to finish what we planned and developed to do in the number of rehearsals	how you would improve for NEXT TIME Increase rehearsals in order to develop what we're doing Focus more in rehearsals
your STAGINGincluding movement around stage	effectiveness We used a variety of the staging space and a circular formation in the centre stage, and the use of downstage right. This was effective as it wasn't just in one place so it didn't get	how you would improve for NEXT TIME We could of involved props which would enhance our performance and further add to our theme of slavery and the need for freedom e.g. podium for MLK
your LIGHTING	effectiveness We used two different lightings(spotlight and white wash) This was effective as it changed the mood/scene of the act, as well as representation of the characters (Martin Luther King, African slaves)	how you would improve for NEXT TIME We could of used stronger lighting to contrast the scenes/sections eg. Red lighting to show pain/torture
your SOUNDincluding your technical use of mics/instruments etc.	effectiveness We used one song for the dance piece and the end of the speech section - track song The song was effective as it is about the slavery in the 1930s so fits in with the concept. We also used music visualisation	how you would improve for NEXT TIME We could of edited/added different music to make it more interesting, such as when we were originally going to have mini breaks in the song throughout the performance whenever Ashley spoke.

PERFORMANCE SKILLS

MOVEMENT and VOCAL DELIVERY	effectiveness Our movement was clear and strong, which defined the meaning of the dance. Our vocal delivery was loud and well projected, even with the use of the microphone. He used a powerful deep tone in his voice, as well has good diction in order to get the message across the the audience	how you would improve for NEXT TIME Our movement could of been more exaggerated as well as  the vocal delivery, which could have had more rests to  reflect MLK's passionate speech
EXPRESSIVENESS (facial and physical)	effectiveness We portrayed strong expression through our movement when dancing, especially in certain gestures such as reaching upwards (shows calling for help) links to the narrative.	how you would improve for NEXT TIME We need to show stronger facial expressions to represent characterisation, not just through our actual movement and dynamics. This would contribute well to the whole act
COMMUNICATION TO THE AUDIENCE and how your performance was received	effectiveness We engaged the audience to our act mostly because of Ashley's introduction, as he spoke to the audience rather than 'at' them.	how you would improve for NEXT TIME Relating to facial expressions, our dance could have also engaged the audience more by stronger facial expressions, which reflects towards the crowd at times.
CONSISTENCY OF COMMUNICATION (how well you maintained your chosen persona)	effectiveness Ashley maintained his persona as he held strong facial expressions and used his techniques to voice a great performance.	how you would improve for NEXT TIME To improve next time, we could have held our personas stronger as an accident ended up in some of us losing grip of our characters

BHM 5

Costume Idea

We decided the costume of baggy black tops and faded checkered shirts with leggings. This loose style clothing represents the non-fitting wear slaves were given when in hard labour. We may also use dark makeup smeared on our faces to show the grubby conditions they had to work in. We will also be in bare feet which is also representative of the theme.

Official lighting plan

Our BHM Rehearsal schedule

BHM 4

Lighting ideas
                                                                                          

Begins with white spotlight only on Ashley - rest of stage in darkness

After saying 'I have a dream', spotlight fades and red/white wash light opens stage to reveal dancers and to start 'Strange Fruit' - Ashley is now faded out in darkness to take away focus while not saying speech (Every time he continues speech, spotlight will appear over him).

Update rehearsal on dance piece (more movement added/changed)

Update on MLK Speech

Ashley has decided upon a section of the speech to perform:

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

    Free at last! Free at last!

                Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!³

BHM 3

06.10.14

We have decided to perform just a group dance to 'Strange Fruit' rather than an arrangement also. We too have ruled out performing an african movement section. This is due to the fact that we already have a contrast of two emotions and atmospheres between MLK's heartwarming and positive speech, and Billie Holiday's moving but tragic/dark song 'Strange Fruit', in which we will now dance over.

Formations so far:

Formation 1
1. Ashley says 'I have a dream'
2. Music starts, dancers roll outwards to specific directions

Formation 2
1. Dancing to 'Strange Fruit'
2. Random pauses of music(or very low and faded) & dance
3. Ashley continues to read MLK speech - dancers perform gestures & lyrical movement to correlate with speech words

Formation 3
1. Ashley finished 1st part of speech, music & dance continues/fades in
2. Solos & duos are introduced

BHM 2

29.9.14
Development upon chosen idea

We have chosen our first dance idea surrounding Martin Luther King. We have also decided to perform and arrangement of the song 'Strange Fruit' by Billie Holiday, first performed in 1939. This song symbolises how the Africa-american slaves were mistreated, tortured, even killed. We will include solos and maybe duets to enhance it. This will be performed at the beginning of the section, before we begin our dance piece.

Southern trees bear strange fruit,

Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,

Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,

Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.

Pastoral scene of the gallant south,

The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,

Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh,

Then the sudden smell of burning flesh.

Here is fruit for the crows to pluck,

For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,

For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,

Here is a strange and bitter crop.

BHM 1

22.9.14

We watched and analysed clips that refer to black history, to help us gain an idea on what to perform for the variety performance. Myself and five others will be performing together.

Dance ideas

Martin Luther King
At the beginning Ashley (As Martin Luther King) says 'I have a dream', in which the music then begins . The rest of us are surrounding him on a podium style stand, and we break away from him once he says 'I have a dream'.
This slow emotional dance and music will then switch to a lively celebratory atmosphere as Ashley finishes the section of the speech, which relates to when King was massively applauded by the thousands of listeners within the crowd.
~link to MLK whole speech~ http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

Our movement in the dancing will also at times highlight key parts in the MLK speech, lyrically synchronising with certain sentences/phrases to visually represent his words as well as acoustically.
Our dancing will involve contemporary and Traditional African movement to contribute towards the moods of the sections. Ashley(MLK) reads the chosen section of the speech as we perform to show the emotion in the speech, which then switches to a celebratory atmosphere as Ashley finishes the section, in which we all change our contemporary style to traditional African (this section represents when MLK is loudly applauded by the thousands that supported him). The music would be edited to fit the piece, and designed props would be used.

Nelson Mandela
Brief: we would celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela a, representing a quick timescale of his dramatic life, from when he was sentenced to life imprisonment, to when he was granted his freedom 27 years later. Ashley (Nelson Mandela) could begin enclosed in either a jail cell symbolising his captivity and isolation or him working(digging/sledgehammer-ing) to symbolise the hard slave labour he may have faced. We could then have a dance of protest to free Mandela, which also highlights the ongoing segregation that went on. Finally on his release, we can then perform s celebration piece, whether it's a short composition or another dance piece. The chosen music would be edited to fit the whole piece, and designed props would be used.
~Dance example to help create dance/protest~