GCSE Performing Arts: Dance

1
GCSE Performing Arts Dance

• Examination 14th May 2009
• Revision Time

2
The Written Paper

• 2 Hours
• Section A 34 marks
• Studio Practice
• Section B 46 marks
• Set Work / Comparisons
• Section C 20 marks
• Essay - Costume

3
You need to

• Be Organised!
• Be Prepared!
• Be Willing!
• Complete all given tasks and submit them on the
  given deadline!

4
Section A

• STUDIO PRACTICE

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Warm Up

• Mobilise Joints
• Raise CV Level / Heart Rate
• Oxygen to Muscles
• Improve Elasticity of Muscles
• Psychological / Mental Preparation
• Prevention of Injury

6
Warm Up Exercises

• 1 Shoulder Rotation, Arm Circles and Spine
  Rolls
• 2 Swings
• 3 Foot Warm Up

7
Cool Down

• Return CV Level to Normal
• Stretch Squeeze out lactic acid Prevent
  muscle soreness
• Psychological wind down

8
Cool Down Exercises

• 1 Plies
• 2 Stretching
• 3 Relaxation

9
Diet and Nutrition

• Carbohydrate
• Protein
• Fat
• Water
• Vitamins
• Minerals

10
Effects of a Balanced Diet

• Energy Equation
• Energy In Energy Out
• A dancer will therefore have enough energy to
  perform movement. This will help to improve
  performance and prevent injury.

11
Healthy Lifestyle

• Dont Drink
• Dont Smoke
• Dont take Drugs
• Eat a Healthy Balanced Diet
• Exercise Regularly
• Drink Water to stay hydrated
• Sleep to avoid fatigue

12
Safe Practice

• Correct warm-up / cool-down
• Appropriate clothing / footwear / hair
• Remove jewellery
• No eating / hydrated / when to eat
• Listen to and follow instructions / technical
  awareness / work within limitations
• Check the space is safe, clear of obstructions /
  correct temperature

13
Treating Injury

• Protection
• - Rest
• - Ice
• - Compression
• Elevation
• - Recuperation

• P
• R
• I
• C
• E
• R

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Components of Movement
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Motif Development
16
Motif Development
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Performance Skills
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Choreographic Devices

• Motif, variation and development
• Phrasing
• Chance
• Addition
• Repetition
• Visual and rhythmic design
• Complementary or contrast
• Unison
• Canon
• Climax
• Contrast
• Highlights
• The use of these in relation to the artistic
• intention or dance idea

19
Rehearsal Process

• Evaluating throughout process - revising and
  refining
• movement material
• Rehearsal of technical and expressive skills
• Systematic repetition (i.e. form,
  refine/evaluate, perform
• again)
• Mental Rehearsal
• Analysis of strengths and weaknesses, e.g.
  through use
• of video, viewing peers, or tutors
• Presentation to an audience.
• All elements of rehearsal process should provide
  feedback of some kind in order to inform the
  process.

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Section B

• Bird Song (2004)
• Comparative Works

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Premiere Bird Song

• World Premiere (in the round) April 2004
• EarthQuake Festival of International Dance
• Island Arts Centre, Lisburn, Northern Ireland
• London Premiere (in the round) October 2004
• Dance Umbrella
• The Linbury Studio Theatre, Royal Opera
• House
• London Premiere (proscenium arch) September 2005
• Dance Umbrella, Sadlers Wells Theatre

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Key Facts Bird Song

• Choreographer Siobhan Davies
• Movement Material The Company Dancers
• Sound Score and Design Andy Pink
• Contributing Visual Artist David Ward
• Production Design Sam Collins
• Lighting Design Adrian Plaut
• Costume Design Genevieve Bennett

23
Overview Key Points

• Performed in-the-round. Audience placed around
  the performers / No Front Movement viewed from
  all angles
• Choreographed from centre working out
• Part 1 and Part 2 Mirror each other
• Part 2 Sections are Developments of Part 1
  Sections
• Movement is a response to music throughout
  Music Visualisation. Starting Point is the Music.
• Call of Australian Pied Butcher Bird Key
  Stimulus (Bird Song Central Solo)
• Lots of Sections Each Varied

24
Structure of Bird Song

• Beginning - Infinite Monkeys
• Four Corners 1
• Diagonal
• Snake 1
• Muybridge 1
• Gill Clarkes Solo 1
• Four Musical Lines 1
• Improvisation 1
• Bird Song - Central Solo
• Improvisation 2
• Four Musical Lines 2
• Gill Clarkes Solo 2
• Muybridge 2
• Snake 2
• Four Corners 2
• Ending - Final Solo

• 16 Sections
• Choreographed from the centre working outward
• Focus on Sections 1 9 for Exam 08
• Second Half Sections Developments of the First
  Half Sections (Reversed Order)

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Bird Song Key Movement Features and Examples

• Infinite Monkeys
• 10 Second Clips of Movement
• Movement Responses to Sound
• Travelling as a Group
• Fast Walking Transitions

• Four Corners 1
• Space Divided into 4
• Empty
• Snow Angel Duet
• Female Duet
• Quartet

26
Bird Song Key Movement Features and Examples

• Diagonal
• Dancers Diagonally Across Space
• Diagonal Lines shown in movement and body
• Movement at different times / canon

• Snake 1
• Canon / Leading and Following
• Circular Pathways
• Changing Levels
• Fluid, fast dynamics
• Moments of Stillness

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Bird Song Key Movement Features and Examples

• Muybridge 1
• Stop Motion Photography Stop Motion moments in
  Dance
• Canon / Unison
• Over, Around, Through

• Gill Clarkes Solo 1
• Sharp, Percussive Music Sharp, Sudden Movements
• Arm Gestures
• Range of Directions
• Music Visualisation

28
Bird Song Key Movement Features and Examples

• Four Musical Lines 1
• Four Dancers Each perform a different line from
  music
• Music Visualisation
• Movements show characteristic of the sound
• Move around space / different directions

• Improvisation 1
• Movement created during performance
• Dancers respond to each other and create
  relationships as the sections continues
• Responses to music

29
Bird Song Key Movement Features and Examples

• Bird Song Central Solo
• Solo Dancer
• Response to the call of the Australian Pied
  Butcher Bird
• Twitchy Movements
• Gestures Important
• Internalised response to sound

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Accompaniment Bird Song

• Accompaniment starting point for each section
• Movement is a physical response to the
  accompaniment Music Visualisation
• Range of music/natural/found sounds used and
  occasionally altered as part of soundscore for
  the work

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Accompaniment

• Aural Setting
• Silence
• Voice / Spoken Word
• Sound (Found and Natural)
• Music Various Styles

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Accompaniment - Examples

• Silence -
• Voice -
• Sound (Found and
• Natural) -
• Music Various Styles

• Soda Lake Richard Alston
• The Fall Darshan Singh Bhuller
• Late Flowering Lust Matthew Bourne
• Spoken word John Betjeman poems
• Ghost Dances Christopher Bruce
• (Section 1) Dripping-Natural
• Late Flowering Lust Matthew Bourne
• Birds, bees, tennis ball on racket, whistle
• etc.
• Ghost Dances Christopher Bruce (Folk)
• Swansong Christopher Bruce
• (Synthesised)

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Accompaniment

• DESCRIBE THE ACCOMPANIMENT using these words
  ..
• tone, texture, timbre, dynamics, style,
  structure, orchestration,
• rhythm.
• CONTRIBUTIONS OF
• ACCOMPANIMENT
• Complementary
• Contrasting
• Structure
• Dynamics
• Mood Atmosphere
• Sense of Place
• Social
• Historical
• Geographical

MUSIC / DANCE RELATIONSHIPS Music
Visualisation Direct Correlation Mutual
Coexistence Call and Response Disassociation
34
Physical Setting Bird Song

• Theatrical Setting
• In-the-round - audience all around the
  performance
• Entrances and Exits from different parts of the
  space
• Projection important used throughout. Visual
  design supports stimulus for each section

35
Physical Setting

• Set Design
• Backdrop
• Cyclorama
• Sculpture or Installation
• Theatrical / Site Specific / Dance for Film
• Realistic / Abstract

36
Physical Setting Examples

• Backdrop -
• Sculpture or
• Installation -
• Theatrical -
• Site Specific -
• Dance for Film -
• Realistic -
• Abstract -

• Ghost Dances Christopher Bruce
• Soda Lake Richard Alston
• Swansong Christopher Bruce
• Cross Channel Lea Anderson
• Late Flowering Lust Matthew Bourne
• Ghost Dances Christopher Bruce
• Wildlife Richard Alston

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Physical Setting

• DESCRIBE Physical Setting using these words
  colour, material,
• texture, shape, size, levels, entrances and
  exits, decoration,
• placement, cost
• Contributions of SET DESIGN
• Theme of Dance
• Atmosphere
• Social setting
• Geographical Setting
• Historical setting
• Event
• Location
• Sense of Time
• Sense of Place
• Entrances and Exists

Contributions of LIGHTING Group of
Dancers Emphasise a Moment Colour Adds
Variety Climax Entrances and Exits Mood and
Atmosphere Structures / Sections Theme
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Costume Examples

• Realistic -
• Abstract -
• Characterised
• Shape -
• Colour -
• Material -

• Cross Channel Lea Anderson
• Wildlife Richard Alston
• Swansong Christopher Bruce
• Ghost Dances Christopher Bruce
• Cross Channel Lea Anderson
• Ghost Dances Christopher Bruce

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Section C

• The Essay!

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What you need to know about

• Costume

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What you need to incorporate.

• Key Points about Costume
• Evaluative Commentary
• The Set Work Bird Song
• Additional Works (Answer with 4)
• Late Flowering Lust Matthew Bourne
• Nutcracker Matthew Bourne
• Ghost Dances Christopher Bruce
• Swansong Christopher Bruce
• Wildlife Richard Alston
• Soda Lake Richard Alston
• Still Life at the Penguin Café David Bintley

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Essay Structure

• Introduction
• 2 Relevant Set Work Points (2 marks)
• Title Choreographer (1 mark)
• 2 Relevant Points (2 marks)
• 1 Evaluative Point (1 mark)
• Title Choreographer (1 mark)
• 2 Relevant Points (2 marks)
• 1 Evaluative Point (1 mark)
• Title Choreographer (1 mark)
• 2 Relevant Points (2 marks)
• 1 Evaluative Point (1 mark)
• Title Choreographer (1 mark)
• 2 Relevant Points (2 marks)
• 1 Evaluative Point (1 mark)
• Conclusion
• Quality of Writing (2 marks)

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Costume Points

• Purposes
• Intentions
• Reasons

44
Costume Points

• Remember the Magic List!

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Costume Magic List

• Forms of Costume
• Naturalistic or realistic
• Abstract
• Character based
• Pure dance based outfit
• Historical in style
• Decorative
• Stylised
• Traditional
• Cultural

• Costume/Set/ Lighting/Dance
• Relationships
• Direct correlation
• Mutual co-existence
• Disassociation
• Juxtaposition
• Enhancement of Mood / Character
• Similar in style and/or colour

Always Remember to Include Examples
46
Costume Magic List

• Contributions of Costume
• Establishes Location
• Identifies Era
• Supports Narrative
• Clarifies Character
• Establishes Season or Time of Day
• Supports Theme or Artistic Intention
• Adds to the Mood/Atmosphere
• Compliments Other Components
• Defines Gender
• Creates Interest for the Audience
• Establishes Status
• Changes in costume within a piece
• Add Interest
• Create Variety
• Support Narrative clarify place and time

• Allows Audience to see detail of
• Movement
• Social context
• Add colour
• Create flow
• Sculpt the body to show shape
• Tight fitting to show line
• Add texture
• Add humour
• Establishes geographical setting
• Groups dancers together
• Can define age of character

Always Remember to Include Examples
47
Bird Song Siobhan Davies
Focus on Movement Groups Dancers Together Shows
Line of the Body
48
Bird SongExamples

• Focus on Movement
• Groups Dancers
• Together
• Show Line of the Body

• - Simple costumes rehearsal clothes
• - Dancers all wear same colour range including
  white, blue and a flash of neon yellow
• - Close fitting costumes

49
Still Life at the Penguin Cafe David Bintley

• Establishes Specific Animal
• Supports the Artistic Intention
• Provides a Sense of Place (Location)
• Mood / Atmosphere
• Creates contrast between sections

50
Still Life at the Penguin Cafe Examples

• Establishes Specific
• Animal
• Supports the Artistic
• Intention
• Provides a Sense of Place
• (Location)
• Mood / Atmosphere
• Changes in costume
• Structure

• Each character has specific
• costume represented by mask or head dress
• Model women wear costume related to zebra skin
  and costumes are half animal/half human
• Texas Kangaroo Rat has denim dungarees which
  reflects USA
• Vibrant colour of Fleas costume supports the
  playful character
• Costume changes happen in relation to the changes
  of music and set

51
NutcrackerMatthew Bourne

The costume becomes a feature of the movement
and the choreography Colour change creates a
different mood and contrasting world Costume
defines character and personality Costume design
works in close collaboration with the set and
lighting
52
NutcrackerExamples

• The costume becomes a
• feature of the movement
• and the choreography
• Colour change creates a
• different mood and
• contrasting world
• Costume defines character
• and personality
• Costume design works in
• close collaboration with
• the set and lighting

• Claras change into her blue dress becomes part
  of the choreography cupids create movement in
  the skirt
• Contrast between the monochrome first act of the
  work house and the fantasy world of sweetieland
• Matron wears starched long skirt and tall hat to
  make her look domineering
• Colour works in partnership as does the
  cartoon/theatrical style of the second act -
  sweetieland

53
Ghost Dances Christopher Bruce

• Identifies characters
• Unifies the dead as a group
• Supports the Mood/Atmosphere
• Compliments the Set and Lighting

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Ghost Dances Examples

• Identifies characters
• Masks support
• characterisation
• Supports the Mood and
• atmosphere
• Adds to the theme of the
• dance
• Sculpt the body to show
• shape

• - Clear distinction between the
• three Ghosts and the villagers
• - The ghost characters wear skull masks with
  matted hair. This makes them appear more
  intimidating.
• - The ghost figures appear skeletal and the
  costumes add an eerie feel
• - The ghost characters are important top the
  theme of the dance and so its important that they
  look threatening.
• - The use of body paint means that the shape of
  the body is clear and the audience can see the
  full range of movement and qualities.

55
Swansong Christopher Bruce

• Identifies status of interrogators
• Supports theme of the dance
• Clarifies the narrative
• Establishes character
• Add humour

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Swansong Examples

• Status
• Character
• Groups dancers together
• Add humour
• Adds to theme

• - Guards dressed in uniform have
• higher status than prisoner
• - The uniforms clearly outline the
• role that the guards are playing
• - Guards wear the same costume
• which groups them together
• - Use of hats and red nose add
• humour to the dance
• - The roles, character and the
• status of the performers are
• clear which clarifies the theme
• and narrative

57
WildlifeRichard Alston

• Colours linked to lighting and set
• design
• Enhances the clarity of movement
• Compliments other components

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WildlifeExamples

• Colours linked to
• lighting and set design
• Enhances the clarity of
• movement
• Compliments other
• components

• - Primary colours relate to sculptures and the
  lighting
• - Unitards emphasise th line of the body and the
  flexed limb work
• - Abstract set design and accompaniment
  compliments abstract costumes

59
Soda Lake Richard Alston

• Allows audience to see detail of
• movement
• Strong link to stimulus - sculpture
• Compliments other components

60
Soda Lake Examples

• Focus on Movement
• Show line of body
• Compliments the Sculpture

• - The simple black dance
• wear allows for all focus on
• the movement
• - Close fitting costume
• allows for the line of the
• body to be seen clearly
• - Black costume
• compliments the black
• colour of the sculpture