FIRST YEAR - Key Practitioners Lesson 1

Continuing our introduction to choreographic devices, this week we have been looking at different key practitioners and identifying these devices within their work.

During the lesson we took time to observe as well as critically evaluate Justin Peck's 'In the countenance of Kings'.

After watching the video in full without any temptation to over think or make notes, we then watched the piece again, thinking about the following questions:

- Any thoughts or feelings towards the piece
- What do you think the piece is trying to say to its audience
- Is there a story/ narrative?
- What movements do you recognise
- How do the dancers work together?
- Can you see any Choreographic devices used in the work?

We discussed the work as a class and shared our evaluations, having Edmumd Feldman's Method of Criticism in mind.

I loved the varied use of choreographic structures within the work and find it interesting how the dancers display classical movements in trainers, giving the work a more current feel!

Next, we watched a video based on Justin Peck's Choreographic Process, allowing us to fully understand and make connections between the process of developing his piece and the final product.

Within the video, Peck discusses how the use of patterns and different formations influence his choreography.

As a creative task, you were asked to draw a random shape on a piece of paper (e.g. diagonal line, square, dot, broken line etc) which was passed around the class. With theses shapes as a guide, you were set the challenge to create a phrase of movement.

For guidance we discussed how we could look at these varied shapes, including:

- A Stage Map - giving each area within the space a specific shape
- Individual Shape - portraying each shape with various body parts/ movements
- A Step By Step Guide - following the shape in order of which it appeared on the page
- A Solid 3D Shape - thinking about how you could move around the object, incorporating the use of levels
- Perspective - looking at different ways of viewing the shape e.g. on the ceiling, on the floor, with your nose on the floor etc.

Task:
1) By reviewing your reflective notes of the session you will discuss, reflect and review your experience in the session. You will illustrate your experience by including short video examples of the movement passage you have created and inform your reader how/why you arrived at this point AND discuss the integration of practitioner devices.
(400 words)

2) Students will watch Justin Peck’s ‘In the countenance of Kings’ by San Francisco Ballet and discuss what their thoughts/feelings are towards the piece.

Within your blog please include-

•            How did the piece makes you feel?

•            How did the dancers move?

•            What patterns and shapes did you see?

•            What movements/devices do you recognise?

•            In your view, what do you think the piece is trying to say or communicate to its audience

Remember to use dance vocabulary and any choreographic terms you have learned!

Also please use Edmund Feldman's Method of Criticism for each idea you discuss - 

Now read through your notes and thoughts and streamline this into a short paragraph that relates to what you think about ‘In the Countenance of Kings’.

(500-650 words or a 2-3 min Vlog).

Once you are happy with your paragraph POST IT ON YOUR BLOG… don’t forget to give it a title, you can also use and screenshots or images to help illustrate your writing. 


Please complete each post by Tuesday 1st October 17:00


Finally, 

Please keep a look out on this page!

Also just a quick reminder that I will be asking to see each of your creative phrases next lesson. 

Any questions, please let me know,
Miss Norman