For our final dance workshop of the course, we again explored the integral strands of dance through the focus of today - moving with a stimulus. Our class was split into four groups based on our choosing, each of which worked with a particular stimulus.
Stimulus #1 was tactile - We were asked to handle an object hidden inside a bag with only our tactile feeling sense. We were then to use the qualities of that mystery object in a dance. The object felt like a ball containing very prominent and multiple spikes jutting out all over. They weren't sharp spikes, more like knobby spikes, and created a sense of uniqueness, roughness and off-the-wallness. These could be perfectly translatable to the movement of bodies across the dance floor and incorporated into any basic dance routine.
Stimulus #2 was based on an idea - Advertisement cards that contained a specific list of constraints/requirements for a dance routine were handed out. The group was to create a short advertisement in the form of dance, using any elements of dance they wished to.
Stimulus #3 was visual - We were shown a statue of a woman with her head in her hands who was uniquely proportioned. Any number of interpretations could be made from this stimulus.
Stimulus #4 was kinesthetic - A choreography sequence was to be developed and performed utilizing movements focused on isolated body parts, which we used during the warmup.
We chose stimulus #4 for our group routine. Since my group contained three girls and myself, we came up with the idea of three mannequins being positioned and worked on by a storekeeper (myself). Through our routine, I would "control" and "position" them using the kinesthetic movements from the warmup. These included wide-arcing motions such as swinging arms sideways and up & down. I had a different routine for each of the three girls/mannequins as I walked across the stage. It turned out pretty well, with the entire scene set to David Jones shopping music!
I think that this last dance workshop brought together the learning in the past four weeks in a very strong way. We were continually aware of different elements of dance such as levels, space, canon, contrast and movement. It all culminated in one last musical routine that I can actually say I had fun taking part in!
Stimulus #1 was tactile - We were asked to handle an object hidden inside a bag with only our tactile feeling sense. We were then to use the qualities of that mystery object in a dance. The object felt like a ball containing very prominent and multiple spikes jutting out all over. They weren't sharp spikes, more like knobby spikes, and created a sense of uniqueness, roughness and off-the-wallness. These could be perfectly translatable to the movement of bodies across the dance floor and incorporated into any basic dance routine.
Stimulus #2 was based on an idea - Advertisement cards that contained a specific list of constraints/requirements for a dance routine were handed out. The group was to create a short advertisement in the form of dance, using any elements of dance they wished to.
Stimulus #3 was visual - We were shown a statue of a woman with her head in her hands who was uniquely proportioned. Any number of interpretations could be made from this stimulus.
Stimulus #4 was kinesthetic - A choreography sequence was to be developed and performed utilizing movements focused on isolated body parts, which we used during the warmup.
We chose stimulus #4 for our group routine. Since my group contained three girls and myself, we came up with the idea of three mannequins being positioned and worked on by a storekeeper (myself). Through our routine, I would "control" and "position" them using the kinesthetic movements from the warmup. These included wide-arcing motions such as swinging arms sideways and up & down. I had a different routine for each of the three girls/mannequins as I walked across the stage. It turned out pretty well, with the entire scene set to David Jones shopping music!
I think that this last dance workshop brought together the learning in the past four weeks in a very strong way. We were continually aware of different elements of dance such as levels, space, canon, contrast and movement. It all culminated in one last musical routine that I can actually say I had fun taking part in!
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