Language of Performing Arts Coursework
In performing arts our first section was dance, we choreographed a short dance, which lasted about two minutes, which incorporated different elements of dance. We learnt about each element and how to apply them to dance, during a series of lessons. Firstly through improvisation we started to produce a motif, which would act as our base to expand on. The word motif means “the central movement theme of a dance which is developed, repeated and varied” (Linda Rickett Young, 1996). During our lessons our class learnt that changing the direction, tempo without changing its order could vary a motif. Motifs can add interest to a simple phrase and give alternative meaning so that repetition does not bore the audience. We developed our motif through rehearsal. For example we repeated certain parts of the motif and with different intensions, we did this by expanding our motif adding an extra gesture then bringing the motif through again this time in a different level, which gave the motif more variation. We also mixed in other motifs at the end of our performance and repeated our original phrase to bring it to a familiar conclusion. A motif in dance could be likened to the hook line of a musical compositio . . .
We also made use of space in our piece, by allowing each individual to bring his or her personal space to the centre at one point in the performance, this gave the motif variation. During the rehearsal we consolidated movement and made it fit to our music. Here is our motif that we started out with; it is very simple and short. It could be a simple melody line to which a piece of music is built around and repeated. A set of motifs can have completely different intensions and effects by simply varying the dynamics. We used different levels to separate our dance from canon and mirroring. We used a lot of gestures in our motif that gave a sense of power to the audience. Firstly it starts of with stillness then movement it then proceeds into a jumping. We continued to refer back to our original motif, which helped to keep our performance centred. We did this by firstly starting of with slow dynamics and increased them throughout the performance, ending in fast sharp movements. There was a complementing relationship between our dance and the chosen music. Canon is when a movement is repeated in several phases but at different times. After that is a twisting then a transfer of weight, after this is again a twisting then more movement, the ending is a classic thing which most dances do, it ends the way it started, in stillness.
Common topics in this essay:
Linda Rickett, , audiences attention, motif variation, art forms, developed motif, expressions piece, piece drama, |
Acceptance Essays
