Behind The Veneer

Question 1

Intent of behind the veneer

Answer 1

• Production screened in 2010,
• Different vignettes describing different societal situations
• Relates to the developing insecurities within our society - the mechanisms in which people cope with the feeling of being ostracised or isolated
• talks about the unfortunate way some teenagers and young adults in modern society can only be themselves behind the veneer, degrading to our society
• people feel as though the only way they can functionally effectively within a modern society is to vary their masks in different situations whether that be with friends or family
• important social issue, people feeling as though they aren’t of any importance to any group within society and feel like they’re on their own

Question 2

Cadi McCarthy

Answer 2

1975, Canberra
Director of buzz between 2009-2013
Created a number of works with the company including, restless, fragile and look the other way
Primary training - Kim Harvey school of dance and later moved to WA to achieve her graduation at WAAPA
Holds a masters and honours in education and a BA in dance
Cadi created Catapult Dance; to build, provide opportunities and foster

Question 3

Costuming 1, elements and choreographic devices

Answer 3

Simple, androgynous -> varied slightly with colours - enables dancers to initiate movement more effectively in order to enable viewers to gage further understanding with the social issue
Representative of individuality amongst a converging society
Lauren is seen is a bold coloured shirt compared to the rest of the group, evidentially ostracised
She tries to gain unison with the group - they use percussive and sustained movement to isolate themselves from her making her feel distressed and unaccepted - spatially isolating themselves from her - pack mentality against one girl
Abstract representation of youth society and how people are unfairly isolated in different environments

Question 4

Costuming 2, props

Answer 4

Game show, three encouraging hosts walk around the entire stage in order to hype up the audience - they use the space to emphasis their excitement for the show to gage viewers
Laura, running around the stage rapidly trying to find the perfect outfit - using the Venetian blinds to change outfits to try get a good score from the judges (scorecard)
The scorecard can be representative of how judgemental society can be and making people feel as though a number makes them a good candidate of society
Dancers groping their physical attributes showing Laura “what she doesn’t have” making her feel imperfect and think differently of her appearance..

Question 5

Set, props

Answer 5

Ghost-like text, exposed brick wall of the theatre
Appears with words, “shy” “assertive” “physical force” - physical force, representative of the relationship between jake and Hayley (young domestic violence) - use of chairs, tables being thrown and placed on top of Hayley enables viewers to interpret this idea in a more literal sense
Representative of the volatile, unhealthy relationships that occur within society being representative of young age or mental health

Question 6

Props, awkwardness scene

Answer 6

The Venetian blinds are a versatile prop used throughout the performance, placed in a number of configurations to demonstrate the different moods and emotions of performers

Hyping herself up behind veneer, maximised movement and unable to speak in front of Peter, minimised movement

“Tiger, tiger I wanna squeeze you - all my love I will give to you”

Question 7

Buzz dance theatre

Answer 7

1985 
Original name of 2 dance 
1986 changed to 2 dance plus 
And then to Buzz Dance Theatre 1998 
Joined STEPS youth dance company in May 2014 forming Co3