Chapter 3: The Constituent Features of Dance: Movement: Threshold

Question 1

How does Joss Arnott use Level in Threshold?

Answer 1

lowered centre of gravity allowing fast shifts of weight for speedy travel

Question 2

How doe Joss Arnott use Focus in Threshold?

Answer 2

the dancer follow the hands rendering their performance more introspective rather than ‘showy’

Question 3

How does Joss Arnott use Shape in Threshold?

Answer 3

the dancers create harsh angular straight lines which has a tough, strong aesthetic potentially to express current social upheavals

Question 4

What is the Relationship between dancers in the Groups shapes and Formations inThreshold by Joss Arnott?

Answer 4

Group shapes/Formation:

• 7 dancers
• Unison/solos to celebrate individual physical ability
• EXAMPLE soloist downstage right, others dancers in a staggered line upstage with their backs to the audience. this division between soloist from group suggests isolation
• linear formation emphasises angularity of shapes made by dancers
• formal lines to suggest regality and military influence
• close masses require dancers to be sensitive to other’s personal space (contrasting aesthetic to the scattered groups of duets and solos that later take the stage)
• fragmentation of scattered groupings enhances the abstractness of the piece
• use of foreground and background to create visual dimension to spark audience interest

Question 5

What is the Relationship between dancers in Time in Threshold?

Answer 5

• most of the piece is performed in total unison (same movement at the same time) to suggest uniformity and military influences
• sychronisation for impact to enhance the power of the alpha-females
• MADE-UP acumulative canon dancers enter stage and join in with leading dancer at different stages in motif 1 the accumulation reionforces the movement to give the appearance of increasing force of power

Question 6

What is the Relationship between dancers in Non-Contact and Contact and other Relationship Possibilities in Threshold?

Answer 6

• meeting and parting to build and rellease tension
• frequent alternation between alone and together to show how dancers connect and disconnect through an array of movement and to show complimenting moments of great physicality temperedy by quiet, introspective flashes of personal exploration
• glances between dancers expresses comradery and comeptitivity