Chapter 4: The Constituent Features of Dance: The Physical Setting: Threshold

Question 1

How Does Joss Arnott use Performing Space/Venue in Threshold?

Answer 1

• proscenium stage however the persona of threshold took away from this traditional theatre setting
• intimate stage meant the performance was up-close and personal allowing the audience to witness the breath and sweat of the dancers this display of phyical exertion enhanced the intensity of the piece.
• use of downstage dancers appear more human
• dancers’ unified facings has two dimensional effect

Question 2

How Does Joss Arnott use Set in Threshold?

Answer 2

• black box minimal setting relates to the abstractness

Question 3

How Does Joss Arnott use Lighting in Threshold?

Answer 3

• low white pool of light highlights intracasies e.g. battern to light the upstage row of dancers
• high level lights illuminate dancers while shading areas of the stage to create harsh angles along the dancers lines and enhance their muscularity to suggest fierceness
• spotlighting to suggest isolation e.g. sharply defined beam sculpts the body of the soloist

Question 4

How Does Joss Anortt use Costume in Threshold?

Answer 4

• shape: tight fitting mesh top and hot pants allow exposure of the skin to reveal every line in the dancers body and espeacially effective in showing the powerful mobile legs (kicks and plies lunges)
• colour: black top and silver shorts simple so as not to detract from the movement, silve is eye-grapping catches the light to emphasise the dyanmic energetic performance; dancers appear as if they were themselves the space
• material: mesh and stretch nylon for ease of movement and comfort