Chapter 4: The Constituent Features of Dance: Physical Setting: Swan Lake

Question 1

How Does Mathew Bourne use the Performing Space in Swan Lake?

Answer 1

• Traditional proscenium stage typical of classical balletshows the scnes clearly
• placement of dancers: on the stage upstage is a weaker area used when the prince is placed centre upstage when contemplating the lake to show his psychological distance from the present moment ;the staging of the bed centre stage stage gives it and the prince a sense of presence; swan and prince downstage left hold a gaze before the swan’s exit their placing create a moment of intimacy
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Question 2

How Does Mathew Bourne use Set in Swan Lake?

Answer 2

• Act 1 the theatre box on stage for the Prince and Girlfriend to watch a ballet within the ballet creating a mise en abyme effect symbolic of the entirety of Swan Lake due to the illusory ambiguity of dream and reality to suggest a dream within a dream.
• bed…levles and balcony

Question 3

How Does Mathew Bourne use Lighting in Swan Lake?

Answer 3

• Act 2 flodds used to give blue wash creating night -time dream like-quality
• props that provide light such as street lamps and the moon realistic scene-setting and practical as it lights the dancers e.g. the prostitute beneath a orange gel street lamp glow creates a merky dingy lighting the highlight this lowly character
• angle of light beams in bed scene cast dramatic enlarged shadows of the swans so positions are highlighted by superimposing their images onto the backdrop
• emphasis on lighting to aid mood rather than evoke moods

Question 4

How Does Mathew Bourne use Costume?

Answer 4

• swans face paint symbolic in ball scene as the stranger morphs into a manifestation of the prince’s beloved swan
• the ball scene female dancers in gowns the loose skirts create shape and fluidity to dance qualty when turning enhancing the energetic patterns through the air in lifts they skirt lengths are above ankle to allow the entrechats to be seen by the audience
• characterisation stockings of prossy, mack coat head scarf granny,
• costume becomes prop with queen;s gloves
• predominantly to enhance character and story

Question 5

How Does Mathew Bourne use prop?

Answer 5

bed/set

gloves

granny shopping trolley bag comdeic effect