Christopher Bruce Flashcards
How old was Bruce accepted into Rambert dance school?
13
At the age of 13 what was Bruce accepted into?
Rambert dance school
In 1977 Bruce choreographed Cruel Garden, who did he work with?
Lyndsey Kemp
What year did Bruce become artistic director?
1994-2002
What year did Bruce become assistant director?
1974-1979
What year did Bruce become associate choreographer?
1979-1986
In 1994-2002 what did Bruce become?
Artistic director
In 1974-1979 what did Bruce become?
Assistant director
In 1979-1986 what did Bruce become?
Associate choreographer
What was Bruce remember for when dancing In Pierrot lunaire?
Impressive interpretations
What did Bruce win 1993?
International theatre institute award for excellence in international dance
What year did Bruce win the international theatre institute award for excellence in international dance?
1993
Many of Burce’s work are what to the audiences?
Left for a range of interpretations rather than a fixed story
What is Bruce style?
Mixes contemporary and neo classical
What are most of Bruce’s work about?
Social, political and ecological
What does Bruce like to use as music?
Popular music groups for example John lemon (the dream is over) as the Rolling Stones (rooster)
What are Bruce’s starting points?
Poetry, literature, music, art, newspaper articles, works events and personal experiences
What designers has Bruce worked with?
John b read and Walter Knobbe
What are most of Bruce’s work structure?
Episodic and Rhonda form
What are some of Birces features of movements?
- Low centre of gravity
- Graham technique
- Contraction
- Weighted movements
- Off balance movements
When Bruce became artistic director his dancers were?
- Former members
- From other companies
- Other companies
When Bruce was artistic director who did he invite to crest works?
Davies and Cunningham
Bruce used ballet and graham technique to crest works which made them more what?
Diverse for the company
What does Bruce use a lot of in his dances?
Social dancing
Where does Bruce use social dancing?
Ghost dances - folk
Swansong - tap
When Bruce left in 1979 what did he become?
A freelance choreographer
What is swansong about?
An interrogation that leads into death of prisoner
Who does the music for swansong?
Phillip Chambon
Who does the lighting for swansong?
David mohr
What is the only visual clue other than lighting in swansong?
The chair
Where is the lighting when the prisoner is by himself in swansong?
Overhead
Where is there a shaft of light in Swansong?
Upstage left on a diagonal
What does the diagonal shaft of light suggest in swansong?
Natural light coming from enclosed space
How many entres and exits are there and what does it suggest in swansong?
Only one, it suggests one single door
What is the chair used as in swansong?
- Seat
- Weapon
- Shield
- Safe haven
- Prison bars
What does the victim wear in swansong?
Blue jeans and rest shirts
What do the interrogators wear in swansong?
Khaki trousers and open neck shirt
What other props are used in swansong? B
Baseball cap
Red nose
Canes
What is the red nose used to do in swansong?
Make fun of of the prisoner
What are the canes used as in swansong?
Weapon besitn the victim
How is the violence shown in Swansong?
Expressive movements, music and props
What is the structure for swansong?
Call and response
During swansong what does the prisoner get closer to?
The diagonal shaft of light
Why does the prisoner stop when going near the light in swansong?
He doesn’t want to leave the world so finding it difficult
Why Is the light so significant in swansong?
Because the light Suggests that he is letting go of being a dancer but finds it difficult to let go
What was Bruce two inspirations for swansong?
Amnesty international and ‘a man’ novel
What is amnesty international?
Charity fighting for human rights
What was the novel ‘ a man’ about?
A man who stood against fascism and oppression in chile by being committed in political life
Why is swansong significant to Bruce?
Last work before death or retirement, in this case end of dance career
What music was used to make ghost dances?
South American music
Why did Bruce make this piece?
Received a letter from a widow of a Chilean folk singer who was murdered
Who was Bruce asked to work for when making ghost dances?
Chilean human rights committee against unnecessary killings
What was happenings in South America at the time ghost dances was being made
Tragic things were happening to the poor with fathers being taken away from their family, getting killed or put in a cell and tortured to death
In ghost dances how are deaths shown?
The ghosts smash the villagers to the ground or drag them of the stage
What do the villagers do during ghost dances?
The villagers carry on everyday life even tho death Might occur at any time
Why is there mixed quality during ghost dances?
Because they are happy knowing the threat of death.
What features of movement are used during ghost dances?
- Plies
- Arabesques
- Kicks
- Partner work
What instruments are used in ghost dances?
- Flute
- Guitar
- Windpipe
- Percussion
In sergeants earlys dream how many dancers is there?
5 women and 4 men
Is the music live for sergeants earlys dream?
Yes
What music is used for sergeant earlys dream?
British, Irish and American folk songs
Who was the designer for sergeant earlys dream?
Walter knobbe
Who did the lighting for sergeant earlys dream?
John b read
What is the backdrop for sergeant earlys dream?
Seascape.
What are the costumes based on in sergeant earlys dream?
Einteenth century (baggy clothes)
What is the theme for sergeant earlys dream?
Migration from old to the new
How many sections are there in sergeant earlys dream?
10 sections
Is humour used in sergeant earlys dream?
Yes
Do the music and movement directly correlate and give an example if it does?
Yes, in section eighteen years old it says ‘I’ll roll him in my arms’ where he is seen curving his arms and body into a position digesting cradling.
Where else is folk music used other than sergeants earlys dream?
Ghost dances
Sergeant earlys dream is full of short stories what is this similar to?
Ghost dances
What features of Bruce style is used in sergeant earlys dream?
- Partner work
- arabesques
- Off balance movements
- Fast feet
- Spinning
- Levels
- Lifts
