Emancipation Of Expressionism

Question 1

choreographer

Answer 1

Kenrick H2O Sandy

Question 2

choreographic intent

Answer 2

Want audience to feel that they are witnessing an emotional journey

Main theme of order and chaos

restrictions of hip hop as a style

Each scene is a moment in life, the whole piece to be a journey

Use hip hop to express his ideas in a theatrical setting

Question 3

choreographic stimulus

Answer 3

Freedom of expression through hip hop movement (the title)

Til Enda by Olafur Arnalds (music for section 4)

The importance of being free to express ourselves both as individuals as through the hip hop movement

Question 4

choreographic approach

Answer 4

Exploring and abstracting hip hop movement and ‘signature’ company movements in a contemporary way. Working closely with the accompaniment and paying particular attention to musicality.
Whilst the choreographer and the dancers created material for the work, Kenrick very specifically selects certain movement vocabulary and ‘signature’ motifs (Ninja Walk, Ninja Glide, Ninja Static and Chariots of Fire), choreographic devices, formations and use of space.

Question 5

performance environment

Answer 5

Proscenium arch stage

Question 6

costume

Answer 6

Colour: pale blue shirt, stonewashed jeans, grey/white shoes

Simple: jeans, and a shirt with hair tied back. Clean, clinical and casual

Everyday: jeans, shirt and shoes, everyone wears the same

Jewellery: some dancers have their own accessories/jewellery, everyone is different

Question 7

lighting

Answer 7

Mostly deep blue washes

White side light

White spotlight (to highlight individuals or groups)

Edges aren’t lit to create a central focus

Sometimes lighting fades other times it snaps into blackout

Question 8

name the 4 parts of the structure

Answer 8

1. Genesis - the start of life and a feeling starts to grow and create from the womb of expressionism.
2. Growth and struggle - starting with an individual dancer’s expression contrasted by others entering from stage right.
3. The connection and flow between people - developing from a duet to a full ensemble.
4. Empowerment - The energy is captured and released with a new found raw, super human power. The release of individual energy (now more chaotic) continues to contrast with the powerful order of group unison. Within the idea of empowerment, this section also showcases the individual skills and expressionism of the core dancers.

Question 9

aural setting - names and composers

Answer 9

1+2) Original production and arrangement by Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante of Boy Blue Entertainment.

3) November composed by Max Richter.
4) Til Enda composed by Olafur Arnalds.

Question 10

dance style

Answer 10

Hip hop,

including krumping, popping, locking, animation, breaking and waacking techniques.

Question 11

dancers

Answer 11

17 dancers(8 female / 9 male)
Kenrick is one of the dancers in the performance and several of the dancers feature in key solos and have leading roles.

Question 12

company that performs EofE

Answer 12

Boy Blue Entertainment

Question 13

aural setting - mood and sounds

Answer 13

The music shifts from two urban pieces utilising powerful drum beats and electronic sounds,
to a modern classical composition (November),
to a fusion piece of music (Til Enda) that incorporates urban percussive elements and classical string instrumentation.
This development relates to the journey that Kenrick wants the audience to experience.
Accents in the accompaniment are complex and multi-layered and interpreted through movement and choreographic devices throughout the choreography. Kenrick writes out the counts and uses symbols in his notes to ensure that movements complement the particular instrumentation and accents within the aural setting.

Question 14

explain what mood each part of the structure creates

Answer 14

GENESIS - there is a sense of an electrical current affecting the dancers. He explores ideas of struggling to be free, find individual expression, conformity and order.

GROWTH AND STRUGGLE - What may appear aggressive suggests the struggle for the recognition of individual passion and expression. It ends in a rugby scrum inspired formation with an ensemble supporting the individual dancer.

CONNECTION AND FLOW BETWEEN PEOPLE - There are aspects of memory, manipulation, flow, merge and play between individuals in a relationship. An energy flows through the dancers, sometimes controlled by an individual and sometimes in group unison.

EMPOWERMENT - The contrasting lyrical qualities and frenetic percussive elements of the accompaniment are echoed in the contrasting actions and dynamics. There is an incessant quality as the section builds to a crescendo where the dancers are fully empowered. The section finishes with the dancers huddling together in unity before a final black-out and bow.