Robert North- As Artistic Director Flashcards
What year did Robert North become artistic director and who did he replace?
- 1981
- replacing John Chesworth
Where had Robert North trained as a dancer?
- in 1965 he trained with the Royal ballet for 2 years
- in 1966 he began taking class as newly opened LCDT
- in 1968 he became a member of Martha Graham’s company in America and LCDT
- in 1975 he was appointed associate choreographer of LCDT
- State one development that North made to Rambert, and explain its impact on the company
-he strived to heighten the dancers physicality and dramatic output
=North was a popularist who wanted to create works which pleased the audience, and in order to achieve this, the dancers had to be more engaging through their dancing
- Give one development that North made to Rambert, and explain its impact on the company.
-he developed Rambert’s reputation for a varied and diverse rep
=all of North’s works had a dramatic element to them which would emotionally engage audiences, without submerging the quality of the movement.
=He was also very passionate about the musicality of the dancers, and believed music and dance should each maintain their independence, allowing for the music and dance to work both with and against each other, enhancing the texture of the work. He wanted the dance to fit with the music in an interesting way, but with its own dynamic and phrasing.
- State another development that North made to Rambert, and explain its impact on the company.
-he went on a tour to the US and Mexico in 1982
=this promoted British modern dance across the Atlantic, and built Rambert’s international reputation
- Give another development that North made to Rambert, and explain its impact on the company
-using an eclectic mix of music, both popular and classical
=often used popular, well known music such as songs composed by Bill Withers. This was part of his popularist and modernist intentions as artistic director, as acted as an engaging element for new works. The classical songs also engaged audiences as a lot of the lyrics or phrasing inspired the movements
- State another development that North made to Rambert, and explain its impact on the company
-received a £380,000 grant from arts council
=this allowed Rambert to keep developing as a company in terms of sets, costumes, training and performance venues
Describe and explain Robert North’s choreographic style.
- popularist: designed works which were crowd pleasing and engaged audiences through dramatic elements
- modernist: broke classical form and ideas to works
- formalist: choreographer in a logical way, with each movement having a reason to it
- often used episodic structures
- very passionate about musicality being equally as important to the dance choreography
Describe and explain Robert North’s movement style.
- classical ballet movements were what underpinned all other styles
- Graham technique
- use of modern and jazz vocabulary- influenced by Matt Mattox his jazz teacher
- eclectic range of styles including folk and flamenco
Describe Robert North’s use of physical and aural setting throughout his works.
- used popular music, e.g by Bill Withers, with music often being a starting point for his works
- use of bright coloured set, costume and lighting (Lonely Town Lonely Street, or Colour moves)
- Physical setting often changed depending on dance idea
How does Robert North interact and teach his dancers?
- has very high standards due to his own depth of dance training
- works on their physical ability of movement, acknowledging the strength and control needed to execute the dance moves
