Rooster Flashcards
Themes of Little Red Rooster
- Male chauvinism
- Disposable attitudes towards women
- Narcissistic - the male dancers ( through the grooming gestures )
- Male dominance - 5: 1 ( more male dancers are present )
- Aggressive towards the other dancers; competition - who’s the man
- Link to animal instincts - referencing ruling the roost ( rooster !!! )
- Sexual tension between male and females
Key Points of LRR
- Establishing male roles as well as the male soloist
- Sets the tone for the rest of the piece
- Ratio 5 : 1
- Animalistic qualities
- Grooming gestures
Interaction Motif 1 LRR
( wrap motif )
Female dancers wraps around the male dancers neck in back attitude before the male dancer drops his head , losing contact between the two spinning her round - before he dusts himself - brushing her off
Interaction Motif 2 LRR (manipulation motif )
He’s got hold of her , manipulating her
- Being very physical, more aggressive compared to interaction 1
- Low levels - lower status
- He has hold of her arm throwing her to the floor and kicking her before brushing her off and leaving her stage right showing disposable attitudes
- She continues on as if this is usual
Interaction Motif 3 LRR ( trio )
- Hitch kicks in the air bringing her into a ponche whilst being supported / (manipulated) with a lot of contact work alongside this idea of pushing and pulling.
- 2 vs 1 - mirroring Paint It Black
Examples of female motifs LRR
Falling , hugging, wrapping herself as well as hip circle s
“ hounds begin to howl “
what section ? + motif
(LRR) the rooster performs an inverted alternating knee popping movement as the arms alternate ( performed by the main male dancer )
“ dog begins to bark”
what section ? + motif
(LRR) the male dancer jump up trying to show both his legs and arms as if he’s initiating the dog as if barking
“ little red roosters on the prowl “
what section ? + motif
(LRR) the male dancer brings his arms/ hands up to his face as if he is going to call her before the rooster strutting downstairs. He then does a sharp look upstage left before the female dancer runs on stage.
Themes in LJ
- Polygamy: free love of the - 1960s - passing of the women and constant changing of partners as well as lyrics.
- Male Chauvinism: grooming gestures , pelvic thrust, lick of the lips - showing dominance over the women.
- As a whole more sexual gestures
- Courting / Courtship: meeting and greeting through the use of minuet step
- Elizabethan era( aristocracy) - social dance , bows, patriarchy ( traditional gender roles - men giving women hand gesture)
- Double standards
- Disposable attitudes of women: The main male dancer is constantly moving on and disregarding them once they leave
- Regality
Lady Jane (1) motif
‘ Your servant am I ‘
We see Lady Jane wrapping her arms round her body similar to LRR which can be interpreted as protecting her.
‘ Your servant am I ‘ the male dancer lunges at her , licking his lips as she moves away shuddering ( element of excitement ) - moving away from his advances.
Shiver Motif (LJ1)
She slowly sits on his lap and shivers as she moves away rising from a low to high level.
‘ I pledge my troth to Lady Jane ‘ (LJ1)
The female dancers snatches her hand away from the male dancer ( further gaining a sense of control over the men)
Lady Anne : Touchy Feeley Motif
The male dancer loops her round , placing her on his knee. The caressing of the female dancers thigh , by the male dancer
Intimacy shown through this as well as the assisted jette ( showing the male dancer is in control = power) and touching of the neck
‘ I pledge my troth to Lady Jane ‘ (LJ >LA1)
Patronising pat on the hand after she was lifted by the other male dancers almost saying there there - not your time. This happens as the main male dancer walks towards Lady Jane
‘ I shall take my leave ‘
(LJ >LA1)
the male dancer goes to run away as Lady Anne pulls him back
Lady Jane Backing Dancers
Backing dancers create lines . More specifically, chains and links at the back of the stage in one big line
LJ Slap Motif
( The male dancer is distracted by Lady Jane still in this section. Lady Jane is out of line so another male dancers slaps the side of her hip/bottom putting her back in line - again showing a sense of power)
LJ 2 Motif 2 - Intimacy Duet
More willing in this interaction with more partner work and contact. A sense of intimacy through assisted jumps and attitudes.
She is then lifted up and moved back as the male dancer gazes at her. Her being lifted and poised could show how she is the object of his desire
Lady Marie
She makes the first move - craving attention ( younger )
Tries to entice him with her hips
Continues to pursue him , despite his attempts to create distance as he also turns his back on her , she then taps his shoulder again and they start to D.A.N.C.E
Male is distracted again - always looking at Lady Jane not Marie
LJ Ending Motif
Within a circular formation ( see hound dog motif development in LJ / ATGB / PIB )
‘ life is secure with Lady Jane ‘ - he can’t help but explore with other women despite his clear connection with Lady Jane - as he has played the field before +
Relationships and devices used in Lady Jane
Mirroring
Lead and Follow
Contact
Complimentary
Partnering
Themes seen in NFA
Social Event: links to the 1960s
Young couple, courting rituals ( duet starts with a developed version of the minuet step )
Sense of equality (within relationships + expectations )
Playfulness - contrasts to previous sections
Reflected within the music and style
Underlying narcissism : links to lyrics ‘ I’m going to tell you how it’s gonna be’
The female dancers also belittle him at times
Unphased / ignorance - the interaction as the male dancer is lifted away at the end
‘ I’m going to tell you how it’s going to be’
(NFA) initiated by the male dancer as he performs an explosive jete upstage towards the female dancer. He steps towards her as if he is chasing her ( showing he is in control )
‘ Your going to give your love to me’
(NFA)the female dancer circles her hips towards the male dancer ( perhaps as a response ) showing her sense of power within the relationship and a way of tempting and teasing the male dancer and their love
‘Love is love and not fade away’
(NFA) a sense of irony as their love does indeed fade away at the end of the dance when the male dancer is lifted and leaves the stage whilst the female dancer remains on stage
NFA Opening Transition
- End of Lady Jane there is a formal quality to the formation which frames Lady Jane in the middle.
- As the new section starts the male dancers ( beside 1 ) exit stage right with the females ( beside 1 ) leaving stage left.
- The two dancers left on stage are left to greet each other allowing a new relationship to be formed
NFA Ending Transition
- The male dancer is dancing in his own world stage right when 4 male dancers enter stage right and lift him up, removing him from the space.
- He is unpleased with this interaction - The female dancer is left waving slowly before she lowers to the floor stage left
- She looks towards stage right where she sees a new male dancer before she exits stage left - avoiding another interaction
Styles in NFA
Lindy Hop
Jive
Ballroom
Jazz
Gestures
( these 3 styles are all linked social dances within the 1960s and the 60s dance style )
Jive Motif (NFA)
They spin down towards stage left in the ballroom hold. The male dancer twirls her out as they continue to hold hands - standing side by side. Travelling downstage, performing shuffle kicks and flicks as a duet and solos. This is performed light heartedly as well as bouncy. The close connection between the dancers.
Lindy Hop Motif (NFA)
The male dancer bounces off the female dancers hip and falls to thew floor where he kicks his legs numerous times ( as if he is having a tantrum). The female dancer then kicks his bum, pulls him up off the floor and they perform a stepping shuffle wrapped around each other in close proximity. It is playful and flirty.
Jazz Motif (NFA)
- We see explosive jumps and leaps performed by both dancers
- The male dancer springs up holding onto the lapels of his jackets
( rooster wing motif - DEVELOPED ) jumping for joy, showing excitement, like a spring chicken - Motif is repeated twice in this
- this is complemented by the high pitched sound of the harmonica
Themes in ATGB
- Adolescent anxieties - stress over different situations as a child
- Rejection and isolation
- Autobiographical- inspired by Bruce and his experience of youth
- Childish behaviours
- Bullying ( aggression )
- Identity - outcasts as gender groups well a
- Loneliness
- Teasing
Stylistic features seen in ATGB
- Gestural - squatting , slapping
- Child Play - cartwheeling , lifting
- Leg gesture - skipping
- Grooming gesture (links to previous sections such as LRR)
- Sombre feel
Hand shaking
General contemporary dance
Folk dance ( chains , links that shows a sense of community )
Use of space in ATGB
Levels ( lone female often on a low level )
She is kicked down , drops into a squat position and drops at the end of the line
Pathway
Lone female travels from USL —> SL ( spinning )
Formations
Lines from female dancers SL
Line facing back crossing arms
Male dancers are more sporadic and playful with formations
Close proxemics - between Lady jane man and Lady Jane slow dancing together
Relationships and devices seen in ATGB
Contact
Unison
Repetition
Manipulation of number
Partnering
(TOM) ENTRANCE:
ATGB
male dancer enters from SR, he is then pushed aggressively . He then performs an attitude derriere before being picked up over his shoulder - showing isolation
(TOM) HANDSHAKE:
ATGB
male dancers ( trio ) are USR, one performs a cartwheel. There is pushing and pulling between them. One reaches his hand out before pulling it away embarrassing the lone dancer.