Section C: Artificial Things Flashcards
Who is the choreographer of Artificial Things (AT)
Lucy Bennett
How many dancers are in AT
4 (2 male/2 female)
What performance environment is AT
Proscenium Arch
What dance style is AT
Inclusive contemporary
What structure is AT
Focus sections
What are the choreo approaches of AT
Laura is used as a source of movement translated by David and Amy, task setting, collaboration with other dancers
What are the stimuli of AT
Paintings by Goran Djurovic, An isolated figure perched on a wheelchair in a snow covered landscape being viewed from afar, Dancers personal experiences
What are the choreographic intentions of AT
Life’s limitations and resolutions, The gaze of others, Constricted within a snow globe
Three main components of the costume
Faded colours, Design of the clothes, Streaky colour dripping effect
What costume does Laura wear
A blue and white sleeveless shirt, grey trousers, black shoes
What costume does Amy wear
Mid thigh length blue, green and white dress with a small slit and no shoes
What costume does Dave wear
A streaky blue and green shirt and grey/brown trousers with no shoes. Dad’s brown suit jacket at the end
What costume does David wear
A blue, white and green streaky shirt with grey trousers and no shoes
What is the fit of the clothes
Relatively loose/ easy to dance in
What is the point of the streaky costumes
Link to the backdrop and paintings by Goran Djurovic showing unity and inclusivity
What is the point of the loose fitting costumes
Allow a freedom of movement and not constrictive to show their hope for a free life
Why could Laura be wearing trousers
She is insecure of her legs being in a wheelchair
Why could Amy be in a dress
Shows she is not restricted at all and is completely free
What is the point of Dave’s suit jacket
Shows his one personal experiences, creates a narrative and storyline and marks a climax in the piece
What is the point of the faded coloured costumes
They are quite bleak and depressing creating an overall mood of being unhappy and limited
What is the point of the everyday clothing
Shows their own experiences and how living with a disability is a completely normal thing many go through
Three main components of the set design in AT
Fake snow, wooden edge floor, Streaky backdrop
Other elements of the set design in AT
Headless mannequin, stools, Snow filled glass vitrine which has fallen over
What does fake snow link to
Creates a cold mood, suggest a time and location, links to the intent of the snow covered landscape and being constricted in a snowglobe
What does the wooden edge floor like to
The idea of being constricted within the edge where the dancers cannot escape from, linking to intent of constricted within a snow globe and life’s limitations
What does the streaky backdrop link to
Compliments the costume and lighting as well as the stimuli of the Paintings by Goran Djurovic creating an inclusivity and unity
What does the headless mannequin link to
The mannequin wears Dave’s dads jacket showing he could be symbol of his father and his personal experiences
Three main components of lighting
Blue and white wash, 2 overhead spotlights in Dave and Laura’s duet, Amber sidelight
What is the point of the blue and white wash
It creates a cold and depressing mood linking to the snow covered landscape but also this idea of them being unhappy due to their limitations in life
What is the point of the 2 overhead spotlights in Dave and Laura’s duet
They restrict the dancers space to the spotlights showing they are constricted and trapped like in life with their disabilities- life’s limitations and dancers personal experiences
What is the point of the amber sidelight
Adds a warming atmosphere and suggest a glimpse of hope that life could be better and they could be coming to their resolutions
Name any other elements of the lighting design in AT
White pool of light, Constant changes, Spotlight in Dave’s solo
Three main components of the aural setting
Wind crunching sounds, Slow tempo, Minor key
What is the point of the wind crunching sound effect
Creates a cold atmosphere and snowy landscape linking to the stimuli and intent
What is the point of the slow tempo
Shows it is a long journey to the resolution and how it is a sad and depressing journey to get there
What is the point of the minor key
Creates a depressing atmosphere and how their life isn’t very enjoyable due to their disabilities and limitations
Any other elements of the aural setting
Slow and sustained piano and strings, The Sunshine of Your Smile, Music changes in each section
Name the main relationship used
Contact, contact duet of Dave and Laura shows how they are supporting each other and are constricted for space
Name the main action used
The action of Dave laying helpless on the floor with a heavy breathing shows he is unable to move and has this burden of his disability.
Name the main dynamic used
The playful and fast dynamic of the gliding trio to show more freedom and spontaneity from Laura
Name the main spatial design used
The size of Laura’s actions and arm gestures getting bigger towards the end, becoming more confident in her disability and going towards the resolutions
Four main components of the choreo devices used in AT
Contrast, repetition, unison, climax
Where is repetition used and why
Constantly glancing and looking at each other whilst they are dancing to show the gaze of others and felling self conscious
Where is unison used and why
A textured unison is used in gliding when David and Amy translate Laura’s movements into full body to show they are trying to include her
Where is contrast used and why
The contrast in sections between Dave and Laura’s duet which is slow and depressing compared to the Gliding trio which is fast and playful
Where is climax used and why
Used in Dave’s solo where he is reminiscing his dad due to the song and the large movements from Dave
Four main components of the number and gender used and why
Use of 4 different dancers, Equal genders, 3 dancers looking at Dave , A small group of dancers
What is the point of the use of 4 dancers
All 4 dancers are different heights, abilities, ages and this shows how individual we all are and shows the differences between human beings linking to dancers personal experiences and the gaze of others
What is the point of having an equal number of each gender
It shows how an equal number of men and women can live with disabilities or not linking to dancers personal experiences and the gaze of others
What is the point of having 3 dancers looking at Dave
It shows the gaze of others and isolated figure being viewed from afar. The other 3 blend into the background as normal humans looking at this disabled dancer reminiscing in his memories
What is the point of having so little amount of dancers
It allows us to feel more empathy for each dancer and learn more about each of their individual experiences and limitations
Four main components of the choreo approaches used in AT
Laura being the source of movement adapted by David and Amy, collaboration with other dancers, task setting, spring board workshops
How was Laura being the source of movement adapted by David and Amy used
David and Amy translate Laura’s movements in her wheelchair. They tumble around her in a circular pattern allowing us to see tracks in the snow like being constricted in a snow globe
How was collaboration with other dancers used
Bennett films improvisation movements and then picks what she likes as she collaborated with the dancers. They found ways to echo Lauras style and movement which is inclusive and shows Laura coming towards a resolution
How was task setting used
Bennett used task setting for dancers to explore and develop original and creative material, using their personal experiences. Specifically Dave’s solo is an example of his own family
How was spring board workshops used
They used other choreographers including Charlie Morrissey (a contact improvisation teacher) to help them to listen and be sensitive with each other about their limitations and work collaboratively
Four main components of the structural design for AT
Beginning of scene 3, really gradual build up to the climax in scene 3, End of scene 3 Dave’s solo, Very end when Dave returns back to the group after his solo
What is the point of the Beginning of Scene 3
There is a lot of space for the audience to calm down and observe after scene 2, and it gradually builds up through a kind of harmonious dancing to something a bit livelier
What is the point of the really gradual build up to the climax in scene 3
Contrasts scene 1 and 2 as it has quite a lot of shift in dynamic and energy to surprise the audience and show a start towards resolutions
What is the point of Dave’s solo at the end of scene 3
It is climatic as Dave reminisces his father and we’re reminded of not only his personal experiences but our own. It shows as much we try to move towards resolutions we can be limited by our old memories and experiences
What is the point of the very end when Dave returns back to the group
The dancers become frozen in time as the scene closes suggesting a cold atmosphere and being constricted in the snow globe, unable to move
