Section C: Shadows

Question 1

Who is the choreographer of Shadows

Answer 1

Christopher Bruce

Question 2

How many dancers are there in Shadows

Answer 2

4 (2 male/ 2 female)

Question 3

What is the performance environment of Shadows

Answer 3

End stage

Question 4

What is the structural design of Shadows

Answer 4

Semi- Narrative

Question 5

What is the dance style of Shadows

Answer 5

Neo- classical (classical and contemporary)

Question 6

What are the choreo approaches in Shadows

Answer 6

Furniture is used within the choreography, working with dancers, using the structure of the music to dictate each family members story

Question 7

What are the stimuli of Shadows

Answer 7

Fratres of violin and piano by Avro Part, The relationship between family members as they deal with the fear of an outside force

Question 8

What are the choreographic intentions of Shadows

Answer 8

Deprivation, Poverty, Fear of what lies outside the family home

Question 9

Three main components of the costume design

Answer 9

Faded colours, Oversized coats, Gender specific

Question 10

What is the mother’s costume

Answer 10

A white and pink floral 1940s tea dress with shirt puffed sleeves and calf length. Made of cotton and normal fit

Question 11

What is the father’s costume

Answer 11

A collarless striped white shirt with a brown waistcoat and grey trousers. Made of cotton and normal fit

Question 12

What is the daughter’s costume

Answer 12

A pastel blue/white blouse with short puffed sleeves and a grey pleated, below the knee a-line skirt. Made of cotton and normal fit

Question 13

What is the son’s costume

Answer 13

A white collarless shirt untucked and rolled up sleeves and grey trousers. Made of cotton and normal fit

Question 14

What do the faded colours show

Answer 14

They show that the clothes are worn out due to overwear and lack of washing linking to the idea of deprivation and poverty as they can’t afford new, clean clothes

Question 15

What do the oversized coats show

Answer 15

The dark oversized coats put on at the end of the dance show deprivation as they are probably hand me downs meaning they are too big for the family

Question 16

What does the gender specific clothing show

Answer 16

It shows their role within the family as they dad has a waistcoat and the mother has a formal dress showing maturity while the children’s are simpler and less put together

Question 17

Three main components of the set design

Answer 17

A table with a bench and 2 stools, Black box stage, The table and stools are used by the son

Question 18

What does the table with a bench and 2 stools show

Answer 18

They create a family communal table which they all return to sit at showing their relationship as a family

Question 19

What does the black box stage show

Answer 19

Creates a small and intimate feeling creating more safety of the inside but fear of the outside. It is also quite bleak and d depressing, heightening the fear

Question 20

What does the tables and stools being used by the son show

Answer 20

Thrown around and used as a barrier to enhance the narrative that something outside beyond the door is scary and fearful which the family want to protect each other from, especially the son who is trying to appear strong

Question 21

What do the tables creating levels show

Answer 21

When the daughter stands up on the table it creates a high level showing she is fearful and searching for the danger highlighting her vulnerability as a small child

Question 22

Three main components of the lighting design

Answer 22

Diagonal shaft of light, Dimmed and shadowy lighting, sidelights

Question 23

What does the diagonal shaft of light show

Answer 23

Creates this idea of something coming from the direction of a door as if it is ajar maybe or like a corridor. This reinforces the narrative and suggest the fear of an outside force

Question 24

What does the dimmed and shadowy lighting show

Answer 24

It creates a bleak and depressing atmosphere as they are trying to not attract attention to their house and are instead living in the shadows. Also could suggest poverty as they cannot replace the lightbulbs

Question 25

What do the sidelights show

Answer 25

Creates this space of a room which is intimate and enclosed to show they are hiding from something but also their close family relationship as they are in such a small space together.

Question 26

Three main components of the aural setting

Answer 26

Minor key, frantic strings, gentle piano

Question 27

What does the minor key show

Answer 27

Creates different atmospheres throughout the piece like a fear and panic in the daughters solo and anger in the sons solo showing their relationship in the family and the constant fear of the outside

Question 28

What do the frantic strings show

Answer 28

Used in the daughters solo to create a heightened fear and panic emotion if this young girl as she is scared of the outside force. She is naive and anxious as shown in the music

Question 29

What does the gentle piano show

Answer 29

Shows a sense of support and trying to be calm for each other. There is a tender relationship between the family members as they deal with the outside force

Question 30

Name a relationship used

Answer 30

Formation, they all stand in a straight line at the end and slowly walk forward as if they are stepping outside as one unit

Question 31

Name an action used

Answer 31

The girl performs a jumping run action in her solo demonstrating she is uncertain and fearful and just wants to run away from her problems. The movement is unnatural showing her discomfort as she fears the outside force

Question 32

Name a dynamic used

Answer 32

The slow and sustained dynamics of the mother and fathers duet showing a support and love highlighting their intimate relationship as a couple

Question 33

Name a spatial design used

Answer 33

Pathways in the sons solo where he constantly goes back to this diagonal pathway facing what we assume is the door. He runs and back with the furniture as a barrier enhancing his fear

Question 34

Four main choreo devices used

Answer 34

Climax, Manipulation of number, Canon, Repetition (/unison)

Question 35

When is climax used and why

Answer 35

The sons solo is the climax of the dance with an anger being created as he punches the floor and uses the table as a barrier to protect his family from the outside force

Question 36

When is manipulation of number used and why

Answer 36

There is a duet with the mother and father showing the relationship with family members especially the loving parents as they are the core of the family

Question 37

When is canon used and why

Answer 37

There is a very slow canon as the dancers put on their oversized coats (the children with help from their mother). This delays the timing and slows it down so we can see each of their final emotions before they leave to go outside

Question 38

When is repetition/ unison used and why

Answer 38

Repetition is used as the family keep on glancing back at the door in unison to reaffirm the idea that they are fearing something outside as a whole family

Question 39

Four main components of the use of number and gender

Answer 39

2 male and 2 female, The gender roles in the family, The different number of dancers in each section, Small group of dancers

Question 40

How is 2 male and 2 female dancers shown

Answer 40

They represent a mother, father, son and daughter which is the typical family unit allowing us to see all of the members emotions and relationships with each as they deal with the outside force

Question 41

How is the gender roles of the family shown

Answer 41

The mother and father are much less stressed showing theirs maturity and composure whereas the son is angry and tries to protect his family and the daughter is extremely fearful

Question 42

How is the different number of dancers in each section shown

Answer 42

It allows us to see all kinds of family relationships and dynamics as the dance progresses on top of the outside force

Question 43

How is the small group of dancers shown

Answer 43

The small group of 4 is a common family size and also allows us to be able to learn each of their feelings and characters to connect better

Question 44

Three choreo approaches used

Answer 44

Furniture used within the choreography, working with dancers, using the structure of the music to dictate each family members story

Question 45

How is furniture used within the choreography used

Answer 45

During the sons solo when he places items of furniture infront of the door again and again. This shows his fear of the outside as he is using it is a barrier to protect them all

Question 46

How is the furniture used within the choreography used x2

Answer 46

The table, stools and bench the family sit at the beginning shows an immediate family unit around the dinner table. Bruce knew it would become an intrinsic part of the choreography rather than staying static the whole dance

Question 47

How is working with dancers used

Answer 47

Bruce waits to work with dancers instead of choreographing, so he can be influenced by them. He wanted the movement to sit well on the dancers to reflect their characters and relationships

Question 48

How is using the structure of the music to dictate each of the family members story used

Answer 48

Music changes each section from frantic strings to low piano notes. This helps tell the audience there is a change of structure and something is about to change. The changes influenced each movement allowing each family member to have a story

Question 49

Four main components of the structural design

Answer 49

Semi narrative structure, logical sequence, transitions, unity

Question 50

How is a semi narrative structure shown

Answer 50

The storyline is told through mix of solos, duets, trios and quartets which help tell the storyline of their different emotions throughout and how they’re all fearful in different ways. This helps the narrative to become easier to follow

Question 51

How is a logical sequence shown

Answer 51

The dance starts with the family sat together and ends with coats on like they’re leaving. Audience can see time has passed and they’re finally facing their fears at theme as they are about to leave

Question 52

How are transitions shown

Answer 52

Throughout the dancers transition to and from the table, they constantly return to it highlights the family unit and relationships with each other . It is a traditional family thing to have a specific seat at the family table

Question 53

How is unity shown

Answer 53

When the dancers continuously sit back at the table bringing wholeness to the routine and unifying the story. Gives the dancers a sense of belonging as they always return to their family