Shadows Flashcards
Shadows choreographer
Christopher bruce
Shadows Company
Phoenix dance theatre
Shadows Dance style
Neo classical
Shadows’ stimuli (4)
-Arvo part’s fratres for violin and piano
-music evokes images of European history and tradition over thousands of years of suffering and human experience
-family dynamic, relationships
-unseen ever present outside force
Shadows Choreographic intention(3)
-politically aware
-set in Eastern Europe, coming to terms with deprivation, poverty and the realities of what lies outside the intimate family home
-a darker work with a sort of narrative, audience apply their own context
Structure shadows
Semi narrative
How do shadows choreographic approach’s help the audience understand the work/ link to the stimuli or intentions?
BRUCE DOES NOT PREPARE MOVEMENTS BEFOREHAND, HE WORKS WITH THE DANCERS AND INFLUENCED BY THEM :allows the choreography to suit the dancers and audience interpretation (intention) is easier
HE BASED IT OFF THE IDEA OF A FAMILY UNIT(SITTING ROUND A TABLE) : explores a family dynamic (I) and helps the audience understand the relationships and storyline of the piece(concentration camp)
THE ANXIETY OF THE MUSIC HELPED EACH DANCER HAVE A VOICE AND TELL THEIR STORY: the music helped portray a panicked and stressful atmosphere, showing the family’s fear of the war. Each dancer telling story helps audience interpretation (I)
SEMINARRATIVE: helps audience understand the relationships and a family dynamic (S) has a sort of narrative (I) helps audience interpretation (I)
MOVEMENTS SIT WELL ON DANCERS: helps dancers portray emotions like stress or panic better (mood) and helps audience add context whilst reading these emotions
How does the costume of shadows link to the intention, stimuli and other of the piece?
MUTED WORN DOWN COLOURS (DAUGHTER GREY SKIRT): use of monotone pallette and lack of embellishments show hardship and poverty (I) as the family can’t afford it. Also creates a solemn mood
DAUGHTERS SCHOOL LIKE AMD MOTHER FLORAL DEPUCT AGE AND ROLE : this helps audience adding context as mother dress = maternal and daughter= young. Helps audience depict the roles in the family. Expolres a family dymaic (S)
MOTHERS A LINE CUT AND FLORAL PATTERN : give geographical context as this style was worn in Easter Europe (I) helps audience context (I)
BUTTONS ON THE FRONT AND A LINE CUT : shows the historical era of q930s -1940s helps audience interpretation (I)
SON AMD FATHERS COSTUMES MIRROR EACH OTHER: shows roles in family, they are similar, and gives context
OVERSIZED :hardship
How does shadows aural setting contribute to the intention/ stimuli/ other
CRESCENDO AT CLIMAX: enhances son’s solo climax, creates a sense of distress and panic, gives historical context as his role in family is shown. Context(I)
MINOR KEY THROUGHOUT: solemn fearful mood created. Adds emotional meaning show the deprivation and poverty faced (I)
FRANTIC AND DRAMATIC ON CHILDRENS, CALMER ON PARENTS: shows age and context within the family, explores a family dynamic (S) audience context(I)
SLIENCE AT START: famiky turns head downstage right. Creates a tense ominous atmosphere as family must hide from the nazis. Unseen but ever present force(S) darker work, realities of what lies outside (I)
SON HITTING FURNITURE ON FLOOR: found sound- helps shows anger frustration and distress and the son comes to terms with what lies outside(I). Shows suffering (S)
How does the lighting in shadows contribute to the intention /stimuli/ other?
SONS SOLO- DIAGONAL GREEN SIDELIGHT: the dramatic colour change highlights the climax and shows the sons emotions of panic , sons perspective - narrative (I)
LOW INTENSITY WHITE OVERHEAD LIGHTS: creates shadows and is symbolic of the name of the piece. (Pi) creates a dim room like space to show the intimate family home (I) and family dyanmic(S)
WARM TONE(OVERHEAD) AT END: shows the family’s acceptance as they find unity in each other(Pi) they must come to terms with the realities (I) outside force(S)
SIDELIGHT WHERE ALL DANCERS TURN THERE HEAD TO LOOK AT: creates an ominous tone of mystery, shows the unseen but ever present force (S) what lies outside their intimate family home (I)
How does Bruce use his dancers in shadows?
DANCERS LOOK ALIKE : explores a family dynamic (I)
SON AND DAUGHTER ARE SHORTER: let’s audience add context and shows family relations
DANCERS ARE RELATIVELY YOUNG : allows them to portray the neo classical styles and also to play the roles in the family in that time period for audience interpretation (I)
DANCERS ARE SKILLED : allows neo classical styles
TWO MALES AND TWO FEMALES: allows audience to see the perspective of each member of a family during these times of hardship
What strutting devices and form are used in shadows, how do they contribute?
UNITY: the family quartet = explores family dynamic
SEMI NARRATIVE : ‘sort of narrative’ (I) helps each dancer portray their emotions afeelings helps audience interpretation (I)
BEG/MID/END: adds a clear structure gives historical context helps audience understanding
LOGICAL SEAUENCE: audience context
TRANSITIONS: helps show mood changes between stages, as they come to terms with what happens outside intimate family home
Choreographic devices in Shadows: how do they contribute to to the intention/stimuli/other?
CONTRAST: daughters solo=lanicked / parents = calmer, allows audience to depict age and add context (I) shows the historical roles and attitudes of members of the family (S) (Pi)
REPETITION: mother repeatedly abruptly changes direction. Shows her distress whilst trying to keep control and protect her family (Pi) during hardship and deal with the ever present unseen force (S), show suffering (I)
UNISON: father and son during their duet, show their support, also gives historical context showing how during this era the roles of son and father were similar; they must protect,(Pi) allows audience interpretation (I)
MANIPULATION OF NUMBER: how all the family are together dancing near the end, shows how no matter the situation they are there to support each other(Pi) shows family dynamics(S) as they come to terms (I)
CLIMAX: sons solo is climax, shows the importance of his role, he takes over for his father -family dynamics (S) - context (I)
How does the set of shadows contribute to the intent/stimuli/other?
THE INCORPORATING OF THE FURNITURE: the son uses them in his solo, he licks them up and throws the, he also hides behind them. Shows his emotions as he is in fear and attempts to hide from nazis, shows his suffering (S) and allows audience to add context (I)
MINIMAL, BLACK BOX SET: shows solemn fearful mood of dancers as they fear concentration camps. Suffering (S) a darker work (I)
DRAB AND DULL FURNITURE: shows poverty and adds to the mood (Pi) deprivation (I)
THE SUITCASES AND COATS: suggests the family is leaving after, as they grab them, enhances structure , shows them preparing to deal with the ‘ever present force’ (S) allows audience interpretation
How do the actions in shadows contribute to the intent/stimuli/other?
FATHER / SON DUET: repeated motif of arm sweeping across the floor in unison. Shows the roles, gives historical context (Pi) as they did labour as men. Shows family dynamic as they do it tg (S). Allows audience interpretation (I)
DAUGHTER SOLO: her straddle on the floor: shows childlike state, and how the child reacts to this distress(Pi), helps audience interprétation (I)
MOTHER / FATHER DUET: transfer of weight: she is on relève, spins and is lifted by him, shows support with the family during these times. Sets a tone for relationship(Pi) and family dynamic(S). As the battle outside intimate family home
MOTHERS SOLO: gesture: tucks her hair behind her ear, shows her worry and femininity. Allows audience interpretation (I)
Floorwork: repeated, shows she is grounded and steady
