Solos

Question 0

Rehearsal processes focused on spatial orientation

Answer 0

When creating my solo I had a small room, so I found it difficult to adjust to the large school hall.
Therefore, I had to make sure that my dance fitted within the dimensions of the performance space.
I moved around the performance space to ensure that all locomotive steps finished where they needed to.
I had to book the school hall to rehearse in the larger space.
I made sure that I became acquainted with the large amount of space to demonstrate the required criteria in my solo.
I had to develop an awareness of how to orientate my body within the large space.

Question 1

What are the rehearsal processes and skills?

Answer 1

Practiced over a period of 1.5 terms.
Made sure I had time to improve my technical skill, develop strength and control, and overcome any challenges within my solo dance work.
Made sure I refined the contrast of qualities of movement to ensure they are being executed correctly.
Made sure that all of my major transitions created a sense of flow between my sections.
Went over movements being executed making sure they reflected my expressive intention.
Made sure all criteria was covered by using a checklist.
I would work on one section at a time making sure alignment and correct body placement was used. I did this by carefully analysing my movements in a mirror.
I fine tuned performance skills.
I repeated my solo many times to increase my stamina.

Question 2

What is pre-performance processes and skills?

Answer 2

Warmed up

• allowed enough time to fully warm up (20-30 minutes).
• did not push myself too hard so as not to causes injury so that I could perform at my best.

Prepared my hair
Made sure my costume was appropriate
-needed a tightly fitted body suit (unitard) for each dance to ensure all movements were clearly seen.

Marked out the tricky movements in my solos to eliminate and control nerves
Mental preparation
-focused
-marked through the dance in my head

Physical preparation

• danced in front of the mirror to ensure my alignment was correct
• recorded myself and watched it back

Question 3

Performance processes and skills.

Answer 3

Projection of movement:
Know that this was a performance
Know not to have my head down
Know I had to project- had to focus upwards to produce jumps with height
When changing direction- know to take head first towards the direction I was going
Know I had to use appropriate eye and body focus

Maintenance of physical control of movement:
Have to have enough stamina to complete dances
Use correct focus (spotting) in turns
Breathe appropriately
Use strength maintained to keep the centre of gravity, which would assist with my alignment.

Question 4

What are the processes involved in developing the expressive intention?

Answer 4

1. Knew I had to find something that was a basis for developing a dance which had a clear statement through using a beginning, development and resolution.
2. Decided to research for ideas using books, internet etc.
3. Found some interesting information on the Black Plague etc. Etc. Etc.
4. Having chosen a topic, I conducted more research using the internet and watched videos.
5. With my newfound knowledge I proceeded to list points of what I wanted to convey in my work which helped me to devise a beginning, development and resolution.
6. I resolved to improvise with movements that could create phrases and sections that would link back to my expressive intention, using my listed pints as stimuli.
7. After improvising and researching I decided that my topic was suitable in covering all criteria so I preceded with it in creating my solo based on the Black Death/bubonic plague.