Still Life 2

Question 1

Describe the set design in the dance. (General)

Answer 1

• Plain stage
• Proscenium staging
• Backdrop that changes with each section
• Screen used in final section
• Café setting with tables and chairs

Question 2

Describe the costume in the dance (you only need to know two of these)

Answer 2

Penguins

• Penguin Masks
• White shirts
• Black dinner jackets
• Orange leg
• Black gloves
• Black shoes

Texan Kangaroo Rat

• Rat mask
• Blue dungarees
• Tie dyed t.shirt
• Leather sandals

Southern Cape Zebra

• Black & white face paint
• Black headdress
• Black & white body tights (zebra stripes)
• Tassles
• Black footwear

Brazilian Woolly Monkey

• Monkey mask
• Gold top hat
• Gold jacket
• Red & black striped shiny trousers
• Black top
• Breeches
• Purple bow tie

Question 3

Describe the Set Design in two sections (you only need to know two of these)

Answer 3

Penguins

• Plain stage (for the first part)
• Back drop, blue and white icebergs
• Chairs and tables in the second part of the section
• Backdrop changes to show café scene

Texan Kangaroo Rat

• Plain stage
• Green backdrop showing large cactus

Southern Cape Zebra

• Plain stage
• Back drop - purple and black with trees

Question 4

Explain the contribution that costume makes to the dance

Answer 4

• Helps show the animal (e.g. Penguin masks indicate they are Penguins)
• Adds colour & interest (e.g. Brazilian Woolly Monkey - golds and bright colours)
• Shows style of dance (e.g. Hog nosed skunk flea section, the chorus dancers are wearing traditional morris dancing costumes)
• Show climate & location (e.g. Texan Kangaroo Rat section, arms and legs are exposed and t.shirt is dirty indicating that he is from a hot place (desert) )
• Enables dancers to perform required movements appropriately (e.g. Southern Cape Zebra, lots of movements requiring the dancer to show high levels of flexibility and to be upside down - a mask would be inpractical and the body sock enables clear lines to be seen and enables the dancer to perform the movements safely and effectively)
• Shows theme (e.g. Southern Cape Zebra - the women are wearing fur/headdresses made from animal products showing human’s impact on animals)
• Shows the characters are a human/animal hybrid (use of mask)

Question 5

Explain the contribution that Set Design makes to the dance

Answer 5

• Structures the piece (different backdrop for each scene)
• Helps show the location/climate of the animal (e.g. Penguins - icebergs)
• Helps show the size of the animal (e.g. Texan Kangaroo Rat - large cactus makes the rat seem small)
• Does not detract from the dancers and the movement - very simple
• Sets the scene - tables and chairs in the second part of the Zebra scene
• Helps show the mood (e.g purple/black in Zebra section indicates a darker more serious mood)

Question 6

Describe the lighting in the dance

Answer 6

• Stage lights (stage wash)
• Spotlight on main dancer (s)
  E.g.
  Penguins
• blue wash
• white spotlights on the three penguins
  Texan Kangaroo Rat
• Spotlight on the rat
• green/yellows

Question 7

Explain the contribution that lighting makes to the dance

Answer 7

• Helps structure the dance (different lighting for each section)
• Highlights main dancer(s)/animals
• Helps show climate (E.g. penguins - white/blue indicates cold climate whereas yellows and greens in the Texan Kangaroo Rat indicate warmth
• Helps show the mood (brighter colours in the Brazilian Woolly Monkey scene show that it is happy/fun in contrast to the darker more intense colours in the Zebra section)