swan song Flashcards
when was it performed by festival ballet
1987
when was it performed by rambert
1995
what does prisoner of conscience mean
imprisoned due to political views
how does it link to victor jara
victor jara was a musican who sung about his politcial beliefs in chile he was taken and killed by pinochet
what does the bird like motifs in the prisoners solo represent
him wanting to be free
how did the novel ‘a man’ influence bruce
because it is about a man inprisoned for his opposed politcial views to a greek dictator
why is swan song different to bruces other works in terms of music being the starting point
it is choreographed in silence and then put to music but bruces works are usually done with music as the starting point
describe the music
electric music score
crashes and bangs like prison doors
silence
soft toe tapping
how does commedia dell arte influence swan song
its a type theatre from 16th centuray itally
it has exagerated characters which can be seen in the prison guards
bruce was the white clown in glen tetlys pierrote lunaire 1967
how is vaudville seen
cane dance , tapping , ballroom , comedy
seen in the prison guards
how was swan song accessible
it had strong emotions and draws on social issues which the audience can be educated on
links with amnesty international encouraged a new type of audience
what is a swan song
the noise a swan makes when it dies
what is the personal meaning of swan song to christopher bruce
it was madw when he stopped performing in 1987 so it was his way of saying good bye
what side of the stage do the gaurds enter and exit from and what does this insinuate
stage right insinuating there is a door
what is the aural setting at the begining of section 1
begins in silence with only soft shoes tapping
crash in the music to be a door shutting
what is the first section called
question and answer
what does use of levels show in the first section
hierarchy with guarding being more important than prisoner
what does the motif of the prisoner having a limp body show
in section one the prisoner does a hand stand on the chair
his legs slwoly go limp and the guard lifts him up turing slowing before returing him to standing and and he is pushed down to sit on the chair in the middle of the two guards - this is for shadowing to the prisoners death at the hands of the guards at the end of the dance
what does the tapping sequence at the start of section 1 represent
a converstaion between the prisoner and guards
what is the purpose of the red nose in section2
to humiliate the prisoner
what is section 2 called
tea for two
how can commedia del arte be seen in section 2
the two guards are stage left and kick out their left leg and lead back on their right. with their left hand they point at the prisoner and look at each other with exagerated facial expressions
how can social dance be seen in section2
the two gaurds travel diagonally towards downstage right completing three pivot turns in ballroom hold before one guard is spun out
what does the guard taking the chair away mean
they are taking away his safe space
what does the tapping sequence in this section show
it is frantic showing the prisoner is getting despirate and scared
what is the name of section 3
first solo
how does the physical setting represent a prison cell in section 3
it is a black box stage
what do the reach motif and bird contractions show in section 3
the prisoner trying to escape
where is the movement directed in section 3
towards a white shaft of light upstage left which could be a window to escape from
or the white light you see before you die
graham technique in section3
the male dancer does an attitude turn on his left leg with and open arm line and spiral of the spine, he then steps and leans to stage right facing the back with his right leg in retire, he falls of balance and contracts his torso to turn in parrallel retire arms above his head
bird motif in section3
prisoner stands in arabesque facing stage left on his left leg with his right arm behind
he slowly folds his arm to touch his shoulder and he leg contracts through attitude into a coupe
the dancer falls of balance into a low side lung facing the front on his right leg , left arm reaching to the front , right arm to the side
what are the sounds insection3
a swan song
how is the chair used in section 5
the prisoner carries it on his back like shackles weighing him down and then holds it up to his face like prison bars
what is the aural setting of section5
silence
what is section 7 called
final solo
what is the lighting in section 7 showing
darker ligting with brighter shaft
this could represent the end of his life as he is drawn into the light
what instrument is used section 7
a pan pipe
what does the guards being in freeze frame represent in section 7
they have killed the the prisoner and his spirit is now dancing and escaping
what choreographic feature is used in section 7
repetion of bird and reaching motifs from section 3
arabesque motif in section 7
the prisoner does a grand ronde jambe with his right leg ending in arabesque facing the shaft of light . he then rotates his arms to reach behind him
spiral of the torso motif in section 7
the prisoner steps on his left leg to attitude turn as he circles his arms above his head . he then steps out of it into another arabeque turn on his right leg
