Swansong

Question 1

Who choreographed Swansong?

Answer 1

Christopher Bruce

Question 2

Which dance company performed it?

Answer 2

Various, including the Rambert Dance Company

Question 3

What is the dance style?

Answer 3

Contemporary, with physical contact and some balletic movements. Includes references to social and theatrical dance.

Question 4

What is the choreographic style?

Answer 4

Episodic, dramatic, thematic.

Question 5

What is the theme?

Answer 5

Human rights; prisoner of conscience

Question 6

What is the stimulus?

Answer 6

The work of Amnesty International; saying goodbye (to a career as a dancer); the experiences of Chilean poet Victor Jara and the novel, A Man, by Oriana Fallaci.

Question 7

Describe the structure.

Answer 7

Introduction followed by seven sections. The victim remains on stage throughout and performs a solo in section 3 which has motifs that are repeated and/or developed in sections 5 and 7.

Question 8

Who is it danced by?

Answer 8

3 dancers, normally male.

Question 9

Who composed the accompaniment?

Answer 9

Philip Chambon

Question 10

Describe the accompaniment.

Answer 10

Composed in collaboration with the choreographer.
Electro-acoustic with digitally sampled sounds, vocals, a reed pipe and popular dance rhythms. Unaccompanied interludes enable us to hear the tapping of feet.
The score for the more lyrical solos by the victim includes the sound of a reed pipe.

Question 11

Who designed the costume?

Answer 11

Christopher Bruce

Question 12

Who designed the lighting?

Answer 12

David Mohr

Question 13

Describe the lighting.

Answer 13

The lighting consists of a blue wash for the interrogation scenes, which varies in intensity. The wash is very pale, almost white for the first two sections, but deepens to a more vibrant blue in sections 5 and 6. There is also a bright shaft or tunnel of white light that shines from offstage upstage left in the Prisoner’s solos.

Question 14

Who designed the set?

Answer 14

Christopher Bruce.

Question 15

Describe the set.

Answer 15

Swansong has a black box set. This means that there is a black floor, black curtain upstage and black wings or tabs at the sides. There is also a single wooden chair. It suggests a cell. Interrogators always exit stage right suggesting a single door.

Question 16

What props are used?

Answer 16

The chair has many purposes and is used symbolically as a weapon, a shield and shackles. Canes and a red nose are used to degrade the victim.

Question 17

How does the set contribute to the narrative?

Answer 17

The empty black box suggests a cell. The chair is particularly important because it adds to the story line by changing its use as the dance progresses. Sometimes it is a safe haven for the prisoner, at other times it is used as a weapon against him. In the 2nd victim’s solo it is used as shackles and held in front of the victim’s face as prison bars.

Question 18

How does the set contribute to the mood?

Answer 18

The dark, black colour of the set helps to create a feeling of tension and being trapped. The emptiness of the space helps to create a feeling of loneliness and isolation. The chair supports the constant changing of the guards’ approach - being both safety and weapon at the same time

Question 19

Describe the prisoner’s costume.

Answer 19

The Prisoner wears a red T shirt, blue denim jeans and black jazz shoes.

Question 20

Describe the guard’s costumes.

Answer 20

The Guards wear identical costumes. These are khaki cotton collared shirt with short sleeves and breast pockets, khaki trousers, black jazz shoes. The costumes give the impression of a uniform although it is unclear to what country/organisation they belong. The Guards also wear a peaked cap in Section 2 ‘Tea for Two’.

Question 21

How does the guard’s costume contribute to the narrative?

Answer 21

The Guards’ costumes suggest some sort of military uniform which shows their authority and sets the
power relationship between them and the Prisoner. The fact that they are identical shows that they are a unit, working together. Their shoes contribute to the narrative as the feet tap out audible ‘questions’ as they conduct their interrogation.

Question 22

How does the prisoner’s costume contribute to the narrative?

Answer 22

The Prisoner’s costume is casual and everyday, and shows that he could be any ordinary person off the street. His different costume singles him out straightaway and places him on the outside of the group.

Question 23

How does costume contribute to the mood?

Answer 23

The costumes set up an immediate power relationship which supports the tense mood of the dance. The shoes are important because the feet are used to interrogate and the frantic responses given by the Prisoner show his desperation. The peaked caps used by the Guards contribute to the ever-changing mood used to confuse the Prisoner. They create a comic effect in Section 2, designed to manipulate the Prisoner into dropping his guard as they feign friendship

Question 24

How does the lightning contribute to the narrative?

Answer 24

The tunnel of light for the Prisoner’s solos not only acts as set, but also gives an insight into the feelings of the Prisoner. The light suggests a high window, which is the only link to the outside world and as such represents hope and freedom. It becomes a focal point for the Prisoner and his movements are drawn toward it. In the final section, it might suggest heaven and freedom as he walks into it and exits.
The main wash deepens in intensity as the dance progresses. It could be suggested that this could show the passing of time from day into night.

Question 25

How does the lighting contribute to mood?

Answer 25

The main blue wash is stark and cold, which supports the sinister mood of the dance. The tunnel of light supports the mood of the Prisoner’s solos in representing freedom and escape.