Swansong Flashcards
(25 cards)
Who choreographed Swansong?
Christopher Bruce
Which dance company performed it?
Various, including the Rambert Dance Company
What is the dance style?
Contemporary, with physical contact and some balletic movements. Includes references to social and theatrical dance.
What is the choreographic style?
Episodic, dramatic, thematic.
What is the theme?
Human rights; prisoner of conscience
What is the stimulus?
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.
Describe the structure.
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.
Who is it danced by?
3 dancers, normally male.
Who composed the accompaniment?
Philip Chambon
Describe the accompaniment.
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.
Who designed the costume?
Christopher Bruce
Who designed the lighting?
David Mohr
Describe the lighting.
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.
Who designed the set?
Christopher Bruce.
Describe the set.
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.
What props are used?
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.
How does the set contribute to the narrative?
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.
How does the set contribute to the mood?
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
Describe the prisoner’s costume.
The Prisoner wears a red T shirt, blue denim jeans and black jazz shoes.
Describe the guard’s costumes.
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’.
How does the guard’s costume contribute to the narrative?
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.
How does the prisoner’s costume contribute to the narrative?
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.
How does costume contribute to the mood?
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
How does the lightning contribute to the narrative?
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.
