Sympathy For The Devil Flashcards
Actions in sympathy for the devil
Lots of actions are completed in unison
● An extension of the courting greeting motif from lady jane is performed by the lone dancers from as tears go by. Following this step the female lone dancer slaps the male lone dancer in reference to that section
● At the back of the stage Five Female dancers repeat steps from paint it black
● The female dancer twists her hair like ruby tuesday before beginning a series of lifts with the four male dancers
● The section ends in the way it and little red rooster began with the male soloist doing the rooster strut
Space in sympathy for the devil
The whole company spends periods of time on stage together and often performs different steps on different areas of the stage which makes the section feel like a gathering or celebration because the dancers steps are related in some way but physically separate
● The female dancers make a circle around rooster and begin to dance. He appears to be the centre of their attention
Dynamics in sympathy for the devil
Fast and energetic dynamics - an example of this is during partner work
● Creates an excitable, party like environment which is portrayed to the audience
Relationships in sympathy for the devil
The rooster appears to control the female dancers as be beacons them onstage
● The male dancers dance in unison and then move into their own individual steps. This shows their individuality from each other whilst the female dancers spend most of the section dancing in unison at the back for only one or two to break away and dance with the male dancers
● Lots of the female dancers individual movements are supported by the male dancers in partnering which could represent the fact that although women are no longer so constrained they still need the support of a man
Set , props , costume , lighting in sympathy for the devil
Lighting dims and music fades at the end of the section and only rooster is dancing
● The rest of the section has a bright white/lilac hugh
● Lighting changes cues the entrances and exits of sets of dancers
● Male dancers are wearing an assortment of coloured shirts and ties with black trousers and jazz shoes
● The female dancers are wearing sleeveless black high neck, knee length dress with red box pleats, black shire tights and jazz shoes
● The male dancers being without blazers in this section could suggest that they are more relaxed
Aural setting in sympathy for the devil
When the lyrics say “please to meet you” the dancers perform a hand gesture and bow
● The adjusting the tie motif occurs when the lyrics say “i’m a man of will and taste “. this could suggest that the male dancers see their ties as a sign of male power and by adjusting them they are preserving and exerting it
Dance and choreographic style in sympathy for the devil
Bruce uses a lot of quick balletic
movements in a peti allegro style when the male dancers are in unison, with their arms in a low third with slight upper back contraction
● Graham technique, gestures, courting,jazz, popular dancing from the female dancers
● Reflection and unison are used
● Choreographic style: Bruce uses an eclectic combination of graham technique, ballet, jaz and pedestrian movements to portray the characters, emotions and themes in his works
Key themes in sympathy for the devil
Playful interactions
● A reprise of motifs from
each of the other
sections
● The main male soloist
appears to be the representation of the devil who is controlling the dance
Key motifs in sympathy for the devil
Rooster strut - Rooster from section 1 enters from stage right and begins four elongated lung walks on the right leg with his elbows bent into his body at 90 degrees and wrist limp jutting his head with each movement. Rooster then transfers his weight back onto his bent right leg, stretching his left and rolling his shoulders back. He then completes three more rooster struts. This motif is repeated from the beginning of section 1.
● Adjust the tie - three male dancers run onstage in front of the five female dancers from stage left. They slide forward and adjust their tie with both hands and the jut of their head on the beat.
● Devil horns - the rooster uses his index fingers to make devil horns on his head. This could indicate that he is that devil and the centre of all of their dancing , referencing the title of the song
● Skirt flick- the five female dancers circle rooster and perform for him. They subtly transfer their weight between legs and flick their skirts. This could be in a teasing and suggestive way
The male dancers do a lot of side leaps
