- Describe the stylistic features of a contemporary dance piece you performed in Velocity. (actions/movements, dynamics, musicality)
- One of the stylistic features was contrasting sharp and soft dynamics changing continuously throughout the piece. For example we gently body rippled upwards and then sharply forced ourselves back down. Handstands and handstand styled hops were also prominent in our duet. We both started and finished our duet with rolling our right shoulders back gently and looked over them, this motif was also repeated throughout the duet at various points. Our focus was out towards the corner but we also had to look at each other and connect together throughout the dance. Straight arm movements also often frequented our duet. Lauren had a phrase were she extended her arms out, spun and moved her arms as if she was a windmill. This was repeated a few time in the duet. I also have various movements were I would extend my arms straight out in a long line, the line both following a diagonal line and a horizontal one. When we galloped we continued to repeat the circular movement we did with our arms.
- How well did you perform these stylistic features during the performance?
- I think I did okay, I tried to make sure that I was always extending my arms. However I think my focus could have been better as I wasn’t concentrating as well as I should have been on keeping my focus outwards. A few times I didn’t straighten my bottom leg in the handstands like I should have done. I don’t feel that I danced the sharper movements sharp enough, so it was harder to see that contrast.
- How well did you reproduce the set phrases, duets and group dances Disc in your performance? Consider detail, accuracy and technical skills.
- The first section is a phrase we do in canon. I was fairly confident with my technique during this section however my leg could’ve have been higher in the ninja jump and my body ripple wasn’t done correctly. I should have travelled with more urgency at the beginning it felt a little floppy.
- During the first unison section we have together, we are in time however Lauren does a lunge and I do a jazz fourth. Also my top leg doesn’t go as high in the handstands.
- I didn’t correctly dance with transition between our section in unison to the beginning of my original solo, and my technique was sloppy at the beginning of my original solo, it should have been sharper and more defined.
- In the next section of unison it’s just a gallop and a stag leap however I don’t jump properly as my touching the curtain as I lay down beforehand messed with my head a bit. That section was much better during rehearsals, but didn’t work well in the performance.
- Our next unison phrase started out of time however we managed to quickly get back into time with each other. Again I ended up in jazz fourth and Lauren in a lunge when we repeated that movement from earlier in the dance.
- Our last unison movement was a handstand which we didn’t dance in unison. I didn’t push myself forwards enough into the handstand so the movement was messy. The last bit (done in canon) Is done okay, I do the movement faster so we finish at the same time however.
- Were you able to maintain performance skills during your performance?
- I think my performance skills were okay. I remembered to connect with Lauren so, particularly when we were doing completely different movements it looked like a good duet. Our music wasn’t a huge part of the dance so I wasn’t massively concentrated on that but I think most of the dance I was fairly in time with the music. Lauren and I weren’t in time occasionally in the dance but I feel we managed to get our timing back fairly quickly.
- Comment on your self-discipline and desire to improve and succeed during the rehearsal process.
- Time management
- I think I could have done better at managing my time but I found it hard to rehearse as our movements travelled a lot and we had to be careful of the other students rehearsing in the space.
- Focus
- I think whilst I was actually going through the movement my focus was on the dancing and how I could improve the technique
- Commitment to refining and improving work
- Sometimes I got tired and wasn’t as committed as I should have been to refining the dance
- Responding to feedback. (Give examples)
- I think I was able to apply the feedback fairly fast. For example early into the rehearsal process I was told to make sure I pointed my feet when I did the handstands and by the time we have the performance it came naturally and I didn’t really have to think about it. Sometimes however I didn’t apply the feedback fast enough. We were both told to look at each other more but even in the dress run I had to keep it in the front of my mind and still didn’t look at Lauren enough until the show.
- In what way has studying contemporary technique affected your progress throughout the year? Discuss which aspects of technique classes have benefited you the most and give examples.
- I feel that I have learn to take more risks and throw my self into dances more. I think that having to learn movements that I really struggle with has improved my technique a lot during this year. I feel that detailed techniques like landing softly and my balance have also been improved in these classes.
- Are there still aspects of your technical skill you wish to improve? Give examples.
- I want to continue working on my core muscles as they are still something I have to be very aware of. I’d also like to improve on the height of my jumps and my flexibility.
Laura's Blog 