#dance composition

The Song & Concept So Far

I haven't really titled it yet, but it's pretty much, how Passion and Fear interact with each other when creating something new. I'll think of a title later.

Here's a link to the song, if you want, take a listen and see if you can hear what I do, feel free to add comments and opinions about what I should do. The song is 4 mins long, but I'm probably only going to use up to 03:17.

Personally for this concept to truly work, I would probably need it to be a duet, so that you could see how they were actually working together.

What I've Mentally Composed

So the start of the piece has the sound of a wind-up toy, winding up 3 times, 4 clicks, then the start of the actual piece. My two dancers, would start back-to-back, crumpled on the floor. For those 14 seconds, my dancers would start slowly moving upwards, then "click" 4 times into place. I don't quite have a video but, pretty much, it's meant to look unnatural, kinda like how the dancers move in this video.

Once the music starts (00:14), the dancers would snap their fingers (left hand) upwards, with their right arm outstretched to the side, look up, and slowly bring it down.

By the second note, (00:18) their hand should be directly in front of them.

On the third note (00:23), they turn to their right and lock hands with their partner leaning back, counterbalanced, with, their left hand circling behind them, their gaze following their hand, finally finishing back in front of them.

At 00:30 the dancers beat their hearts twice (the motif), but because fear grabs its beating hand, it breaks the balance between the two, essentially making them fall.

My Dance's Motif

For the dance, I would need a motif, and for each dancer, since they represent two ideas, they would have their own. I want them to be connected, as both of them want the same desired outcome, to create something new, one is just more willing to try new things than the other. To connect them, their base motif is the same, but there is ornamentation. Both of them would use one hand to beat their heart, however, "passion" being more willing to try new things, would beat twice, then reach out. "Fear" on the other hand, would be less willing, beating their hand once, then grabbing their hand with the other, crouching over it.

The Sections

I almost want it to seem like, "passion" doesn't like "fear", but soon realises then it wants to help, allowing for partner work that displays teamwork, rather than destruction.

Since I have to cut my sections down, I'd probably have 3 main sections, 1. The connection between "Fear and Passion", and how "Fear" keeps things safe. This could literally be "Passion" trying something, then being stopped by "Fear". (00:00 - 01:20) 2. "Passion" trying to do new things, and "Fear" occasionally helping, only to bring "Passion" back down to earth. This could be "Passion" trying something, being helped a little by "Fear", then being dragged back. (01:21 - 02:39) 3. "Passion and Fear" work together, and "Fear" elevates "Passion" (02:40 - 03:17)

Honestly, not too sure about section 3, but eh, who knows.

Space

In the NSW Syllabus, Space, Time Dynamics are considered the elements of dance, I won't go too into it, but here's a link.

Anyway, one of the aspects of space is "Active Space". There are two types of active space Dynamic space is when the space has its own qualities.  Symbolic space is when the space represents something else.

In my dance I am hoping to use symbolic space, as the dance will take place on a wooden basketball court, the circle in the middle will be where the dancers start, the main place that fear wishes to stay, and passion wants to get out of, just to try something new.

I do also wish to end the dance in some sort of acro-like position, where passion is leaning forward, just out of the comfort circle, wish fear holding them back, grounded, within it's comfort zone.

Interactions Between "Fear" and "Passion"

Also, an example of something in section 2 would be this, where "Passion" is literally reaching, with the support of "Fear", but then "Fear" pulls "Passion" down, stopping them from reaching further.

Throughout the dance, there would be moments of conflict between the two, for example, "Passion" running forward, about to do something, but "fear" running after them, pulling them back, to stop them from trying.

I almost want it to seem like, "passion" doesn't like "fear", but soon realises then it wants to help, allowing for partner work that displays teamwork, rather than destruction.

Stimulus

So, for Dance, you're technically supposed to start with a stimulus and work from there, picking music last, but since music is my stimulus, and that's technically now what's supposed to happen, I just have to make a fake stimulus up.

And I think I have made the perfect stimulus.

*Ahem*, so. As I was looking through my dance marks from last year (2022, cause my composition is for 2023), I realised that I would have to be careful about what I would make this year. However, I didn't want the fear of failure to overcome my love and passion for dance. I knew that I would simply have to learn to work with the guidelines I was given. But then, I realised, why should I have to cap my creative intent, because of the fear of failure, dance is an artform, that is abstract, and any idea should be able to presented, which allowed me to realise, that I could make a composition about my inner turmoil.

What I Hear With This Piece

What I hear in order, when listening to the piece

Something Starting (being born? the wind-up) (00:00)

Uncertainty, but like, certain at the same time. (00:14)

Acknowledging one another, by doing similar movements, but the passion just has that extra flair (00:23)

Almost like Shock at what you can do. Maybe passion trying something, and being like, damn, I can do that? (00:47)

Maybe, like testing things out. Trying to do something and being able to do it. With, like, "fear" following behind hesitantly. (01:03)

Then like, having fear finally starts interacting with passion, almost like dancing around, trying to sway them back where it's "safe" (01:19)

Because of the airiness behind the instruments, it sounds like passion is just floating along while fear is literally pulling them by the hand only to get a glance, with passion ready to flit away. (01:41)

Fear trying to stop passion, but passion just dances around, or like takes fear by the hand, and tries to drag it forward, only to be yanked back. almost like a push and pull. (01:53)

Passion "lifting" fear, and trying to do the same. And when it does, they do some cool partner stuff together. (02:40)

Epilogue

To me, dance composition is telling a tale, it just so happens that my tales are always a little too difficult to convey.

For me to create a dance, I always listen to a piece. Almost every piece tells a tale if you listen closely enough, that is where most of my inspiration comes from.

So please, tell me what you think, can I pull this off?

International School of Louisiana-Dixon 1st Grade, Dance Composition & Science Ms. Jalisa / Mr. Arouna

In science, we have been exploring light, and what happens with light to cause reflections and shadows. After we warmed up, we modeled reflection with light and a mirror, and discussed what happens to the light. Then we had a chance to be the mirror for each other! Students partnered up, and each student had a chance to be a choreographer and a mirror.

In class, we shared our first assignments. I survived. A goal I have set for myself for the next time is to volunteer to go instead of waiting until I am the last person and I have to go. It was inspiring to see everyone’s different ways of movement. Additionally, in class, we reviewed the article for homework. In this discussion, we learned how to have safe, healthy conversations about choreography with the creators. Below I have typed out the notes taken from class about Liz Lerman’s critical response process.

1.) “Statements of Meaning”

- Responders: state what was meaningful about the work they just witnessed

*Avoiding the word “like”

2.) “Artist as Questioner”

-Artist: asks questions about the work

-Responders: may express opinions if they directly relate/no suggestions for changes

3.) “Neutral Questions” 

-Responders: ask NEUTRAL questions about the work 

4.) “Opinion Time”

-Responders: state opinions with the ARTIST’S permission 

ex: “I have an opinion about [blank], would you like to hear it?”

5.) “Subject Matter Discussion”

*to be done out of class

In the homework assignment due today I have just reconfirmed how much of a nerd I am and that I rarely do anything not related to the arts. I wonder in what ways that “non-artsy” things can help expand my view on the arts or if it would help with my choreographic process?  When we shared I did make some new connections with my taste in music with some of the other dancers. It makes it a lot less terrifying to share future compositions with some people I sort of know than complete strangers. The activity humanized the other dancers in my class and made me feel more comfortable in the space. 

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