week three, key practitioner lesson one - 'shape' creative task
In this lesson, we watched a video about Justin Peck's choreographic process (Spotlight on ... Justin Peck). The key things that he mentioned in this video were:
- His pieces are created based on his personal ideas and how he feels in that moment
- He enjoys working with a larger cast, as there are more possibilities
- He listens to his music over and over again, picking out highlights and small moments to capture
- He draws out his patterns and formations
This then became our starting point for our choreography, as we were set the task of creating movements based on these shapes. For example, the piece of paper could be used as a map, with each shape being a different movement, or we could imagine each shape in a different way - maybe climbing over the shape or actually recreating the curves and lines of the shapes with our bodies. I thought that this was an interesting technique to use, as it required us to be very innovative and explore ways in which we develop simple drawings into unique sequences. At first I struggled because I thought about the shapes too literally, however I found it much easier once I considered how I could use different levels to create curves or dips in the shapes or flowing turns and arm ripples to recreate the loops and swirls.
For example, my sequence starts with this shape, as I thought about the developpe forwards being the start of the line, then the small head roll being the loop and the kick backwards continuing the line. I would like to develop my transitions between each of these movements, to allow my piece to have the same continuity as the drawings.
I don't think that I would use this technique in the future for solo work because I found it difficult to create formations on my own, but I think it would be effective if it was used when choreographic a group piece, as the unity of the dancers could create some exciting and dynamic shapes on the stage.
Here is a video of the sequence I created:
In text (Spotlight on ... Justin Peck) : Youtube.com. (2019). YouTube. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnEKfWESMns [Accessed 10 Nov. 2019].
For example, my sequence starts with this shape, as I thought about the developpe forwards being the start of the line, then the small head roll being the loop and the kick backwards continuing the line. I would like to develop my transitions between each of these movements, to allow my piece to have the same continuity as the drawings.
I don't think that I would use this technique in the future for solo work because I found it difficult to create formations on my own, but I think it would be effective if it was used when choreographic a group piece, as the unity of the dancers could create some exciting and dynamic shapes on the stage.
Here is a video of the sequence I created:
I loved the different directions of your movements and how with your first shape, you can clearly see the développe being the beginning, and the head role to portray the loop. Because you are flexible on both legs maybe think about if you Could use any more leg extensions in your piece. What decisions led you to finish your piece on the floor? You thought about all your movements carefully and how you can interact with the audience. This will be helpful for future choreography pieces.
ReplyDeleteThankyou Lucy, I'll take your ideas on board in my future work. I chose to end my piece on the floor as that particular movement was replicating the spiral drawing and I wanted to show how the shape not only swirls, but becomes smaller too as you get closer to the centre.
DeleteI love how your phrase really shows the small details of each shape. I also really like the use of the whole body and not just the arms to show the shapes. What do you believe your strengths and weaknesses were for this session? How will you overcome these weaknesses?
ReplyDeleteOne of my weaknesses in this task was that I overthought what I was doing at the beginning of the task and this meant that I found it difficult to generate initial ideas. I overcame this by improvising to the music that was playing in the studio at the time, thinking about how I could create the energy or dynamic of the shape, rather than replicating the actual shape itself. However, I think that I was good at incorporating a variety of levels and dynamics into my piece, which made it varied and interesting.
DeleteI like the way you have linked Justin Peck and the task together in your writing and your choreography has a fluid and gentle quality. If you were to revisit this phrase, how would you develop it?
ReplyDeleteIf I were to revisit this phrase I would like to develop the transitions between each movement. For example, by incorporating walks or turns between as linking steps, or even pauses with breath to provide moments of release and poise between movements.
DeleteThe shapes are clearly shown in your phrase and I like how you have included pictures and provided an example of one shape and what movement you used to portray that. I really like the use of levels throughout your phrase too. Like Sadie has mentioned above, what strengths and weaknesses did you discover with this creative task?
ReplyDeleteThankyou for you comments, my answer is above.
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