week four, key practitioner lesson two

In today’s lesson we researched two other key practitioners - Wayne McGregor and Crystal Pite. We analysed videos showing their choreographic processes (Rehearsing Genus), (Can art affect change?) and this inspired us to try another creative task using their methods. I was particularly inspired by their attention to detail throughout their choreography and the intense and thorough thought process behind each of the movements that they created.

 In this task we had to recreate the movement of rain on a window. When watching the video of this, we considered how a singular rain droplet would move, any sudden changes in speed as a raindrop ran down the window, or the patterns created when different raindrops connected with each other. To begin with, we improvised on our own, thinking about the fluid movements of a singular raindrop. I found this quite difficult because our inspiration for the movement was very abstract and it was challenging to have to little interaction when recreating rainfall. However, I tried to think about different things that could inspire me – for example I tried to recreate the flowing nature of water using rippling gestures with my arms, subtle isolations with my ribs and gentle shoulder rolls. I also thought about how the rain could suddenly pick up pace as it rolls down the window and so I tried to add more momentum behind certain movements or enhanced delicate movements, such as the shoulder rolls, with sharp knee bends. After this, we tried the same exercise but in groups and we were able to interact with each other to explore either raindrops connecting, or bouncing off one another, and changing direction or speed. I enjoyed this much more, and I found that some interesting partner work was created through this form of improvisation which had purpose and meaning behind it. Some interactions were as simple as joining hands in order to pull ourselves forwards and others became more complicated and exciting, such as our heads connecting as we turned or leaning on each other and using counterbalance. By the end of the session, I felt that I had become much more confident and inspired with the task and my movements replicated the qualities of the rain on the window much more engagingly than when I began my first initial improvisation. I definitely think that I would use this form of improvisation in the future because it meant that my movements all had a purpose, unlike if I had have just danced to the music that we played without any form of inspiration behind it.

(Rain on the window video)

Throughout the past few weeks, I think that I have initially responded to the creative tasks with slight hesitation because I have been unsure what element to grasp onto first in order to start my choreography. However, I have worked well once I have broken down the task and focused on different adjectives or qualities to spark my creativity. Overall, I am proud of the material that I have created so far because I believe that I have shown a variety of dynamics and I have tried to perform my pieces with commitment and projection. I hope to work on my fluidity and ability to connect my movements with a little more ease and interest.

In text (Rehearsing Genus) : Youtube.com. (2019). YouTube. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWNQK8y50SI&t=113s  [Accessed 10 Nov. 2019].

In text (Can art effect change?) : Youtube.com. (2019). YouTube. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYv1vQ-5wKk&t=1s [Accessed 10 Nov. 2019]

In text (Rain on the window video) : You.tube. (2019). YouTube. [online] Available at: https://youtu.be/N-OYsfDUtZQ [Accessed 10 Nov. 2019].