Self evaluation june 2014

                         Self – Evaluation Show Case June 2014

For my end of year Graduation show, the stimuli was based on ‘Elements’. Firstly I researched on what it takes to create a successful group piece, the main devices for this was to have positive communication, responding to each individuals ideas, making sure I took upon knowing and taking in consideration everyone’s abilities. During a Term at College, there was a Criteria called ‘Choreographic principles’ that taken place every Thursday, during this time, Kat put us in different groups every week were we would be given a different stimuli were we would create a motif, choreography responding in relation to the picture, this carried on for a few weeks until we then got given the stimuli of’Elements’. Once we got given the Stimuli, we started working with the Stimuli, with a strong relationship responding positively. I was placed in a variety of groups, working with the different elements of, water, Air, Earth, Fire. Every week I got a different device, This helped me a lot due to not fully understanding the Stimuli at the start, when I first got given this, I did not feel 100% positive, yet once I had got a full understanding, from research of the workshops this helped me intellectually understanding the task as well as Physically knowing how to react movement in relation to the stimuli.

However when working in different groups it gave me a chance to interact with different individuals that I have not worked self- direct with before, this also gave me the full understanding of how to work as a team, giving full commitment and time – management. For the on-going weeks, I got an understanding of the different styles to respond to each Element. When working in the groups, every week we created Tableuxes, freeze frames, 4 counts of choreography.

When self-directing my own independent research about eachElements, I found research that expresses each Element with a style, while interpreting emotions.

Water is in connection with styles like, Jazz, Contemporary,waving, lyrical. The emotions for this piece would be, sad, emotional connecting to the audience. The styles for Fire would be jazz, commercial, Bollywood and Salsa as the dynamics would be fast, sharp, telling a story of passionate love. Earth which was House, Locking, commercial, these dances would be grounded, angry with attitude, however Air which is Jazz, contemporary with fluid, light movement.

There was a range of Structures that were useful when creating choreography were Narrative, due to with the elements I could interpret a variety of stories in relation to the Element. In my group piece the structure I used was a Narrative telling a story about a Tsunami, after all the research I found that Tsunami’s are a big heading in specific countries especially in Thailand, after researching  in 2004 Thailand had a Tsunami that killed over 2,000 individuals, from spective of this it was a big shock and I felt emotional for this piece and knew there could be a range of choreography developing from this structure. Throughout my piece motif development was contrasted in the start section, due to developing the movement throughout the piece, interpreting a motif at the end, as well as interpreting Retrograde in relation to the start motif. My piece had a variety of devices; these were Canonespecially in the House section that breaks into grounded, sharp, fast movement. The house section is the start of theClimax, the audience would have been able to understand the relationship due to the dynamics and music component changing.

During the rehearsal process my Strengths for my choreography were that since the day that Kat put us all into our groups, my group got along straight away, and started to research independently and as a group about the stimuli. Every session we had different ideas to bounce from, everyone interpreted ideas working with everyone’s abilities.

Alternatively when finding music I Interpreted a song that I thought everyone would like, as well as showing a relation to the Stimuli, it was called DVBB’ Tsunami. Every Choreographic principle lesson everyone was always committed showing full attendance, but also positive time – management for every lesson and self-directed outside college times. During getting close to the deadline of choreography being complete we called rehearsal times, after lessons, this helped as at the start of May we had finished the choreography but was now acknowledging everyone’s comments making it more cleaner and understandable.

I felt by using a poem about Tsunami’s would be effective, with an emotional piece about my family by using certain words like ‘ Why ‘ Did’ becomes very effective and direct towards the audience.

Research took upon a big role for the choreography, watching news reports of Tsunami’s as well as ‘ The impossible’ when watching this film, I looked at the mothers expressions and emotions towards the tsunami and family, this helped me interpret the best possible outcome developing my Character.

My weaknesses from Rehearsal process was that I needed to develop through emotions, showing more emotions when performing and losing my family. Due to just myself being alive at the end I needed to carry on the emotions, especiallyat the ending when the over speech is spoken I need to have a physical I felt that during the rehearsal process the piece was too choreographed,  therefore I needed to show a clear fluid structure for each structure, due to Kat and Peers suggesting it looked to choreographed.

However, my main weakness throughout the rehearsals were that I was not connecting in relation with the choreography and my character/ emotions, due to trying to remember all the muscle memory, on individual sections I lost my character, therefore I needed to not panic and over think the choreography and relax more into the choreography. Alternatively, we did not use a range of devices, only unison, cannon, retrograde, therefore due to stil having sections to choreograph we knew to interpret a lot more devices, showing a clear, strong dynamics.

When developing my choreography I used a range of devices and methods. Motif development was used throughout the start of the section, during the build-up to the climax, the dynamics I used were strong, fast, expressing emotions while building up to tell the narrative. During the end of all choreography  we had 3 x 8 counts, therefore we looked foropenings, were we chose to use a Tabluexe, the tableuxe we used was improvised of being on the beach, the children playing while the mother guards them and the father explores. Retrograde was used in the first section, this was created from a workshop Chloe took one Tuesday, were we used Retro grade, from the workshop we had to take a count of 8 from our choreography and perform it how we choreographed but then backwards, this is retrograde, our piece worked well and looked really effective, therefore we decided to add this into the choreography. There was a range of Contact we used, due to our piece being about a family who are on holiday and a Tsunami appears, therefore the emotions needed to be in relation to the movement, so close contact needed to be used, there was a range of hugging, as well as contact work, variety of lifts, were I got picked up and thrown about. Throughout the whole piece Improvisation needed to be created, due to sections were we all are getting taken away we all have unison choreography as well as free styling in the Climax trying to build the tension for the audience to understand.

We explored a range of structures, however from the research and ideas from previous lessons we had a clear idea of what we wanted to address therefore the Structure was alreadythere, which was a Narrative about a ‘Tsunami’. A range of floor patterns were used, I felt that our choreography used the flooring very well, especially for the house, it was not placed,different floor patterns were used as well as levels. The range of Dynamics were Strong, powerfull, fast, in contrast with every style, expecially for the climax, the dynamics were sharp, fast, energetic, showing emotions in relation to the dynamics.

During the choreographic process I felt I worked well with the other performers because during the workshop process I worked with all of these in different stimuli’s therefore I knew each individuals abilities, so during the choreographic process I knew everyone’s abilities and what we was capable of choreographing. Each individual had their own style, so I thought it was a good idea to interpret each individual’s style, but also I can learn more historical context and physical of styles that I am not positive on performing. While choreographing I learnt that every individual has different Muscle memory, therefore to teach sections may take longer, however every time we choreographed a new section, we drilled this until everyone was sure and positive. Every lesson, peers would look at our piece when we performed and give feedback, I felt I took critism positively and wrote this in my blogs so that I could address this for next lesson. Being In a group shows a strong relationship and during the performance each peer in my group was supportive, making sure that everyone was dressed and ready on time to go on stage. Throughout the Rehearsal process and performance, I could see a difference in relationship with each other, during the day of performing, the relationship was so strong and UN breakable and I loved my group.

As a choreographer, I shared my role throughout the choreographing period by, having my own role, which was a mother, we shared each character, were I needed to interpret being a mother. Performing in a group piece is very different from performing a solo or a duet because when performing a Solo, nobody relies on you, except yourself so if you forget choreography you can freestyle but in a group you cannot therefore you need to have drilled and know the choreography backwards before you go on stage, due to this visually standing out otherwise. Throughout the choreographic principles I now am aware that I can choreograph and should not put a barrier up when it comes to physical choreographing. However, when having up beat music that I enjoyed, which we had, this helped me find it easier to choreograph due to myself enjoying it a lot more. Relationship is the key and from the start of being put into my group we worked well from the beginning, there was no tension or negativity, like other groups, therefore thechoreography looked enjoyable to perform and watch. Throughout the piece everyone had equal parts, everyone hadtheir own role, time- management and communication was the key and our group had this.

The strengths for my final performance were we worked well with a strong relationship. On the night of the show, I remembered the picture before I entered onto stage; therefore this showed a clear narrative for the ending, so the audience knew what was happening. At the end when standing on the blocks, I involved the audience by looking up directly with eye contact, so the audience would engage the same emotions. Alternatively, every critism that we had throughout the weeks and on the week of dress run, I made sure I took upon everything said and performed this in the final performance. Costumes worked really well in relation to the structure, due to them being tie dyed blue, it looked really effective with the lighting.

Weaknesses for the Final performance were;

Weaknesses for the final performance was that i did not look up during one or the lifts, even when I was getting this as feeback during dress run, this was all over trust I did not feel 100% positive when being lifted. During the middle section of the Tsunami with the climax, there was a part that looked messy due to no control of movement and dynamics, therefore looking back at the performance it looked very messy.
Overall the audience was fully aware of the narrative and what was going on throughout the performance.  At the end of the performance we got a big round of applause and this positively lifted my self esteem.

In the opening the dynamics were very fluid, light, contrasting the narrative. however on the motif there was a range of sharpness with fast movement. however in the climax the dynamics were fast, sharp, with sustained movements when each performer gets taken away the others will have sustained movements while the performer whos getting taken away by the tide has fast sudden movement to show the contrast. there was also a range of levels throughout the whole piece. focus needed to be interpreted throughout the whole piece expecially with my own role due to needing to keep focus to express the emotion and seriousness of my family getting killed. However at the end, there was an over speach of me expressing my feelings and what has happend, projection needed to be directed towards the audience, during this and when I hold a picture of myself and family interating with the audience.

Throughout the piece interpretive skills were so important due to having to act out a character, Each performance had their own role mine was a mother, therefore I needed to phrase on how my mum acts , but also I watched 'The Impossible'  where this is based on a Tsunami, i watched this to see how each individual acts, showing physicallity and emotions.

During the whole choreography my piece changed dramatically in the climax, due to wanting to show a physical difference from the start and climax, the house section changed completely due to feedback , individuals said that it looked to placed, however because my main style was house, I came up with choreography that everyone liked so taught them this, there was positive feedback about the house and looked effective due to different levels , transitions and dynamics.
Our choreography did not change, due to having a basic structure straight from the start when developing our dance planner, we knew what we wanted and the choreography developed fully throughout the piece.

During my time of my choreography, I would use much more time- management, calling frequent rehearsal process, by engaging communication, allowing everyone to adress full commitement wanting the best outcome.  Not thinking to much about the music,  making sure everyone is aware of the changes due to not everyone knowing until performing on stage for the tech rehearsal , by this it caused a lot of  confusion mentally and physically with the choreography, therefore we had to make a decision of  which music we was going to choose, the music sounded alot more clearer with a better structure but we needed to think more about our choreography so chose the original piece. Overall I felt that my piece had a clear structure, understanding and kept good control with time - management due to having a week to drill the piece ready for the show. By this I did not feel stressed or worried about my piece, It looked very effective on the feedback dvd and was proud of my group, as we worked well from the start , no argueing and by this my choreography grew as well as a performer, with a strong relationship with each other peformer. I am thourely pleased with my overall group piece.

4.6.14 - dress run all day

Today we started at 9am, full dress rehearsal again for the whole show, while having feedback  from yesterday I now needed to interpret this for today. 

I felt that with the run through I change my trousers from the start ready for fast car and Tsunami and because of this I therefore get the timeing correct with the musicality and other peers performing. 

 First run through I forgot the picture again for my group piece called TSUNAMI' this is driving me mad as I forget it every time however I am now putting it into my top so I don't forget it, this helped for the second run through as I remembered the picture and the ending with the over speech helped create the story alot more , iv used an old picture so the audience will be Able to see and understand. 

I felt that Latch was not the best I had performed, due to worrying about special awareness as I don't have enough room it knocked my focus and I couldn't get back into focus showing my full emotions therefore it was hard for me to concentrate and I kept forgetting parts of the choreography even though I knew it.. 

I therefore need to forget about everyone else and concentrate on the choreography not loosing the focus. 

Milonga I felt was much better and when I smile I feel I relax alot more than usual, I felt this was the best I performed it and costumes help and now I have shorts underneath my dress I feel much more relaxed about this And move my hips more, and the dress is showing physically and allowing this to happen during the performance. 

However I need to be careful on the partner work at the end as I get into the performance I forget about my partner and let my hands loose instead of being on their waist. 

Bollywood I didn't have enough time and struggled to get on stage on time, therefor I did not have my costume on properly so my trousers were falling down throughout the whole performance, I carried on but I felt this really took my focus away and made my physical performance look sloppy as my mind was worrying about my trousers. However I know this wont happen on be day of the show because we have an interval, therefor il have enough time to properly get ready and backstage in my position to start. 

Elements I feel that the spacing is much better now it has been sorted out, with the correct transitions, however on the breathe section the timeing was all wrong , individuals went to fast however me and kornelia were on the correct count but sped up to meet the others performing but then realised we was on the right count. I need to remember that breathe , Is the last dance il be performing with everyone so It needs to be intense with fierce dynamics, making it more stylised and grounded. 

Riley is always in the wrong place therefore it makes me in Nikitas way therefore I have told him so many times but gets it wrong so if this happens on the day of the performance then this means I need to carry on acting like nothing is wrong, performing my full out. 

Bow is now sorted me an Bella are performing whacking, while Riley goes in be middle and grooves / freestyles , however I feel the bow needs to be more happy and lively but I know this will happen on the night of the show. 

Feedback from teachers : 

Fast car I look down a lot , this is part of my character but I feel I am going to look up due to people may not be aware of what I'm trying to interpret this will mean that it may look like I don't know the piece and not confident. 

When walking on for Fast car I got positive feedbacks saying that I walk on with purpose due to the dynamics I use are , sharp, fierce and sharp, I need to create this borough out the whole piece. However I feel that the change in costume postively helps. 

Tsunami again I look down when getting lifted I have been told to look up and then by this I will get higher. Therefore on the night of the show I need to go full out and extend them lifts to my fullest, not showing that I am scared and if worst comes and I get dropped this will be play due to the structure being a narrative of a Tsunami , this will create the waves throwing me across the sea. 

However I feel that the old track works and the costumes look really good on relation to the lights and narrative. 

Milonga keep smiling throughout the piece but I spin shard a different way than the others yet I was aware I made this mistake and will correct it before the show. 

Bollywood I felt was so good every time I perform this I love it and there was no feedback I just need to make sure my costume is correctly on. 

Elements was not the best it could of been performed it is more about listening at the start due to it being lyrical and working as a team. Waves section for old school hip - hop was much more better this time the musicality was correct and could feel a positive vibe knowing all he corrections had been taken into account. 

Alternatively breathe again was incorrect with transitions but I just kept on performing however I did mess up at the ending as I lost focus so I need to start in character with 100% at all times for this piece due to this being an interesting and stylised piece that I really enjoy. 

I cannot wait for be show and very excited to perform in front of an audience as I feel all the performances will lift positively alot more.

3.6.14 - dress rehearsal

Today we went through our group choreography in Kats lesson. For my group piece I feel that timeing is a big problem especially for the start there is no ecstatic start for this and very placed, yet to change this it is all about the arm lineaments and dynamics making sure they are sharp and fast in time with the music. One we performed a few run throughs we decided to go back to our original music, because we all felt more secure with this when performing, when performing yesterday with the new track it threw all of us , so choreography and time management was all wrong. 

Therefore we made the decision to going back to our old music because it was more sharp and confident, than the other, all this was down to adding extra noise in contrast with the Tsunami. 

We then recapped the show, me and bella made 1 count of 4 for the bow, did to Riley refusing we thought of doing whacking and riley freestyle in the middle 

- formation - me - Riley - Bella 

The bow is secure and I feel comfortable doing this but at the moment it is lacking energy and fun but when we have got the drenalin on the day of show I know and feel it is going to lift 100%. 

Dress rehearsal : 1pm 

We started dress rehearsal full out through the whole show. 

I felt I got into much more into character for the Fast car and from this it lifted my performance 100% and individuals noticed this from the performance when performing dress rehearsal I cannot perform my Business section in my leather leggings due to friction when sliding it obstructs me, and I cannot fully slide so because of this I get up more quickly for this , Therefore I am going up out on my cotton trousers that I wear for Tsunami due to feeling more softer when performing on the floor. I'm glad i noticed this and not on the actual performance. 

Tsunami feedback ; I felt that it is much better with the old track and due to having 3 seconds spare until we go into the next section we cannot wait , me and rob need to act out while the kids (Billie & Honor ) freak out. This will allow our piece to look much more neater and so the audience don't think we have gone to fast, this will show a much more smoother transition. 

Mine and Robbies section the lifts need to be much more lighter, I feel because it's a fast tempo I feel I have to go fast and rush but this is not the case, the ending needs to be very emotional,me and rob just needs to keep going over them due to making sure we don't look awkward when performing them. 

My main self point is remember my picture every time I forget the picture so the ending with my over speech it looks awkward due to me interpreting I have a picture but I actually don't so the audience will not understand. I need to remember this for the show!!! 

Milonga - remember that the transition has rotated from the studio to the theatre so I need to remember I am on the opposite side with shard. 

Another point is to perform every time in my shoes as I feel my performance is struggling as I am not used to the shoes therefore sliding all over the floor. My other reminder is to remember to bring shorts as I am wearing a dress and chose to wear no leggings therefore I need to wear shorts so I can spin and not feel insecure if my dress rises as I will be secure with under garments. 

Bollywood is my favourite piece and the costumes lift the piece so much I feel that every time I perform this it gets much more stronger, I know all the choreography and don't rely on any one so having no Mirrors is no problem. 

I feel I need to put much more emotions in and remember not to smile. At the start when we go around in circles and go to the floor while the princesses perform. I need to look straight to the audience straight back leaning on my legs with a good posture. 

Latch today I felt was not the best I performed the spacing and transitions I felt we're wrong. I don't know if people were not in the right place but I felt out of place and was very cramped to perform. 

Main feedback was eye contact when walking forward all together at the start, looking directly at the audience so that they get shivers. 

Elements was great I feel happy about the choreography my main concern is the breathe section due to Riley not getting in his place on time I look out of place and was not in the correct place because of this I explain this over again but no change. Main feedback for this was to style it out, more flowly in character, as it looks more stiff  and up right but needs to be fun a d grounded styling out the choreography as it is commercial. 

Today was successful and I feel that now  I am performing in my costumes that the performances have lifted positively with each one, and I am looking forward to the show on Thursday. 

What is gyrotonic?

Gyrotonic is part of an exercise called Gyrkinesis method, originally called 'Yoga on Mats'.
  This exercise is practiced on a mat or chair, gyrotonic method uses specialized equipment that permits one to move with support and resistance.

2.6.14 week of show

Today is show week, today we self directed our own individual warm up and then recapped on the jazz piece of  'fast car' I went through the business men's choreography as I don't feel secure when performing this, I feel I worry to much about the timing therefore I do not interpret any characterisation throughout the piece.
After recapping the choreography I felt that I knew the choreography it is just about perfecting the performance with characterisation therefore when adding more character into the set I felt much more relaxed and just need to perfect my character which is a ' Business man'.
Throughout this piece I need to interpret a hard straight, serious face to show the seriousness of my role, as well as interpreting when I walk on a brief case.

I then went through my group choreography ' Tsunami' we needed to sort out the timeing at the start due to the choreography not in any relation with the musicality. We recapped the Tabluexes at the start that then diverse into the choreography. We then have the rest finished we just need to now express more character, explaining each character showing emotions.

All of my group kept going over the choreography, to prefect ready for the tech rehearsals later on and during the rest of the week.

We also sat down and looked at each others costumes, giving out T-shirts that had been tie - dyed. From rehearsals I have been wearing leather leggings, but during the ending of the choreography I need to quickly and sharply move across the floor sliding. Therefore I am going to wear cotton trousers so that there is no struggle performing the movement across the floor.
Alternatively we also spoke about lighting, we decided at the start white and bright, and after blackout there is then an over speech saying ' Tsunami' this is the queue for when the lighting changes this then changes to light blue, throughout the rest of the choreography. We thought to physically have this colour to represent the Tsunami coming in, so blue was the perfect colour, as well as for the t shirts, we tie dyed them blue, so they are multi colours of blue and white, which looks effectively when dancing.

Rehearsal's down at Pelham

Today we tech'd all the dance pieces, from this we got positive and negative feedback in the Fast car section all the business men needed to work on characters a lot more, much more serious faces as well as the timeing for the ending is not in time with the music.
However for or group piece tsunami it was more on timeing for the start, due to re- altering the music, when performing this puzzled everyone as it was the first time to of actually rehearsed with the new alterations. We now need to self direct rehearsals in our own time making sure this is ready for the show, and if we feel it is working or not, therefore making the decision to stick to the old music or new edit.

Milonga needs more hip movements, using the lower body a lot more,  I feel when I practice in my clothes for this which is a skirt I feel much more in character and use my lower body a lot more, showing this by dress continuously flowing. Today was the first time practicing in my Character shoes on the stage, It was very slippery and I did not feel secure, therefore I need to practice this so I feel positive performing in these shoes for the show, due to leaving it last minute and rehearsing in Trainers for a long period.

The main concern for all of the pieces was spacial awareness due to rehearsing for a long period of time in the dance studio today seemed a big shock when performing on the stage due to having less space than before, however we all worked as a team to sort the situation out.
Today was successful day and after trying all of the clothing on I feel that the show is going to be successful.