Choreographic Writings
Saturday 30 September 2023
Tuesday 26 September 2023
10 Day #Gaga Challenge
Day 1
You’ve likely heard our teachers ask you to float in Gaga class. Remember the last time you floated in a pool or in the sea? When we float in the studio (or in our living room!), we connect to that same sensation and negate gravity on a molecular level.
Reflection
Day 2
Reflection
- using the mouth and tasting something, then moving that feeling of movement to other parts of the body.
- finding texture in each finger and moving up the forearms and into the shoulders
- Opening and closing the shoulders
- The floating after the strong muscle man postures/explorations
Day 3
Reflection
Day 4
Reflection
- arm swings
- spinning
- circles with upper body small to big
- no arms and only lower body, holding arms tight to body
- eyes closed and then open
- child like - don't care
- free
Day 5
Reflection
- feather hand
- feather shoulders
- inside seaweed
- inside the telephone cord
Day 6
Reflection
Reflection
Day 8
Reflection
Day 9
Reflection
Day 10
Reflection
Tuesday 1 August 2023
Sea to Sky Dance Collective Summer 2023: Foreign Bodies
I had three weeks for research and development. I can't believe we got this all done in three Sundays! I spent some weekends rolling around and dancing at school. I also made formations from home, sitting with headphones on, eyes closed, imagining bodies in space.
Links
Counts
4 - Movement Sequence 1
8 -
8 -
8 -
8 - legs
8 -
8 -
8 -
8 -
8 -
8 - sing
8 - single sound comes on 2 / double on &6
8 - knee is on 2 - no sound
8
8 - Movement Sequence 2
8
8
8
8
8
8 -
8
8 - Movement Sequence 2A
8
8 - Movement Sequence 2B
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8 -
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8… fading out…
Lyrics
Be … bend your ear
Work it out
Things you hear
Someone's knee
Clicks just here
Foreign bo dies
Start to appear
What
What is this
Revealing?
Who are you what
Concealing?
Is this who
Digesting?
(what is it you're…)
Are you what is
Disturbing?
This who are
Occurring?
You what is this
Recording?
Who are you
Disguising?
What is is this?
Fee … feel the bones
Nothing bro ken mo bile homes
With each sound
In this skin
For eign bodies start to b egin
What
What is this
Revealing?
Who are you what
Concealing?
Is this who
Digesting?
(what is it you're…)
Are you what is
Disturbing?
This who are
Occurring?
You what is this
Recording?
Who are you
Disguising?
What is is this?
Li… listen here
Hear yourself
In things you hear
Someone's neck
Clicks just here
For eign bodies
Start to a ppear
Ideas
Solo to pyramid group feeding in… adding to the different rhythms with different accents on the same movement pattern?
Or other formation traveling group bowls through taking second group with it and leaving solo
Can the first space be the body that people to through - certain moves?
When she sings, travel groups stops, looks before and then she sings and they bend knees - changing levels and slow (speed)
Levels for legs: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvHO0RlsxFw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Exploration Tasks
Movement sequence 1: different people, different speeds, same sequence
Movement sequence 2: floor part and matching standing part: Movement pattern slow - getting faster like train
Partner movement - you go, I go - connect and disconnect, cover and uncover
Same pattern - move eyeline and change body direction every 8 - 4 - 2 1?
Can we move at the same tempo and the same level. Change levels. Head can’t pass the line. Limbo line gets lower every 16, 8, 4, 2
Movement sequence 3: Upper body, lower body moves the ladder 1, 12, 123, 1234. Meet a partner and join the sequence first partner leaves after 8 counts and joins an empty partner. Traveling step to meet new partner is walking at first.. But change the moves.
Short Combinations
Movement sequence 1
0:00 - 1:03
Legs straight up and tight together, feet pointed, laying on back, arms out to side (might add arms in later)
4 bend stretch, strong accent
4 bend stretch opening legs wide and freeze open
R knee:
bend, extend
Bend, turn in, extend
Bend, turn in, extend, turn out, extend
L knee repeat
Both legs repeat
Two counts in wide second before bringing together then flex melt like candle
Bring legs back to starting position: legs straight in the air and melt them down like a candle on speed, wiggly jello as opposed to straight and strong
Turn to face front, R knee forward in runners lunge, look at floor, then right away on 2 look at audience
Stay low, L foot stamps and R arm goes forward, straight strong marching arms
Plie slow and switch arms
Sautes facing frog
&6 head to R and turn body, still sautes
Head to audience and saute backwards
Head to R wing and run low off stage
Movement sequence 2
1:03 - 1:30
0:00- knee is slow version of Movement Sequence 1
knee - flex feet
Clap,clap - bend knees
Clap - bring shape to L side (roll to side)
Clap Clap - R arm closes onto L arm straight out from body on floor
1 - open into star
Thread R leg under left to flip onto belly
Arms cross - uncross by pulling out R arm which pushes up the body
Push it out straight and parallel
Continue roll to back
R arm and Leg flex and unfold
Roll up to sitting with L knee bent, R leg straight
Clap clap - R arm slides back straight and bends with head creepy
Come back to switch knees
Back roll to L knee forward
Turn to face front: L knee bent and turned out, R leg extended
Flex R foot
Bring R foot in to match L knee
Extend L
Turn to R runners with arms high and lifting in center
Lift R knee and return
Tuck L knee behind R, R elbow in front and L elbow behind
R hand does hand holding a snow globe and broken robot twist
3 Of those to come to standing in the R leg fwd L leg back crossed at knees - weird position - with Le arm behind and R arm out to the R wavy
Movement sequence 2A
1:30 - 1:39
Short connector (some people may be travelling into group)
R leg
Body lifts and slides down with L leg lengthening
Extend L arm
Head shoulders, head shoulders, head shoulders,
Bourré with head shoulders wavy arms
Movement sequence 2B
1:39 - 2:15
R knee
L knee
R L knee
RR
Straight up with bouncy bourre fwd
Down R knee and elbow up down
Turn
Up down
R shoulder roll with R leg in out
R shoulder glissade
Both arms straight up glissade
R should glissade
R elbow leads to turn to corner
Pick up R foot and move to back then back to front
R hand goes to head
L hand comes under elbow and brings shape center
Plie second
R arm sways out with L elbow staying bent
Heels and head
Repeat pattern two more times I think
Open all up to wide second arms and legs all straight
Weave in and out - turn in turn out all wiggly… I will have to go over this and set it.. Then… R wiggle to L… I think
Movement sequence 3
R arm high
L leg out
R arm bends
L leg lower and R knee bend, L foot flexed
L arm bends to join R
Parallel 4th plie
Arms twist to R
Body meets it
Drag all in as R arm goes high to continue pattern
Repeats in circle 2 counts each move, then 1 count each move
Reverse
Make your own upper/lower body pattern - 8 counts
If time, combine with partner - you go they go - or two groups - back and forth
Movement sequence 4
VIDEO LINK
2:38
8 Movement sequence 3
8
8
2:46
8 low swan
8 tall bourres
8 sautes
8 run
8 shhh - lay down
8 shhh
8 clickity -
8 -
8 - down
8 - down
8 - rock roll arm head/elbow
Formations
At the end of movement sequence 2B - there are the repeating parts before the in and out - that will be cannoned for people to stop and go into star early
Images didn't copy and paste - you can see the dots if you click the Foreign Bodies title.
Technical Ideas: Costumes, Lights, Projections etc.
One leg one colour:
Lighting: Rows - I know this is not possible in our theatre… but something close to it (dance video of runners)
July 16, 2023 5:30 - 6:45: Plan of the Day and Videos
Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2CR3mHzXZY50GEMPGQD8nt?si=42e2583706dd4618&pt=4162ad019340c831b44f1e3e027a3d5d
Laying on the floor and waking up different body parts
SFT: Standing hip flexor stretch with five way arms
SFT: 3 way sliding hip flexor with overhead reach
SFT: plank step to deep squat
SFT: Jumps: 3 D Neural Activation Sequence
WALK AS IF:
You are stuck up to your knees in thick mud and must get out.
Your body is mist.
You are the sparkling light inside a sunlit prism.
Your body is made of lead.
You are a dandelion seed floating on a shifting breeze.
You are on a crowded street, late getting to work.
You must get through a completely dark and narrow alley at night.
You are in a large, spacious park with no ‘have to dos.’
You are on a very high tightrope.
You are weightless on the moon.
Movement sequence 1: VIDEO LINK
Movement sequence 3: VIDEO LINK
Cool down: walking, find way back to floor, and relax the body into the ground
Drop In Over
Movement sequence 1: different people, different speeds, same sequence
Movement sequence 3: Upper body, lower body moves the ladder 1, 12, 123, 1234.
Partner movement - you go, I go - connect and disconnect, under and over
Same pattern - move eyeline and change body direction every 8 - 4
SFT EXERCISES: VIDEO LINK
Standing Hip Flexor Stretch with 5 way arms
8 with each arm R
8 with each arm L
(There is a little bit of music left at the end)
Begin in a parallel lunge, with front knee stacked directly over the ankle. Make sure back leg is straight. Make sure back leg does not turn out. Close your ribs, pull your abdominals in, squeeze your glutes. Do no arch in the lower back – lengthen the tailbone down.
Repeatedly straighten and then bend into the front knee.
Reach arms straight up over head.
Keeping arms overhead, side bend toward the front leg –
Keeping arms overhead, side bend towards the rear leg
With arms at chest height, rotate towards the front leg
With arms at chest height, rotate towards the rear leg
Complete the entire exercise on one leg. Then repeat on the other leg.
3 Way Sliding Hip Flexor with Overhead Reach
*socks for slippery floors or a slider for carpet
8 with each direction R
8 with each direction L
1 in each direction R and hold
1 in each direction L and hold
Repeat 1 more time R and L
Detailed Exercise Instruction
Not in the book – from the website.
Plank Step to Deep Squat
8 R foot leads (2 8’s each)
8 L foot leads
Detailed Exercise Instruction
Take a straight arms plank position. Keep your neck in the line with your spine by lengthening forward through the crown of your head and tucking your chin in (like you have a double chin). Actively push the floor away with both hands, thinking of drawing your sternum toward your spine. Maintain stability in your shoulders and try to keep your hips level as you move your feet. Step your feet forward one at a time. Then transfer your weight into your feet to take deep squat. Then transfer your weight back into your hands and step your feet back into the plank position.
Jumps: 3 D Neural Activation Sequence
16 each way
Forward and back
Side to side
Twisting
One foot forward and one foot back
Out and in
Feet turn in and turn out
July 23, 2023: Plan of the Day and Videos
Fun warm-up: Cardio, tendus/GBs, strength, stretch
Movement sequence 2A
Movement sequence 2B
July 30, 2023: Plan of the Day and Videos
Warm-up:
Roll down, roll up 8/8 Front, Right, Back, Left, return 4/4 | Say Yes |
Roll down, walk hands out to plank, spiderman push-up each side, hands walk back in, roll up | One Dance |
Plie: first, second, R fourth, L fourth, R Fifth, L Fifth: demi demi grande rise rise and balance | The Funeral |
Tendus, degage, gb: en crois: 2 tendu, 2 degage, 1 gb (8 counts) End with balance | Lost |
Review Movement Sequence 1, 2, 3
Formations (write names in document)
Movement Sequence 4 - repeated movement sequence motifs - easiest to do this in formations
We did it!!! 😍