Shadows

Question 1

Choreographer

Answer 1

Christopher Bruce

Question 2

Company

Answer 2

Phoenix dance company

Question 3

Premiered

Answer 3

26th of November 2014

Question 4

Dancers

Answer 4

Two male, two female

Question 5

Duration

Answer 5

12 minutes

Question 6

Dance style

Answer 6

Neoclassical– modern dance technique with a combination of classical (ballet) and contemporary

Question 7

Stimulus

Answer 7

The music – Avro part’s ‘Fratres’ for violin and piano
music= fast, chaotic, looks at internal struggle

Question 8

Choreographic intention

Answer 8

-Historic events with human suffering (Bruce’s work is politically aware)
-Family in Eastern Europe coming to terms with an powerful outside force that they cannot control because they live in poverty
-Audience makes their own conclusion (what Christopher Bruce wanted)

Question 9

Downstage diagonal right

Answer 9

• at times, this is illuminated or set is put here
• All dancers makes use of this
• represents a corridor perhaps to a front door
• to the family it symbolises the outside force and what is to come

Question 10

Structure

Answer 10

-Semi narrative (sort of tells a story)
-episodic: family round table, different reactions from each character (like episodes), then daughter solo, then family contact work, did duet with mother and father
– Cyclical structure: start and end are the same (before they leave, they are sat at the table)

Question 11

Climax in shadows

Answer 11

Son’s solo

Question 12

Constantly using…

Answer 12

Motif development

Question 13

Downstage diagonal right: who uses it

Answer 13

All 4 dancers use this pathway and action throughout different points in the dance

Question 14

Downstage diagonal right: what is the use of it

Answer 14

-Travelling on a diagonal pathway from the table towards ddr
-Turning the head or whole body in order to look towards ddr

Question 15

Downstage diagonal right: when is it used

Answer 15

• son stands up from his stool and looks towards ddr
• all 4 dancers sat at the table, slow turn their heads to look at ddr
• daughter travels on ddr
• son travels in ddr pathway blocking it with furniture (blocking the outside force)

Question 16

Set

Answer 16

• black box stage (dark stage reflects mood, works with lighting, represents how they possibly can’t afford electricity)
• worn out mismatch furniture (reflects their lack of money, furniture isn’t their main priority, worn reflects how they are feeling)
• coat hanger, table, bench, two chairs
• coat hanger is constant reminder that they are being forced to leave

Question 17

Stage type

Answer 17

End stage

Question 18

Set is used as….

Answer 18

Props and apart of the movement (in climax- son’s solo)

Question 19

Costume context (4)

Answer 19

• depict the era of Eastern Europe in 1930’s- 1940’s (war)
• designed by Christopher Bruce
• costumes are gendered
• costumes symbolise poverty and deprivation

Question 20

Daughter (5)

Answer 20

• white blouse, long blue skirt
• ill fitting, oversized, purposely big to last longer?, hand me downs?
• represents their poverty
• emphasises lack of control over the outside force
• add to cold atmosphere- match lighting and set

Question 21

Son

Answer 21

• white, untucked shirt: shows he’s panicked and no longer cares about his appearance
• ill fitting, oversized, purposely big to last longer?, hand me downs?
• represents their poverty
• emphasise their lack of control over the outside force
• adds to cold atmosphere- match lighting and set

Question 22

Mother

Answer 22

• floral printed dress
• neutral, toned down colours to represent sad mood

Question 23

Father

Answer 23

-brown waistcoat, pinstripe shirt underneath, rolled up to just below elbows (working hard), tucked into washed blue, denim jeans

Question 24

Aural setting

Answer 24

– Fratres composed by Avro Parts in 1977
- violin and pre-recorded version
– No break in tempo in music
– Important contribution to the dark, solemn atmosphere of the peace
– Clear correlation between movement vocabulary and accompaniment 

Question 25

Daughter solo

Answer 25

Music is frantic to match dynamics – violin sounds match anxious fast paced steps

Question 26

Mother, father, daughter Trio

Answer 26

- Music is soft and slow in complete contrast to the solo beforehand - Soft tones led by the piano and gentle violin tones - Shows the family comforting each other and calming their daughter down

Question 27

Son solo

Answer 27

- The climax of the music to reflect that it is the climax of the narrative and movement – Music changes to chord like sounds with the addition of thumping sound from his fists and slamming the props on the floor (body percussion and found sound from furniture) – Adds to heightened emotion that the son is experiencing

Question 28

Daughter movement content

Answer 28

– Consistently quick and frantic dynamics that incorporate childlike actions – E.G. she runs forward, crouches and slides backwards on her bottom – This represents her nerves, panic and impatient related to the outside force – She is a child so cannot process the threat as an adult would which is reflected in her manic but childlike movements

Question 29

Mother movement content

Answer 29

– Slower pace with action that appears thoughtful, delicate and collected – E.G. She does a slow plie with turned out feet and an upright posture, then placing her legs on the floor – However, contrasting movement – jerking as if the strength has gone out of her knees causing sudden bending and lots of posture

Question 30

Father movement content

Answer 30

– Dynamics are consistent, calm, stable and grounded – Leads the majority of the partner work, does a lot of heavy lifting and initiates turns and movement with partners – Aims to guide his family through their troubles, holding together their family unit to protect them from the outside force

Question 31

Son movement content

Answer 31

– Dynamics are aggressive, forceful powerful and sudden again incorporating childlike movement – He incorporates set as props in his movement as the climax of the dance – E.G. Repeated motif of slamming his feet and fists to the floor mimicking a child’s tantrum and also slamming set on the floor – Shows his fear, anger, and frustration to their situation – A want to protect his family but uncertainty on how to do this – Contrasting the father who tries to protect them calmly, it highlights how a child may respond differently to fear and uncertainty

Question 32

Who was the lighting design designed by?

Answer 32

John B Read

Question 33

Lighting key facts

Answer 33

– Lighting used to create an intimate space as if the stage was a room – Indicates what is waiting for the family outside of the home that they are reluctant to step into – Only white lighting is used as a dark intensity helps create a dark and fearful atmosphere – Overall minimal light links to the idea of family in poverty who can’t afford electricity

Question 34

Side lights in shadows

Answer 34

What looks like a shadow passes the light to alert the attention of the family who turned their heads in the direction of the light. This signals the start of the dance. Located on up stage right.

Question 35

What does the side light create?

Answer 35

– Links to the idea of outside force that has alerted their attention – Ensure focus is only on dancers and this area of the stage – Create a dark and dreary atmosphere instantly

Question 36

Fresnel Spotlight in shadows

Answer 36

Shines on the table

Question 37

Side lights from both sides in shadows

Answer 37

– Side light help create the effect of a room - helps reflect her frantic and chaotic movement that travels around the space as the whole space is lit – Located on upstage right, down stage right and down stage left

Question 38

Down stage diagonal right: lighting

Answer 38

– Sharp edged, high intensity side light from DDR – Corridor affect created the son is blocking the front door to the house – Focuses audience attention onto his solo by making him prominent by focusing the spotlight on him – Emphasises repeated motif of pathway from table to DDR