Year 11 Dance Preliminary Revision PDF

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Summary

preliminary notes for theory year 11...

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Year 11 Dance Preliminary Revision Students learn about: 1.

The development of dance in Australia

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Indigenous Australian dance in Australia –

traditional Aboriginal and Torres strait islander dance

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impact on colonisation_

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re-emergence of Aboriginal dance

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factors that have shaped dance in Australia

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the changing nature of dance in Australia

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Introduction to dance analysis

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dance analysis – first impressions (subjective)

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description (formal /structural)

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interpretation (relationships

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evaluation (informed critism)

dance analysis in practice — works from Australian and international choreographers to apply the skills of analysis, such as: –

Twyla Tharp_, Jiri kylian Kim walker, North Robert Dance theater of Harlem Paul Taylor

Term 1 Booklet The history/timeline of how dance has changed in Australia (Colonisation and immigration) Include examples of Australian Dance companies 1770 – During first pacific voyage James cook

1850 – large number were settled 19000-1970s – stolen generation Colonisation and the changes in Indigenous dance - Colonisation undermined Aboriginal performance and pushed them to survival underground Coolaroo Club, western Australia 1947-1960 - Both colours could get together in the middle above all racism Re Emergence of Aboriginal Dance - 1970s- aboriginals started to emerge back into stage - Pushed barriers performed according to their culture styles and frameworks - Driving themes of that time : The celebration of aboriginal culture , political protest over the legacy of colonisation and continuing of justice - Early 1970s upsurge led to a new form of Aboriginal (Contemporary form) - This led to dance workshops and fusions for Younge people to learn Influence of dance in Australia - Different forms have come to Australia (theatre performance and dance styles that have been absorbed and acquired into Australian dance. - 1962- Australian ballet was launched and 1965- dance theatre was launched even though this started ages ago Companies that made a difference in Australian identity - Sydney dance company - Bangaraa Dance company - Dance north - Australian dance theatre - West Australian Ballet

Australian indigenous dance - Dance is important in the aboriginal culture reflects n interprets in work and creativity of various aboriginal and trest strait islander companies formed 1960s – today Traditional Aboriginal dance served several objectives, one of which was to communicate stories that had been passed down through the years. The land, animals, dreamtime, and Aboriginal people would all be featured in these stories. Aboriginal dancing frequently incorporates animal impersonations to aid narrative and bring the dreamtime to life. - Telling stories through songs ,music and dance in order to connect people to land and teach about their culture and traditions .Knowledge passed down from ancestors - In Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, dancing and traditional music are important social activities for men, women, and children. - They are energetic and often performed for ceremonial reasons. - Australian aboriginal music is played on the didgeridoo, a musical instrument native to Australia's northernmost region.

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In Australia, there's a widespread belief that it's not acceptable for women to play the didgeridoo. For example, Yothu Yindi's music features traditional instruments like flutes and lutes along with modern instruments like guitar in her arrangements.

The Dreaming - Connects indigenous people to past ,creates relevance to past and guides - Aboriginal families and individuals identify with a specific Dreamings. - "Stories of the Dreaming" have been handed down through the generations, they are not owned by individuals but belong to a group. - The storytellers are chosen by the Elders who have the duty to pass the stories along, ensuring that young people build and retain a sense of who they are. - The journey of the Spirit Ancestors across the land are recorded in Dreaming tracks. - These Ancestral Spirits also formed the relationships between Aboriginal people, the land and all living beings. - A Dreaming track joins a number of sites which trace the path of an Ancestral Being as it moves through the landscape, forming its features, creating its flora and fauna and laying down the Laws. - These Spirit Ancestors include the Rainbow Serpent, Wandjinas, Mimi Spirits – fairylike beings of Arnhem Land, Karatgurk – Seven sisters who represent the Pleiades star cluster, These Dreamings are passed down and shared by many Aboriginal communities across Australia. - Traditionally, Dreaming stories would be told through mediums such as the haunting sound of the didgeridoo with song and dances and also by symbolic drawings. - The symbols used in contemporary Aboriginal paintings are the same as those found on cave paintings and rock Art. - The same obligations to pass on their own Aboriginal cultural dreaming story is depicted in Aboriginal Art.

Music is an integral part of Aboriginal ceremonies, also known as corroborees. Through mime and song they tell the mythical history of their tribe. There are sacred and non-sacred ceremonies. During sacred ceremonies people from outside of the community are not allowed to attend. Non-sacred ceremonies are usually performed at night in front of the men, women and children of the tribe. A group of adult men, seated around a small fire, chant one of their ancient songs. Others through dance and song, act out different elements of the myth they are telling. Each Tribe can have leaders in both song and dance. The 'Songman' composed songs to describe day-to-day events as well as singing ancient songs passed down through generations. Dancers were also very important -the best dancers being highly regarded. Traditional dancing involves arm, body and foot movements and a lot of foot stamping. Dances were often imitations of the movements of animals or birds. Interest in Aboriginal dance, which is associated with traditional ceremonies, has also grown in popularity.

Bangarra Dance Theatre is a dance company, which through performance and art, tells the story of Indigenous Australian history. It is 'fuelled by the spirit, energy and inspiration derived from the culture, values and traditions of Indigenous Australians'. As well as gaining in popularity as one of the leading dance companies in Australia, Bangarra's popularity has grown outside of Australia where they have toured in North America, Japan and Europe. Aboriginal rock art is a traditional form of art, which has been used by Indigenous Australians for thousands of years. Some of the oldest surviving pieces of rock art found are estimated to be between 20,000 and 40,000 years old. Some images represented the actual spiritual energy of the creative ancestors and when repainted or retouched as part of a ritual their sacred power was released. Rock art can be found as both engravings – usually situated outside – and rock painting found in sheltered areas like caves. Bark painting by Aboriginal people is a long tradition, perhaps extending back thousands of years. They were usually drawn with charcoal, and painted or scratched onto smoke-blackened bark. Bark painting was mostly used as part of everyday life. The art of body painting carries deep spiritual significance for Australian Aboriginal people. Body decoration includes face and body painting used in rituals as well as the transformation of the body to form living images of ancestral beings. Scarring was mainly used as part of ceremonies to mark age, initiation or to raise a person's status. For Indigenous Australians, body painting is not necessarily just about visual artistic creativity, it relates to rituals, laws and religion. 'Body paint for us is really important for our culture, for sharing with other people too. Some people don't recognise me when I do painting, when I am performing. 'Djakapurra Munyarryun, Bangarra Dance Theatre

Terms 2 and 3 booklet How dance can be used as a tool to communicate ideas (dance analysis) - Dance isn't just bodies moving but is a way of storytelling with different contexts and ideas behind the performance, when watching a performance it is key to understand these elements behind the movements this is where dance analysis was created.

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Dance analysis is a way of discussing a performance evaluation and refinement of individual or dance groups in core dance technique and performance. Causing the audience to adapt to the music and feel more connected to the dance. The environment the dancers dance in to tell a story causes the main effect on the audience as it gives them the main motif behind the dance set arrangements can be a motif." In conclusion, dance analysis is an expression of breaking down a performance to learn and appreciate the contextual ideas, themes and representations behind the storyline.

The difference between subjective and objective judgements in dance analysis Objective and subjective performance measures are used to classify the various different types of performance measures. Objective performance measures are independent of the observer. Subjective measures rely more on the observer than independent measures. Sports such as dance and gymnastics are more subjective than objective in their measures. It is important to remember that these are not clear cut categories – objective and subjective performance measures. No, these measures sit at either end of a continuum.

The elements of dance Elements

Meaning

Examples of the elements

Space

Personal, general or performance area used by the dancing body. Movement of the body makes space visible.

Level - Vertical distance to the floor. Movements take place on three levels: high, medium and low. Shape- refers to individual body shape Dimension- refers to personal space pathway floor pattern Movement can be performed using different patterns while dancing. Direction- the movement can be performed in different directions

How it can be used to enhance dance

Level - To enhance my concept of insecurities I could use the element of level by starting off on a low level when it comes to the stage of insecurity of body and then medium for face and high when it comes to the thoughts I could use a mix of high and low levels as thoughts drain a humans mind. Shape- Insecure about the body - round shapes, cuddling self up distancing myself trying to get out of it but pulling my self back in standing star, triangle. pathway floor pattern- could dance in a circle or a particular shape, depending on stages as it would represent the insecurities a person has not being able to open up to the world, being in a controlled place Personal space- In closure to an elevation of legs or arms in a particular length. Using the area provided.

Personal space- space around the dancer’s body can change while performing the movement Time

Moves being performed not according to music

Metre, phrasing, Temp, Rhythmic pattern, accent and stillness

Metre - The use of meter can enhance my dance my counting each phrase with the 1-4 count, depending on the stages the counts could get faster or slower .for example for the thoughts section of my dance, I could make the counts faster of the moves to show how wild the mind is with all the feeling and being insecure. Tempo - Depending on the section of the dance and its background the different tempo can be used as my whole dance is around the same tempo but I can add the difference to show the difference of the stages. Accent- to enhance my dance I can use accent to emphasise the motif in different ways to explain the slowly trying to get over my intent of insecurities but then not being able to. Phrasing - To manipulate my motif will be doing the same move on a medium level e.g

my motif is wrapping myself into a ball so on a medium level, I spin with my hand crossed as if it’s crowded on my knees and put my head bow my head down. Rhythmic pattern- The use of rhythmic pattern can be used by using a few of the moves again and again to show the intent, changing the rhythm by the repetition of the motif to convey my intent Stillness -Enhance by being still depending on what I’m trying to explain for example in my first section Ii fall to the floor so to enhance that one section a little more I could be still for a few seconds which will also give me time to breathe and then continue, this also shows the signs of giving up to the problem of insecurities. Dynamics

Application of force overtime

Release of energy, weight/force/time, Quality of movement.

Release of energy can be used I my dance to portray the different elements, weight/force/time can be used with different energy like falling on the floor using the diff weight. It will enhance my intent, for example, the release of energy in a dramatic way would show the feelings of the dancer /character....