I have decided to create a seperate blog for the "Too Big: Wolves at the door" project.
Here is the link. http://dancingwolvesatthedoor.blogspot.com
There is also a link to the right.
Celeste Miller
This blog began with "The Annunciation... sort of" , then on to the adventures of Big If dance.theatre and our attempt at a science/art collaboration. Unexpectedly, I moved to Iowa and a whole new group of artists, students and collaborators. First came "Small Elephant Stories" and now "Too Big". Ever evolving.
Friday, September 20, 2013
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Something you carry with you
Great rehearsal. Beautiful movement generation. We used the prompt, "Something you have been given (object) that you carry with you, like when you moved to college you brought it with you - or something that you have given someone else, that has had the same role in their life."
We went around the circle and each person shared. Then we made a gesture to go with each object.
The gestures were very rich, and the level of the dancers caused me to go right into the deep exploration phase. Each dancer was assigned to create a solo within these parameters:
- Use all 14 gestures, or eliminate some if you would like
- Keep them in the same order
- Elaborate, elongate, expand, push the gestures
- You may change your gesture if you feel it isn't quite right, but you can't change anyone else's.
Solos were wonderful. Video- ed. They will be posted.
The poem, "Fifty-fifty" by Patricia Clarke was distributed and small groups read and discussed, then we discussed it as a whole group. Emma took notes.
To close, everyone performed their solo as I read the poem. Caleb and Emma watched. There were some amazing line ups/link ups. Wish I had taped! Will see if we can do it again on Thursday.
We went around the circle and each person shared. Then we made a gesture to go with each object.
The gestures were very rich, and the level of the dancers caused me to go right into the deep exploration phase. Each dancer was assigned to create a solo within these parameters:
- Use all 14 gestures, or eliminate some if you would like
- Keep them in the same order
- Elaborate, elongate, expand, push the gestures
- You may change your gesture if you feel it isn't quite right, but you can't change anyone else's.
Solos were wonderful. Video- ed. They will be posted.
The poem, "Fifty-fifty" by Patricia Clarke was distributed and small groups read and discussed, then we discussed it as a whole group. Emma took notes.
To close, everyone performed their solo as I read the poem. Caleb and Emma watched. There were some amazing line ups/link ups. Wish I had taped! Will see if we can do it again on Thursday.
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Movement Generation for "Rate of Exchange" A score for trios
MOVEMENT GENERATION THREE:
Trios:
As a trio create movement score
from this sequence of imagery. Think of
it as a sequence, with some sort of narrative nature (not literal) to the
unfolding events:
- · Make a pocket
- · Discover a hole
- · Go through the hole
- · Find one of the original gestures from Movement Generation: "What is of value?"
- · Pull it out
- · Examine it
- Send a whisper, like a shiver, through your group
Movement Generation for "Rate of Exchange": what makes a whole?
MOVEMENT GENERATION TWO:
Working with a partner call
them “1” and “2”. “1” creates a movement
image from the A column, “2” responds to that movement with a movement image
from the matching B column. Think of
these images as fitting together to create a whole. Then “2” creates a movement image from the
“A” column, and “1” responds with the corresponding image from the “B” column
Proceed through the entire
list.
Develop the material so that
it may or may not have stillness between what each person “offers” and responds
with. Create a new something to
distinguish that you have moved onto a new row.
For instance: change of facing,
change of levels, one exchange happens only as upper body gestures, one
exchange is all about fast, dangerous movement through space.
Share. Select a limited number of these duets, or
assemble a limited number of these duets through all the material
generated. Everyone learns these.
Maybe this chart helps:
Dancers 1 and 2.
Indicated below is which dancer starts, which one responds. Dancers use the A column as the start, B
column for the response.
|
A
|
B
|
Suggested movement challenges that could inform
movement choices
|
1 starts, 2 responds
|
coat
|
pocket
|
Use only isolated body
parts
|
2 starts, 1 responds
|
Tea cup
|
saucer
|
Movement must move from a
point A to a point B
|
1 starts, 2 responds
|
shelf
|
Tin on the shelf, filled
with ??
|
As full out and wild, risky
movement as possible
|
2 starts, 1 responds
|
window
|
Highway seen through the
window
|
A lift must be involved
|
1 starts, 2 responds
|
Counter of a convenience
store
|
Map on the counter,
directions marked out
|
Moments of extreme
slowness, attention to details
|
2 starts, 1 responds
|
Paper Grocery bag
|
Receipt at the bottom of
the bag
|
Radical level changes
|
1 starts, 2 responds
|
mailbox
|
letter
|
Sharp contrast in the
movement qualities between 1 and 2 (i.e. sharp/smooth; loose/tight)
|
2 starts, 1 responds
|
Screen porch
|
lawn
|
Attention to focus, which
is always away from where the movement is headed
|
1 starts, 2 responds
|
Spare key
|
Lock on a door
|
“Spell” at least one word
from each column. “Spell” as in write
the word in space, trace on the floor, or on the body.
|
|
|
|
|
Movement Generation for "Rate of Exchange" in three posts: "What is an exchange? What is of value?"
MOVEMENT GENERATION:
Prompt:
Something (an object, a tangible "thing") that you have been given (or have given to someone else) that
means something to you, that you have taken with you when you move to new places
(even if you have lost it over time) because it means something to you.
In a circle, let everyone
tell what their object is, and a little of the story behind it.
Create a gesture for each
person’s object. Create a movement
phrase stringing them all together.
Read poem “Fifty-Fifty” by
Patricia Clarke. (Link here: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/245682)
In duets, discuss with
another person.
Some questions: What is the relationship between the two
people in the poem? Why are they having
an exchange? Can you imagine an exchange like this between yourself and someone? Is it truly a 50-50 exchange? What is a give and take? What connects the “give” in this poem to the
“get”?
Come back together as a large
group and share reflections
Return to the movement phrase
created from the individual gestures.
How can one gesture “make way” for the next one to be received? Think about this quote: “In addition to
saving: give” Play with this as soloists.
As a group - look at the
enhanced gestures. Decide on what might
be adapted.
In break out groups – take
the movement phrase and turn it from a solo movement phrase into a group
movement phrase. It does not have to be
unison. How can one gesture “decorate”
another? How can the whole group stick
themselves together and deliver a single gesture? How can you incorporate space and level more
deeply and intentionally? What are the
opportunities for transitions? You may
use all the gestures, or just some. You
can also repeat key gestures, especially if you want to create a motif that
runs through your study.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
composition corner
caleb here, for composition ideas and curiosities:
7/16/13
as a starting point this summer, i am interested in the harp for both recordings and performance, as it seems to possess a range of color, comparable to the piano (possibly making it versatile); has a unique physical presence on or near a stage (which is wonderful to explore visually); and is able to create both singular melodies and dense textures depending on the piece (which makes it a flexible foreground and background instrument).
this is an example of what i'm thinking about when it comes to a highly-affected (e.g. distortion, layering, reverb, etc.) harp recording, from flying lotus (LA):
i'll have to see what kind of contribution the harpists that i know at grinnell can afford—ideally a performance but i'd also make some recordings to play with and layer/affect. perhaps both intermittently would yield the most interesting music!
7/16/13
as a starting point this summer, i am interested in the harp for both recordings and performance, as it seems to possess a range of color, comparable to the piano (possibly making it versatile); has a unique physical presence on or near a stage (which is wonderful to explore visually); and is able to create both singular melodies and dense textures depending on the piece (which makes it a flexible foreground and background instrument).
this is an example of what i'm thinking about when it comes to a highly-affected (e.g. distortion, layering, reverb, etc.) harp recording, from flying lotus (LA):
i'll have to see what kind of contribution the harpists that i know at grinnell can afford—ideally a performance but i'd also make some recordings to play with and layer/affect. perhaps both intermittently would yield the most interesting music!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)