Video

Video to support dance, both artistically and for marketing

Chrysalis London Trailer

http://www.chrysalisdancelondon.com/ 

Chrysalis London, Full Quote

Full quote from Chrysalis London Website:
http://www.chrysalisdancelondon.com/ 

”Whilst contemporary dance is the main foundation of the company, Chrysalis London aims to become a central hub of innovation and creativity for many adjoining fields. In time Chrysalis London will invite graduates from the worlds of design, photography, music, fashion, art, plus many more, to come and work on projects where they will get to bring ideas together to produce exceptionally fresh and cutting edge work. Project Chrysalis, an annual and unique collaboration process, will stretch across many fields to allow creativity a chance to flourish in all genres.” (Chrysalis London, 2015) 

Critical Reflection

At the beginning of Module 2 I decided that I wanted to research how other dance forms are used in the dance industry. After a few Skype sessions with my tutor, discussing the choice of my inquiry, we both decided this was a too large area of practice would be difficult to research in a short amount of time. After considering how I could narrow my inquiry, I decided to focus on how different art forms are used with Chrysalis London. My tutor explained how I could use more than one question to help with my research, so I decided on the questions; how are other art forms used in a contemporary dance production? and how does another art form benefit a company/Chrysalis London?. This area of study interests me as a dancer because it is always important to be able to market and present yourself well. I believe that gaining the information on how another art form benefits a dance performance will help me in my career as a dancer.

The process of planning my inquiry would have been a considerably easier if I had begun my research earlier in the module. When I decided on my inquiry I realised I was only telling my tutor all my ideas and not writing them down on my blog. I have learnt from this experience that I should put more time into writing my ideas down, as it will help me through out the process.

I am excited for the research process of my inquiry in module 3. I need to become more efficient with my planning and not leave anything last minute as it makes it difficult to get all the information together. During the rehearsal process I will make sure to write any findings in my reflective journal as well as on my blog. I have enjoyed the challenges during module 2 because they have taught me how to be more productive in the next module.

Art forms used in dance productions

Fredrik "BENKE" Rydman  SVANSJÖN

This piece is extravagant in the use of costume hair, make-up, visual design, music and movement style.

Like many before him, Fredrik Rydman has re-created a well known ballet such as Swan lake and put his own twist to it. With music by Pjotr Tjajkovskij, Adiam Dymott, Salem Al Fakir, Moneybrother, Lune, they have managed to modernize Tjajkovskij's original music, enhancing the Fredrik's modern movement style and ideas. 

The costume and make-up is very bold, funny and intimidating in supporting the dancers characters in this production. 

The visual effects by Fredrik Rydman and Lehna Edwall is modern and a clever way of telling the story to an audience. 

The different art forms used in this production benefitted the performance, pushing the boundaries of modern dance

Akram Khan and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui  Zero Degrees

This piece is is very simplistic in the use of costume, set, music and make-up. 

The use of spoken words, sculptures and music helps enhance the story of the piece; trying to find point zero in life. Antony Gormley created two sculptures that replicate the dancers bodies. One less movable and the other made with very loose limbs. The way the dancers interact with the sculptures, potrays the contex of the piece and supports the choreographer's ideas.

                                          

Alexander Ekman A Swan Lake

The work is in three acts. The first, ‘A Play’, looks back to the original, and not very successful, creation in 1877 and involves actors and dancers. The second, ‘A Lake’ is Ekman’s contemporary version of the ballet set in water, followed by a short third act, ‘A Future’. There is nothing of the story as we know it, there is no Siegfried, no Rothbart but the battle between good and evil remains in Odette and Odile, the white and the black swan. Ekman describes it as ‘more like a mirror of life.’

The watery scene in act two is where the company had to learn to dance on water. ‘It’s been a crazy process. You could almost call it slideography. It’s a whole new way of moving. You have to control and hold your muscles in a way that is different than when you run around. On Friday afternoons I couldn’t even walk sometimes because I was so sore in new places’

A new score, for full orchestra, has been written by Mikael Karlsson, a long-time collaborator. ‘He has done a fantastic job, we work so well together and he also helps with the concept.’ enthused Ekman, ‘In Act 1 you hear some of the Tchaikovsky themes but the second act is all new and it’s a very emotional score. We had a run through the other day and we all started crying. We also have amazing new costumes by Henrik Vibskov’. (Maggie Foyer, 20 April, 2014, http://www.dansportalen.se/111/-fler-artiklar/nyhetsarkiv/2014-04-20-a-swan-lake---alexander-ekman-creating-the-impossible.html)

Module 2

Reharsal Interview

Maddie Shimwell

Subject: alternating the music for the duet Pure

-How did you feel the different music selections affected you in your personal interpretation of the choreography?

Maddie- When we performed the duet to Ed Sheeren, I interpreted it as a more light hearted duet with all the lifts showing a playful relationship between ben and myself whereas when we performed it to Ella Eyre it felt more passionate and serious. I felt like Ed sheeren worked well with the name of the duet ‘Pure’ as it felt like a young romance whereas Ella Eyre showed a stronger older relationship that I didn’t think really suited the meaning behind the duet.

-Where you aware of how it might have affected the piece as a whole?

 Maddie-Before performing them both, I didn’t really see how it would affect the duet, I thought the timing would change in a few sections but as soon as we went through it with the different songs, you could tell the meaning behind the duet would change with the change of music.

-Do you believe this is an important exercise to deliver a higher quality in a dance performance?

Maddie- As we performed each duet back to back, it was a very helpful exercise for me to get into character quickly and show a change of mood for the audience. For example, In shows where there are many different pieces and no time to get into character in between choreographies, you just have to do it as you go along. In the launch for the company, we had to go from ‘Requested’ which is a very lighthearted piece straight into ‘Choose Life’ which is the complete opposite. If the music didn’t portray the difference, performing it would have been a very hard task.

-How do you reflect the idea of how another art form could support the dance industry?

Maddie- I think the dance industry has a perfect excuse to use other art forms. It provides more depth to the choreography and creates a more entertaining performance. As well as the choice of music; Costume, Make up and lighting can really affect the way a choreography is portrayed. It sets the mood for the audience as well as helping the dancers get into character. Photography and film as an art form supports the dance industry mainly through advertisement and promoting dance companies but some choreographers use these forms in the dance created. Alfie Smith created a piece using photos and footage from the First World War and this created a more powerful emotional response from the audience.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfilesr6K3o

Module 2

In the progress of my inquiry How is the use of other art forms benefiting the dance industry?,
I have thought of different ideas in which I can explore this. 

Sculpture 

Creating choreography with dancer using the simple art form of origami. Maybe creating origami before the choreography and letting the dancer explore the edges, the shapes and how it is connected. Or another way could be letting my dancer create the origami whilst dancing, interpreting the way she moves through origami. Insperation for this idea was Antony Gormley and Eric Joisel

"Centuries ago, the first origami models were simple and stylized. Today, origami has developed into an art form that produces sophisticated, complex and highly technical models sculpted by professional artists around the world who still work to the adage, “one square, no cut, no glue.” 

(http://www.ericjoisel.com/)

Make-up

Creating solo on a dancer with the idea that make-up will help enhance the performance. Exploring the idea that the neither the choreography or the make-up can ever be performed the same way twice. 

"Makeup is a challenge. It's almost like trying to draw concentric circles -- you can't do the identical

thing everytime. You get close to it but it's still different."

Kirby, who has also taught makeup at various dance schools, says the makeup process helps him get

into character. "We start using our face physically. You see the lines, the expressions, you glue on the

eyebrows and by the time you get to the wig you are looking at him (the character) in the mirror." (MacFarlane, Teri

Performing Arts & Entertainment in Canada. Spring/Summer94,

Vol. 28 Issue 4, p12. 2p. 1 Black and White Photograph.)

Module 2

Process of developing my inquiry

Question process:

How could I portray a context, emotion or atmosphere through another art form than dance?

Anthony Gormley

Zero Degrees:

Body Sculptures

http://www.akramkhancompany.net/html/akram_production.php?productionid=7

Noetic:

Metal Sculptures

http://en.opera.se/forestallningar/spirit-2013-2014/

How could the use of another art form benefit a dance performance?

Alexander Ekman

cacti: 

Parody of what it all means

http://alexekman.com/cacti/

A Swan Lake:

Costume to enhance the idea

http://alexekman.com/swan-lake/

Fredrik Rydman:

Light show to enhance the idea

http://www.svansjon.nu/

What other art forms have been used with Chrysalis London?

Martina Luisetti:

Photograph / make up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crjD2zWnaJU&feature=youtu.be

Massimiliano Izzo:

Chrysalis London trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G03RUPibrNk

(secret film)

How could make up enhance a performance?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatrical_makeup

interview:

Martina Luisetti

Jodie Blemings

Discuss the use of make up in secret film project

Can the use of make up enhance a performance?

discuss the use of make up in secret film project

Interview:

Martina Luisetti

Jodie Blemings

After researching liturature for my original question; How could I portray a context, emotion or atmosphere through another art form than dance?, I started focusing on make up. How it is used in  dance, film, photographes and how it helps to enhance a performance. After working with Martina Luisetti for a photo shoot in Brick Lane and on a secret film project including a great deal of makeup with Chrysalis London, I realised the importance of make up and I wanted to learn more about how it is used in my profession.