Movement Inspirations

[Chelsea]

Hi Everyone!

So although I know Andrew is giving me some ideas about movement styles for the different scenes, I was wondering if anyone else had any feelings on movement for different parts of the scenes?

I am open to all suggestions, especially since this is an experiment and we can play with what ideas may be appropriate. Personally as a choreographer/dancer it is very freeing to be able to pull from so many sources for a play.

Sorry if this is a bit specific!

[Andrew]

Nice post!

We are double, triple, quadruple casting the actors in roles So ... because we have 30 characters being played by 7 there will be both active and inactive actors in the space for most of the play, except for the scenes that they are ALL active - check out the chaos that is Act 4.

So as you design away keep in mind that you can either use the active or activate the inactive actors in your choreo. No one will leave the space for the entire show.

[Chelsea]

Great! that'll be something good to keep in mind as I look over the scene list

[Chelsea]

I was looking over the scene list so far, do you have any ideas so far of what kind of movement style you would want for some of these sections (the more choreographed ones)?

Do you see the different sections having a similar "feeling" or vocabulary of movement, or do you want to mix it up? I know tango, tap, and broadway dance were mentioned which would obviously present different energies and styles. I am open to either, I just wanted to know if you had a preference.

Thanks!!

[Andrew]

For the most part I'm looking at two distinct energies of dance, 1) Choreographed Movement and 2) Dance. The choreographed movement can be much more experimental and unusual and grotesque and organic and in-yer-face and abusive, while the dance portions can be more lyrical.

For the top of ACT 1, I'm thinking choreographed movement that has the feel of PREPARATION of the set itself. The feeling of preparing the space to tell the story. We as a group, as a company prepare the space. I'd like to see this frantic prep lead up to a killing of one of the sin characters. I've been toying with a few ideas and I think gunshot to the back of the head would be a good BANG to start the show. It fits James' theme and don't forget we can play with the projection.

As I go through I will mark those scenes with choreo movement or dance and then we can further discuss details. But go ahead and let both the play itself (the words, the meter, the rhythm) and the space inspire you. Today I'm working on how to upload a playlist so you can hear some of the music.

Anyway, let me make a thread about the set so we can better conceptualize and create for the space.

[Andrew]

Oh Chels, btw - we are ordering our first projector so when it shows up I'm going to bring James over for PR photos, and then we can experiment with it too! I'm sure the white make-up and the shadows can all add to your visual composition.

[Chelsea]

Sounds good! Yea, definitely I think seeing with makeup and a visual idea will help with some of the choreographic inspiration

[Chelsea]

Quick question--for the choreography notes for the "Summoning the devil" scene, 1.3a, I can't read the note

What does it say?

Thanks!

[Luca]

Are we going to use butoh as well? I could lead some workshops for the cast as well (if we want to use elements of butoh)!
I'm the Movement Captain on the show called Butoh Electra right now!

Let me know,
Luca

[Andrew]

Yes! I'll have more info for you once the experiment is designed. Which will be in about 2 weeks.

[Tuan]

Will there be any background music or soundtrack throughout certain parts of the play?