Dance

Katrina Cameron

Rooster

27-SEP-2004

Hello, here are some essay questions i have done, i'd
like to see if i have missed anything important or
different views, etc.

1. How are r'ships portrayed using movement and space in
Rooster?

2. How are the motifs are used to create the meaning?

3. How are the lyrics reflected in the movement?

This forum was a great idea!!
Thankyou,
Katrina Cameron

Deidhre Wauchop

27-SEP-2004

>Hello, here are some essay questions i have done,
i'd
>like to see if i have missed anything important or
>different views, etc.
>
>1. How are r'ships portrayed using movement and
space in
>Rooster?
>
>2. How are the motifs are used to create the
meaning?
>
>3. How are the lyrics reflected in the movement?
>
>This forum was a great idea!!
>Thankyou,
>Katrina Cameron

Hi Katrina

It usually takes me a little bit of time to think about my
answers, in the meantime I'll throw this open to
others as well.

I'll get back to you soon!

Deidhre

sharnee thorpe

ochers

20-SEP-2004

i was woundering if ochers has an over all theme of the
dance?

Deidhre Wauchop

22-SEP-2004

>i was woundering if ochers has an over all theme of
the
>dance?

The overarching theme for “Ochres” is the mystical
significance of ochre, and the work is inspired by its
spiritual and medicinal power.

Ochre is a clay can be found in the Australian
landscape and is used for decoration. Because
different colours hold different meanings, it is also a
form of communication.

The four sections deal with a different ochre each
and an interpretation through dance of its meaning
and significance. You can find information about
each section on the Bangarra web site.

“As a substance ochre has intrigued us. Its
significance and the myriad of purposes, both
spiritual and physical has been the driving force
behind this collaboration. The portrayal of each
colour is by no means a literal interpretation, but the
awareness of its spiritual significance has
challenged our contemporary expressions."
Stephen Page

mariel penner-wilson

ochres

20-SEP-2004

hello,
i need help with describing the movement and
writting about the motifs. i can identify repeated
movement but i am having difficulty expressing it in my
essays. plz help. mariel

Deidhre Wauchop

23-SEP-2004

>hello,
> i need help with describing the movement and
>writting about the motifs. i can identify repeated
>movement but i am having difficulty expressing it in
my
>essays. plz help. mariel

Dear Mariel

Use the knowledge you have gained from making
your own work in core composition and performing
your own core performance to help you view
and write about the prescribed works.

Look for repeated shapes, movements or phrases,
but also look for variations of these, which you may
interpret as motifs that the choreographer/s has
used to communicate ideas or themes or to unify the
work. You need to watch the work over and over to
build a picture of the way the choreographer has
structured the work.

When you are describing motifs, use words that you
would use to describe your own movements when
you are performing, or that you would use to
describe motifs and phrases in your own
composition, e.g. describe the action and shape of
the body, use of body parts, use of space (direction,
level, dimension, pathway, relationships), use of
time (duration, tempo, momentum, accent,
stillness), use of dynamics ( release of energy,
weight and force, quality). There is information and
tutorials on HSC online about the elements of dance
at
http://hsc.csu.edu.au/dance/core/composition/2437/
manipulation_overview.html

Don't feel as though you have to describe the use of
all aspects of the elements of dance in relation to
every movement or motif. Some will not be relevant
to the movement or the choreographer's intention in
making that movement.

When you view and describe motifs look for a
connection to the choreographer's intent? What does
the movement communicate to you?

jacqueline karpik

rooster

19-SEP-2004

hi i was just wondering if you could help me with some
essay questions on rooster:

1. how has the era/period of the 1960's contained within
the work

2. the choreographic style of Christopher bruce

3. the influences on Christopher Bruce and how these are
demonstrated in Rooster

thankyou
jacqueline

Deidhre Wauchop

23-SEP-2004

>hi i was just wondering if you could help me with
some
>essay questions on rooster:
>
>1. how has the era/period of the 1960's contained
within
>the work
>
>2. the choreographic style of Christopher bruce
>
>3. the influences on Christopher Bruce and how
these are
>demonstrated in Rooster
>
>thankyou
>jacqueline

Dear Jacqueline
A good starting point for research for your essays
would be the information about "Rooster" on Dance
HSC online at
http://hsc.csu.edu.au/dance/core/appreciation/chore
ographers/researchingrooster.html

Take this information and apply it as you view the
work, looking for the examples given.

In relation to the first question you will need to look at
how Bruce has used the music, and political and
social issues of the 60's as stimuli for creating
movement and structuring the work.

The third question about the influences on Bruce will
deal with similar themes as the first question
because Bruce's experiences as a young man in the
60's have clearly infuenced the work. There are other
influences that you can look at as well, such as the
references to other dance styles such as European
court dances, the use of the "farmyard" metaphor
and the overarching theme of gender and social
relationships.

The second question probably requires you to look
at other works by Bruce to get a sense of his
choreographic style. Choreographic style will include
things like the style of movement Bruce favours, the
themes and ideas he communicates through
movement and they way he forms a work. For
example, Bruce is well known for his skill in grafting
folk dance steps into balletic movement vocabulary
and his use of social themes as a source of
inspiration for dance works. You could analyse these
characteristics in other works, e.g. "Ghost dances"
and "Swansong". and then describe how his style is
reflected in "Rooster".

alisha

re: Rooster

15-SEP-2004

Hi,

In Rooster, the last section/song: Sympathy for the
Devil, a one male dancer in a blood red shirt performs
a movement of pointing guns and shooting at the other 3
male dancers. Is this movement any reference to the war
or violence that was protested against in the 1960's.
Or is it just a representation of the playful
characteristics of the characters?

Deidhre Wauchop

17-SEP-2004

>Hi,
>
>In Rooster, the last section/song: Sympathy for the
>Devil, a one male dancer in a blood red shirt
performs
>a movement of pointing guns and shooting at the
other 3
>male dancers. Is this movement any reference to
the war
>or violence that was protested against in the
1960's.
>Or is it just a representation of the playful
>characteristics of the characters?

This is my interpretation—others may respond
differently:

A lot of the movement and motifs in this section are
drawn from the lyrics. For example, the courtly
gestures of bowing to the side with hand flourish
are repeated each time you hear "let me please
introduce myself" and "pleased to meet you". Also,
the pointed finger motif, representing the horns of
the devil relate directly to the song title and lyrics.

When the male dancer in the red shirt shoots the
other dancers the lyrics make reference to war and
death—"I rode a tank, held a general's rank, when
the blitzkrieg raged and the bodies stank". This is a
reference in the song to WWII and the intense
warfare of the German military with resulting loss of
life. This relates to other
themes in the work about war and protest.

The other interesting thing about the movement is
that it is a manipulation of the pointed finger motif, or
"devil's horns". He points both left and right hands
then puts "the guns" away in imaginary holsters.
This movement reiterates other pointing movements
throughout the section.

That's my interpretation! Does anyone else have a
take on this?

Bec

Ochres

15-SEP-2004

Hi, I was wondering if there were issues with a
deceased person's image being viewed in the recording
of "Ochres" that we watch, without having the warning
to Aboriginal people suggesting that it may be
offensive to them.
Also many people have very different interpretations of
some of the movements, are they still valid if they are
justified and referenced back to the work and the
question?
Thanks, Bec

Deidhre Wauchop

17-SEP-2004

>Hi, I was wondering if there were issues with a
>deceased person's image being viewed in the
recording
>of "Ochres" that we watch, without having the
warning
>to Aboriginal people suggesting that it may be
>offensive to them.
>Also many people have very different interpretations
of
>some of the movements, are they still valid if they
are
>justified and referenced back to the work and the
>question?
>Thanks, Bec

Hi Bec

The Board of Studies published advice to teachers in
November 2002 to inform students that the video of
Ochres contains images of deceased persons,
which may cause distress to Aboriginal students. If
an Aboriginal student has concerns about viewing
the work they should contact Jay McPherson at the
Board of Studies.

Regarding your other question about interpretation of
movement, it is OK to have different interpretations.
As you say, these are made valid by your ability to
use analytical skills and language and justify by
giving examples from the work.

Your interpretation should be a result of your
knowledge of the work, which will include:
- what you see in the work,
- what you know about the choreographer's intent,
- what you know about the context of the work
- other people's opinions

Individual audience members will have differing
opinions of a work, as will individual students
studying the work. It will be important in your exam to
clearly articulate your interpretation ( making sure it
is relevant to the question) and provide relevant
examples.

Seven

Written Exam

14-SEP-2004

Will each question be about one dance work only (i.e.
one question about Rooster and one question about
Ochres) or is it possible that a question might ask
something like - compare the use of space in "Rooster"
and "Ochres" (i.e. asking about both dance works in one
question)

Deidhre Wauchop

14-SEP-2004

>Will each question be about one dance work only
(i.e.
>one question about Rooster and one question
about
>Ochres) or is it possible that a question might ask
>something like - compare the use of space in
"Rooster"
>and "Ochres" (i.e. asking about both dance works
in one
>question)



In the speciman exam papers and past papers the
questions have always been about one dance work.
It is likely that the questions will follow the speciman
exam model ( see at
http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/
pdf_doc/dance_specexam.pdf ), but you can't
discount the possibility of a different sort of question
being asked.

I think you're wise to be thinking about the sort of
questions you might be asked- it's good practice! If
you know both dance works well, you won't be
thrown by a less-than-straightforward question.

You might, as part of your preparation for the exam,
do a mindmap of the features of each work in
relation to the syllabus areas of study (pp28-29 of
the syllabus). This exercise should help you
anticipate the sorts of questions you might be asked
and give you a broad view of both works and their
respective choreographers.

I'm sorry that I can't give you a definite yes or no to
your question - advice from the experts is that it
would not be impossible to get such a question.

Thanks for posing this question to the forum!

cindy

questions- core apprec

06-SEP-2004

hi,

Just wanted to confirm that the questions will be
specific to the two works or can it still be related to
the other history that we've learnt?

Deidhre Wauchop

06-SEP-2004

>hi,
>
>Just wanted to confirm that the questions will be
>specific to the two works or can it still be related to
>the other history that we've learnt?

Hi Cindy
Feel free to ask any questions about core
appreciation, including questions about history or
theory learned in Year 11.

Deidhre Wauchop

06-SEP-2004

Hi, my name is Deidhre Wauchop and I’m the
moderator for this dance forum about CORE
APPRECIATION.

You may have questions about aspects of preparing
for your written exam, or specific questions about
"Rooster" or "Ochres", the choreographers,
companies or other works. Your question might
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