Task Two: Bollywood Ensemble Dance- Rehearsals

 Wednesday 4th January

In the first half of the lesson we worked on laptops creating a blog about Bollywood which included, what it is, the origins of it and the stylistic featured of Bollywood. 

In the second half of the lesson, we started off by watching two Bollywood performances. We then discussed them and sorted their moments out into these four groups movements, spatial patterns, dynamics and relationships. 

We were then shown multiple still images which were to give us inspiration for our six still images which we created in groups. 

This was our first still image which we created. We decided to create a still image as a group first so that we could all understand how to create the movements. 

We then created another still image, for this one we wanted to try different levels and create shapes with our arms. 

After this, we then looked deeper into creating different levels so this this idea we created a diamond shape with all different levels.

After this shape we decided to all change our hands to be the same and create an oval shape. 

We then decided to split off into twos due to the fact that there is six of us. In this till image, me and Zack wanted to push ourselves and lean out when creating this move to almost make a story behind our move. 

For our final still image, we wanted to all come back together and create a diagonal line with us leaning out either side at a different level with different hand and arm positions to all be individual yet together at the at the same time. 

We then put the still images together with transitions between each still image. As a group we decided to make all transitions different as we thought it would be entreating to show a range of transitions. 

After this we then merged our sequence with the other groups sequence to create a connection between the two sequences. When we first put them together it was confusing to all of us as were had to work around each other in order to transition correctly. 

I personally feel that I need to work on the correct position for my hand gestures and arm gestures for this to look effective. 

Wednesday 11th January

In todays lesson we started off by going over last lessons phrase. In our first run through, our timing was off so we spent a little time going over that and making sure we knew the timing we had to each position and transition.

I feel that I have improve on the positioning of my hand gestures within this rehearsal as I feel when watching this back I can see that I create a picture with my hands rather than last rehearsal when the we’re not very defined .

We then began to learn the opening phrase of the dance. This section was a very fast paced unison section, this meant the section had to be precise for the dance to have full potential. We all needed to make sure our feet were in the right position which was the ballet position first and then changing it to parallel when needed. We needed to ensure our feet positioning were correct throughout as the feet positioning in Bollywood is a vital stylistic feature. 

When watching the video you can clearly see that we all mess up with the timing which I felt put us off for the rest of the dance, therefore we need to work on correcting the timing, I also feel I need to work on keeping character throughout the dance. 

Wednesday 25th January

In todays lesson, we began by going over the spacing and perfecting that to create the symmetrical pattern which is seen in all Bollywood dances. This consists of having a centre piece/ person and equal amounts of people on each side. By making sure our spacing is perfected, this is creating a picture for the audience and making it pleasing for their eyes. After going over spacing, we also went over transitions and making sure they were seamless ensuring that the moves smoothly went into each other. 

Due to illness, Me, Ella, Molly and Robyn were absent from the previous lesson and missed a section of choreography therefore, we had to create 3 counts of 8 to perform whilst the others were performing the section they had previously learnt. I fee that I have improved on my timing slightly however, you can see in the video that I was slightly off time with the counts in the last count of 8 as I though it was slower however I was wrong and need to correct this before our next rehearsal to ensure I have this section perfected. 

After this, we were then put into groups of 4 to create 2 counts of 8. To start off with, we didn't know what moves to do so we though about using moves we have used previously in the dance to help us create this little section. Our formation for this section was a square shape with Me and Robyn beginning on our knees and Beth and Zack beginning standing up behind us, we then transitioned after doing one count of 8 leading to Me and Robyn standing and Beth and Zack on their knees. I feel for this section, we need to work on our energy and ensuring that we perform each movement with purpose. 

 

For the next rehearsal, I need to work on perfecting the timing and ensuring each move is performed at the correct time with full purpose. I also need to work on preforming the dance rather that just dancing it by incorporating my facial expressions and characterisation throughout. 

Wednesday 8th February 

This is our final rehearsal of our Bollywood dance. 

In this rehearsal we started by improving the work we had as the lesson before was cancelled therefore we hadn’t gone over any choreography in over a week. We made sure that our timing was fluent as when going over the beginning sequence we were all slightly out of time with each other. We then went over the newest learnt section, I feel that in this section my movements were fluent however I need to work on the direction of my movements as I went the completely different way to everyone around me. 

After going over this, we the re-choreographed our little group section to make ours and the group next to ours the same to create a symmetrical pattern. We began by changing our first move what was our hands in a praying position to a twisting lightbulb position, after that we kept our transition of getting up the same and changed the final section of this little sequence to a guitar motion into a push of each arm. I am glad we changed this little section as our previous one was basically the same throughout which was not entertaining to watch, I also felt that our previous section we created was all the same pace which created no contrast for our movements leading it to be quite boring therefore we decided on making our movements different paces for example our first movement of the lightbulb twisting is much slower compared to our arm pushing movement. 

Finally, we added in a final transition which resulted into a lift. For the transition, we had to spin once and run into our final position which was a lift. For this lift Raven was being supported by all of us, he stood on the knees of 2 other dancers and I supported him under his arm and side of his body, this support was the same on the opposite side of him and at the back of him. To finish this movement, we all threw our arm which was not supporting Raven out to the side. For this we needed to have a lot of power behind our arm as this is the final movement the audience will see. A target for us all to work on is to work on our transition from our previous section to the final position as I feel when looking back at it, it looks rushed and we all look confused with where we are meant to be going.