Character Stereotyping, Movement Literality & Contaminated Dance/ Program Roughdraft

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 Main Lesson

1

 Undoing Character Stereotyping

According to theater director Cristina Castrillo, from Teatro della Radicci, when one works the character from the text, one's tendency is to relate the character's choices via actor's work on stereotypes. As a matter of fact, in a theater directing course at University of Miami, Theater Department, Steven Svoboda underlined the use of stereotypes as an initial way for the director to delineate the characters of the play. Like Castrillo, Eugenio Barba, director of Odin Teatre, thinks that dancing the character before one begins to memorize the text is the only way one can avoid stereotyping the character and work from the inside out.

2

Avoiding Movement Literality 

When making choices on how to move in the space based on the story, choreographer Marianela Boan explains how one can avoid creating movement that, based on the text, may feel quite literal. For this not to happen, one has to continuously layer one's choices. One layer is the improv via stream of consciousness. Another layer is adding the text voice without changing the choreographic structure. Then, one can only voice those words that are essential to the actor's integral expression and leave the rest as subtext. Then, one can add a prop or tangible object to adapt the movement to the needs of holding a prop (in class we use the musician's instrument). Finally, we add the music and let it accompany the structure without compromising its original design. Only those things that are part of the dramaturgy of the piece should be on stage.

3

Embodying Contaminated Dance

In this regard, Boan describes "contaminated dance" as precisely the layering that goes on during the process of creation. Thus, in avoiding literality, one has to contaminate (mixing and layering) the actor's creative output as part of the ongoing process of creation. This is a way in which the actor's choices are continuously challenged in search of new authentic and genuine expression. It is usually the actors who are most surprised when they see how the outcome would have never been as creative if they worked the character from the text, or the dance from the music.

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Program Rough-draft

S O L O S

 

1

Untitled

Performer: Enzo Bernardes

Choreographer: Enzo Bernardes

Synopsis

 

2

Untitled

Performer: Arianna Charran

Choreographer: Arianna Charran

Synopsis

 

3

Untitled

Performer: Yu Hsuan Chou

Choreographer: Yu Hsuan Chou

Synopsis

 

4

"I Only Lie When I Love You"

Performer: Alexandra Cirile

Choreographer: Alexandra Cirile

Music:  I Only Lie When I Love You by Royal Blood

My piece is about learning to trust myself and not blindly believe what other people tell me about myself. The lyrics of the song relate to my piece because I used to tell myself hurtful things that were not true, and when I learned to treat myself with love I discovered they were lies. The music is also a metaphor for my journey; the song is underpinned by a strong and consistent drumbeat that reflects the steady passage of time. Interestingly, although it is a rock song it does not use an electric guitar, but a bass guitar using an octave pedal. This creates a unique sound characterized by only a single melody, with no distinct chords or harmonies other than those provided by the vocal line. I see this single melody as a strong sense of self, uninfluenced by the noise around it. Even when the vocal harmonies enter, the bass continues uninterrupted, like someone hearing others' opinions and still staying true to themselves.

https://youtu.be/BermIHe03zU?si=_bgR_ZsYUfnaihMR

 

5

"Better Left Behind"

Performer: Emily Cross

Choreographer: Emily Cross

Music:  "Better Than" by Lake Street Dive

A story of outgrowing situations that once felt comfortable, but no longer serve us. This piece depicts a story of love and loss; the feeling of supposed security and support leaving you. Realizing that you were not the one left behind, but the one that outgrew the ones that left. A story of growth bearing fruit and finding your own destiny.

https://youtu.be/jz5c-Gudc9g?si=x1RP0mWq59LZ3bGU 

 

6


"Sky and Earth and the Flapping of Swan's Wings"

Performer: Seongwoo Jeong

Choreographer: Seongwoo Jeong

Music: Saint-Saens "The Swan"

 Synopsis

https://youtu.be/3qrKjywjo7Q?si=3vl__sG_kA5GXw9n

 

7

Untitled

Performer: Naeun Ju

Choreographer: Naeun Ju

Synopsis

 

8

Performer: Ally Keller

Choreographer: Ally Keller

Synopsis

 

9

“Don’t/exist”

Performer: Nina Lee

Choreographer: Nina Lee

Music:  Ay Kalisud” by Angelo Favis

My hero’s journey has to do with language loss and learning. Looking at the text I produced and the words I circled, it occurred to me that it took me so many years to even reach a place where I could look at my past in a compassionate way, and then on top of that, I believe this is the first time I will work with this in an embodied way. I certainly feel vulnerable showing this part of me. However, when I reflect on it, I believe I owe it to myself to give myself the gift of exploring and expressing this journey, especially my younger self. If I were performing for her, I would want to give the best performance I could so that hopefully she could see herself represented in a thoughtful and meaningful way.

 https://youtu.be/fIRGvXG_D4s?si=TWvs9aN21yfc6Wmn

 

10

Untitled

Performer: Yaxin Liu

Choreographer: Yaxin Liu

Music:

Synopsis

 

11

Untitled

Performer: Zhenyi Long

Choreographer: Zhenyi Long

Music

Synopsis

 

12

"The One Who Flew The Coop"

performer: Nicole Mangione

Choreographer: Nicole Mangione

Music:  je te laisserai des mots 

https://youtu.be/wsnHTyosZvo?si=-VoLgrA5A3fQMaKl 

Synopsis

 

13

Dreams and Destiny

Performer: Payton McKinnis

Choreographer: Payton McKinnis

Music:

Synopsis

 

14

Untitled

Performer: Angela Ramirez

Choreographer: Angela Ramirez

Synopsis

 

15

Untitled

Performer: Wesley Roy

Choreographer: Wesley Roy

Synopsis

 

16

Untitled

Performer: Mengxue Tan

Choreographer: Mengxue Tan

Music: Dying Alone by Hammock. 

https://youtu.be/LFE7JeF56SY?si=Y4xWjid1ezc3JiF3 

Synopsis

 

17

A journey through loss of love

Performer: Caitlin Turner

Choreographer: Caitlin Turner

Music: Casings by Ethel Cain.

 https://youtu.be/rmkeOCwQ0kA?si=zW9zCZgwFc7EbU2S

 

18

Untitled

Performer: Cipriano Valdez-Bell

Choreographer: Cipriano Valdez-Bell

Music:

Synopsis

 

19

Untitled

Performer: Demi Viavattine

Choreographer: Demi Viavattine

Synopsis

 

20

Untitled

Performer: Xiaotong Wang

Choreographer: Xiaotong Wang

Synopsis

 

21

Untitled

Performer: Jiaqi Yu

Choreographer: Jiaqi Yu

Synopsis

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

E N S E M B L E S 

 

1

Water

Performers: Nina Lee, Angela Ramirez, Demi Viavattine, Arianna Charran

Choreographers: Nina Lee, Angela Ramirez, Demi Viavattine, Arianna Charran

Music:

In this piece,  we explore the many variations and natures that water encompasses. 

 

2

 "Nymphs at Play"

Performers: Emily Cross, Nicole Mangione, Payton McKinnis, Alexandra Cirile, Caitlin Turner

Choreographers: Emily Cross, Nicole Mangione, Payton McKinnis, Alexandra Cirile, Caitlin Turner

Music: "Le Carnaval des Animaux: Aquarium" by Saint-Saën

Organic, sychronized movement, depicting young aquatic fairies playing in a wooded creek.

https://youtu.be/OzM3_4AJZNA?si=KWVXbHcoodWs-EtX


 3

 Orchestra of the Elements

Dancers: Phillip Russomano, Cipriano Vladez-Bell, Wesley Roy, Zhenyi Long

Choreographers: Phillip, Cipriano, Wesley, Phillip, Cipriano, Wesley Roy, Zhenyi Long

Music:

The cosmos weaves together the forces of nature, guiding each element: earth, air, fire, and water toward harmony. Though each element strives for dominance, clashing and struggling for power, a deeper cosmic force orchestrates their movements, driving them toward equilibrium. 


4

Untitled

Performers: Yaxin Liu, Xiaotong Wang, Jiaqi Yu, Mengxue Tan

Choreographers: Yaxin Liu, Xiaotong Wang, Jiaqi Yu, Mengxue Tan

Music:

Synopsis

 

5

Untitled

Performers: Yu Hsuan Chou, Ally Keller, Seongwoo Jeong, Enzo Bernardes, Naeun Ju

Choreographers: Yu Hsuan Chou, Ally Keller, Seongwoo Jeong, Enzo Bernardes, Naeun Ju

Music:

Synopsis

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