In this weeks session we not only participated in others groups research lab’s but lead are own as well. This is the second research lab we have done in this module so I was looking forward to how this differed from the last research lab we did a month ago. The main two objective’s for our groups research was firstly looking into how to transition in and out of lifts or weight baring positions and secondly identifying how many dynamics you can incorporate into your movements instead of using the same throughout the jam.
In the first exercise we wanted to explore different types of dynamics that could be shown within the movements. We wanted to show how many different dynamics and options you could do to make your movements more visually interesting. This exercise would also make you aware how much the dynamics can change how your feel internally when practising these. ‘These bursts serve to heighten a sense of excitement’ (Keefe, 2003, 231) This quote shows us that dynamics can make a huge impact to the audience and make it more interesting to spectate. The exercise began with all of the class standing in a circle. When each new person enters the space they come with a different dynamic. For example if one person comes in dancing with fluid movements they would keep dancing with the dynamic until someone else joins them. If the next person came in with a sharp dynamic the original person would have to change to the new dynamic. Our intention of this exercise was to make people change the dynamic of their movements quickly. It also meant that the other people in the space had no control of the new dynamics. This forced them to become more creative and to think about the movements, which fits into the dynamic which is present in the space. Another important aim of this exercise was for the dancers to be aware of other dancers in the space. They had to keep close attention to others to be aware if anyone new entered the space, as they would have to identify the new dynamic and then adapt their movements accordingly. ‘Activities only triggered by the outcome of choices and actions of others’ (Keefe, 2003, 231) This quote relates to this exercise as the dynamic choices that the dancers choice changed the outcome of the other dancers movement and choices.
After watching the exercise it was clear to me that some people found it hard to adapt their movements to the different dynamics because they showed uncertainty emotions. We received a variety of different feedback from our classmates regarding this exercise which we were interested to know. Firstly Zoe felt rushed during some parts of this exercise. She explained how she was reluctant to change her dynamics as she didn’t feel like she had explored the previous dynamic in enough detail. This relates into thinking about how in a jam situation, someone can manipulate your movements and how you choose to either follow through and dance with them. Or imposingly how you could reject the conversation and points of contact.
Other comments we received from the exercise that sometimes it was hard to be constantly aware of the other dancers in the space. It was sometimes difficult to concentrate on the movements when having to always be aware if a new dancer entered the space. I feel like if I joined in, in this exercise I would feel the same. Sometimes in jam’s I am to engrossed within my own movements to even be aware what other dancers are doing around me.
However on a more positive note some of our classmates said that it enabled them to experience and try dynamics that they would never have wanted to try
on their own in a jam. In my own practise I tend to habitually move with a fluid dynamic to my movements but with this exercise if I joined in it would force me to dance and think about movements with unusual dynamics that I had never tried before.
The second exercise’s aim was to practise moving in and out of lifts whilst improvising. This was a concept that my group thought we all needed to improve on as a class. When we participated in the lifting lesson the lifts we tried all stemmed from a stationary position. However in a jam we are never static and therefore find it hard to communicate with another dancer without talking which lift you are aiming to do. Another problem that occurs is working out which lift you can do without a lot of preparation and breaking apart from one another to set and perform the lift. The point of the exercise is to practise flowing into each lift and weight baring position to give it a seamless effect. In my own practise this is what I am aiming for in my contact duet with Zoe. Our main objective is to run smoothly in and out of lifts, which is something as we become more familiar with our duet will come in time.
The exercise included one person improvising in the space and then someone would join them make contact with them and then perform a lift. After this happens that dancer would make their way out of the space with the other dancer still there and then another dancer would join them and perform a second lift. The idea was each dancer has the opportunity to be the over and under dancer. In my own practise I tend to be the under dancer as I am taller and find it easier to lift others than to be lifted myself. This exercise made sure that people who felt the same as me to have the experience of being lifted and to see how it feels to them.
The feedback we got given from this exercise was that our classmates felt rushed during improvising in the space. They explained how after making contact and performing the lift they had no time to explore the partnership in more depth, as they had to then exit the space ready for the next person to come in. After making the connection they would have liked to discover if any more lifts were possible and to see if more connection could be made. Another comment, which was addressed, was that they felt like the lifts were forced. This was most probably because of the nature of the exercise as this was our intention to incorporate lifts causing them to feel like this.
As an observer of this exercise I noticed a lot of lifts that were shown Kirsty had not taught us in class. It was obvious to me that people were experimenting with lifts, which was exciting to me as they performed raw and interesting material. By watching this it gave me ideas for my own practise and how I could incorporate different lifts in different contact situations.
After delivering these two exercises for our research lab we received a lot of feedback from our peers, which was extremely useful. After looking at the comments we have now found answers and observations to the idea of transitions and lifts in which we hoped to find out.
Keefe, M. (2003) What’s the score? Improvisation in Everyday Life. In: Albright, A. C., & Gere, D.Taken by surprise: A dance improvisation reader. Middletown, Conn: Wesleyan University Press, 229-237.