Workshop 2

What are the technical differences between jazz and release technique and how can they integrate?

How can the dynamics of jazz combine with the dynamics of release?

Date of workshop: 19/11/19

Aims 

• Create a phrase stimulated by the use of the chance method.
• Incoperate a range of movements and dynamics within the chance method

Planning

Workshop Schedule

Duration of workshop: 1 hour

•  11:15am - 11:45am (30 Minutes) - Main focus on planning the chance method as well as choosing random movements and dynamics then pairing a dynamic to a movement.

• 11:45am - 12:15pm (30 Minutes) - Create short phrase based on the outcomes of the chance method e.g., battement with a sustained dynamic.

Academic Sources I have looked at:

Encyclopaedia Britannica. [Online]:2019. Merce Cunningham American Dancer and Choreographer. Available at: <https://www.britannica.com/biography/Merce-Cunningham#ref1134996> [Accessed:19 Dec.2019]

Merce Cunningham.[Online]:Not Dated. Chance Dance. Available at: <https://mercecunninghamproject.weebly.com/chance-dance.html> [Accessed: 19 Dec.2019]

Reflection 

This workshop began with a mind map that involved the idea of the chance method, I created the plan to list movement that is usually seen throughout jazz technique e.g. pirouettes as well as movements such as upper body releases that I would recognise in release technique. However I knew that all of the movement listed, could be adapted to fit both contrasting styles. Unfortunately, as seen from the evidence it is clear I became confused because floor work is not an action.

           Also from the evidence of my planning, it is clear that by choosing the chance method as a choreographic idea is a way of creating refreshing and unusual movement. However in my experience I discovered that certain numbers never got chosen which is not a negative because repetition can be effective. On the other hand by listing movement and then also introducing dynamics it became very challenging and confusing therefore my schedule did not go to plan as I did not create a phrase long enough as I was only left with 15 minutes. Furthermore I felt overwhelmed and I put too much pressure on myself because it was only my second workshop and I was already focusing on both sub-question one and two. Unfortunately due to running out of time I did not create a phrase efficient enough to record therefore my planning was my main productivity from this session.  In conclusion,  reflecting back to this workshop it was obvious that I was not ready to introduce dynamics as I did not have any movement or phrases. However this is a process of learning and making mistakes therefore in my next workshop I will only explore the movement of one of my chosen styles or I will continue from my first workshop.