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The choreography aspect of the exam is worth 40 marks and must be a minimum of 3 minutes, maximum of 3 and a half minutes, for two to five dancers.
In order to create this dance, you need to apply the following skills:
The stimulus for your choreography must be taken from the 5 stimuli provided by the exam board.
These stimuli are:
a) three action words
b) a close-up or zoomed-in photograph of a natural object
c) an object or machine you might find in a domestic kitchen
d) the force of gravity
e) a specific mining or other industrial disaster that happened between 1800 and 1999
Here you will find these stimuli broken down in to some ideas you might choose to look at:
a) three action words
here are some examples...
fall explode twist float
rebound expand open melt
Choosing the right three action words could create a theme.
For example: rebound expand bound
These words can all relate to Science, where you could look at particles that expand when heated, are bound to their surface area and rebound off of the edges and off of one another. Through this theme you would also be able to explore relationships - of particles that are bound together as well as the dynamics of different elements.
The three action words usually create a more abstract style of dance, rather than narrative, and using the words to create actions will help to create some original and exciting movement!
b) a close up or zoomed in photograph of a natural object
This stimulus can give you more abstract approaches to your choreography. Here are some ideas you could think about:
Snowflake: melting, ice/water, frozen, individual, unique, emotions related to cold, patterns and formations relating to the snowflake structure, falling, laying
Leaf: patterns created by the lines, carrying of water, life, the difference between summer and autumn
Raindrops: rain, emotions relating to rain, miniature pools of water, bubbles, falling, raindrops, flooding (this may relate to a natural disaster), heaviness - light rain, shower, down pour
c) an object or machine you may find in a domestic kitchen
Kitchen appliances can give a good starting point for movement, here are some ideas listed below:
Whisk: you could look at the circular actions the whisk makes, creating then circular actions and spatial patterns
Recipe: you could use the action words from the recipe: beat, fold, add, pour, bake to help devise movement. You could also use the process of a recipe to create your dance: adding motif's together, mixing them by developing them and adding extra movements, then baking to reach the final product
Kettle: you could think about the process of boiling water, and the states of water. As the water boils this could be shown through your choreography by reaching the climax of the piece, and then the calm afterwards, and steam that escapes. Looking at the image of the kettle above, what image do you get from the boiling water that could create a theme?
d) the force of gravity
"Gravity, or gravitation, is a natural phenomenon by which all things with mass are brought toward one another"
When looking at gravity you could explore the idea of dancers being pulled together, or actions that are extended, being brought back to the body.
Weight is also a force caused by gravity - which would create interesting movement if you were to look at the weight of the body when moving. What is is like to move when you give in to the weight?
You might also look at zero gravity and this allows you to move? This would create light dynamics and the idea of never touching the ground, which is an interesting concept for contact work
e) a specific mining or other industrial disaster that happened between 1800 and 1999.
There are lots of industrial disasters you could look at for this, just remember you need to be within the time frame stated!
Here are a list that would create a good narrative for choreography:
- Aberfan, Wales: 1966: Due to a substantial amount of rain one of the spoil tips from the coal mine that sat above the town had become heavy and full of water, causing it to slide down in to the town, and crashing in to a primary school, killing 116 children and 28 adults. For survivors this also caused PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Read the QR for more info.
- Pretoria Pit disaster: 1910
- Oaks Colliery explosion: 1866
- Gresford disaster: 1934
- Springhill mining disaster: 1891
- Minnie Pit disaster: 1918
- Lundhill Colliery explosion: 1857
- Chernobyl: 1986: This accident was the result of a flawed reactor design that was operated with inadequately trained personnel. The accident destroyed this reactor as well as causing ARS (Acute Radiation Syndrome). This radiation then led to the causing of childhood cancers and deformation in children. Read the QR below for more info.
If you need any more support with these stimuli, then please visit the question page and leave us a message for us to get back to!
Finally...
In the new specification it is highly important you choose the right aural accompaniment that directly relates to your stimulus for the audience to understand. Here are a list of some contemporary composers you might like to listen to!
Ludovico Enaudi
Zoe Keating
Matthew Bourne
Hans Zimmer
Julia Kent
Max Richter
Trentemoller
Aphex Twin
Morcheeba
Moby
Olafur Arnalds
Phillip Glass
Nathan Lanier
Joby Talbot
Remy Aubrey
Steve Gibbs
The Piano Guys
Tambours du Bronx
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