Floor plan

Choreographic Checklist

Timeline

Beginning - 0:09 : Chair is sideways to the front. Sitting on the chair with legs crossed and right arm supporting chin.

First 4 counts --> hand runs through hair while leaning back off chair.

Next 4 counts --> Turn and face the front with legs uncrossed and right hand holding the back of the chair.

Next 4 counts --> Lean to the back of the chair, both arms reach to the left with left above the right. Last 4 counts --> Get off chair and left leg is in attitude position, right hand holding onto chair. Left hand pushes outwards, diagonal to floor.

0:09 - 0:25 : Kick left leg to the back with right hand still holding onto the chair and left hand pushes quickly outwards. On left leg, roll in the direction of stage right with a head roll guided with arms. Do a cartwheel on elbows with one leg bent and feet flexed, landing kneeling to the front.

4 counts --> Slowly pull out collar, with head looking downwards left. Swing head in a clockwise manner, turning body to face the back.

4 counts --> Take 2 steps using legs but still on the floor while brushing hand through hair. Finally, jerk head backwards.

4 counts --> Flip to face the front and collapse suddenly with right arm stretched forward.

4 counts --> Roll to a sitting position, with back to audience. Cross arms in front of chest and curl up into a ball.

4 counts --> Cartwheel up from floor onto feet, with one leg bent and feet flexed.

4 counts --> Jerk right leg outwards at an awkward angle and shoot arms to the left, with the left above right. Repeat twice.

0:25 - 0:32 :

4 counts --> Take two steps backwards and strongly bring right arm next to body, as if grabbing something.

8 counts --> Posse on right leg. First on straight legs with hands at the side. Second time, on bent knees and with arms going up from head.

4 counts --> Step on right leg with back leg in a low arabesque and right hand propping up chin. Swivel around and back leg kicks, bent. Hands grab around head.

0:33 - 0:35 : The two quiet beats --> 2 ronde de jambes on pile with arms swinging. On the climatic upbeat, jump with right leg in passé and left leg straight. Hands curve over body.

0:35 - 0:52 : 

4 counts --> From the jump, land on the floor and do a fish roll over. 

4 counts --> Flip over so that you are on your back, still lying on the floor. Drag body up, as if breathing in with arms drawing into chest. Relax back down onto the floor.

2 counts --> Sharply extend left leg upwards, with toes pointed. Pulling collar away with the left hand, push hips upwards and flex toes, before returning to lying on the floor. 

6 counts --> Use right leg on the floor as a pivot and push hips up to turn to the right, to get stomach on the floor. End with left leg in the air in attitude position and right arm in front of head, as if trying to pull body forwards. 

Getting onto right leg, facing back corner stage left in a half split position, left hand rotates over head and quickly claps in front of chest, with both hands straight. Do a half turn on right leg to face bottom corner stage right and slowly clap hands. 

0:53 - 0:58 : 

4 counts --> Roll onto left leg and step up on left leg, using right arm to 'pull' you up. 

2 counts --> Mini side leap to the right and sharply turn head to the right. Landing on right leg, leg tilt to the left and lean off balance. 

4 counts --> Step back twice starting on the left leg. After the second step, bring right arm in front of you as if grabbing something. Walking towards stage left upper corner, walk very loosely twice (hip swing motif) 

4 counts --> Do an attitude leap towards the chair. End hunched over, grabbing stomach. 

4 counts --> Step onto chair and turn head to look towards audience. 

4 counts --> Lean off chair and fall off it
4 counts --> Stepping on the left leg, do a small 'stag' jump landing with a roll on the floor, in front of the chair
4 counts --> Exaggerated breathe in and out, bringing arms from behind, sweep against the floor, over the head.
4 counts --> Roll back towards chair. Into a position with both hands supporting weight on chair and right leg is extended parallel to the ground with feet pointed.

(1, 2 and 3) --> Hold position for 1. Flex toes and turn head to audience on 2. Pointe toes again on 3.
Remaining music --> Sit back on chair. Repeat the beginning of the dance.
Final 3 counts --> Brush hand through hair. With each beat, drop head back a little more. 

Music Information and Breakdown

When choosing your aural accompaniment what should you consider? 
Factors that I think are extremely important in a piece of accompaniment include :
- Length of music
- Melody of the music --> I think this is important as it contributes greatly to the atmosphere created as the melody could bring about a lively and happy atmosphere, or a dark and intense atmosphere.
- Beats --> This would affect the general counts in the dance, which may impact the dynamics in the piece.
- Sections --> What I mean by this is the sections the accompaniment is divided into, as if there is a distinct division into beginning, climax and end, it makes the structure of the dance much more obvious. Also, the accompaniment is vital to highlight the climax, as this is usually when there is an emphasised section of music.
- Dynamics --> With varying dynamics, it would be easier to have a wider range of movements. Also, the change in dynamics in a dance makes everything more interesting as the accompaniment will not be the same throughout.

Song Name - Breath and Life

Length - 1 minute 30 seconds

Why did you choose this as your accompaniment for your Solo Composition? 

I like this accompaniment as it has a good structure with a clear beginning, climax and ending. It creates a very tense atmosphere and feels like the kind of song that will be played to show victory. The instruments used include the piano, and synths. There is also a background choir that adds depth to the music - which I really like. There are varying dynamics throughout the piece including a slow and gentle start which builds up into a section with many rhythms and layers overlapping each other. 

Time Bar of Counts (in bars of 8)	Description of Music	Movement content
0:00 – 0:05 1/2	Gentle and gradual beginning with the alternate repetition of 2 piano notes.	Sitting on chair, slow and small movements - mostly hand gestures.
0:05 – 0:09 1/2	Bass drum beat followed by repeated piano notes, but with added dynamics and louder.	Still sitting on the chair, developing into bigger movements.
0:09 – 0:25 2	Melody by strings as well as synths. The strings alternate between 2 notes before changing key. Steady beat.	Getting off the chair using motif developments, followed by a floor section.
0:25 – 0:33 1	Repeated melody, which builds up to become louder. Choir voices in the background.	Travelling across the floor building up towards the climax.
0:34 – 0:35 1/4	Melody stops. There are 2 distinct drum beats.	A moment of tension - 2 step backwards, repeated.
0:36 – 1:08 4	Continuous melody consisting of strings, choir voices and consistent drum beats in the background.	Floor section in the corner followed by a sequence travelling back to the chair.
1:08 – 1:10 1/4	Complete silence.	Turn head sharply to look at audience.
1:11 – 1:25 2	Same melody as the starting, including strings and drum beats.	Small dance section surrounding chair, ending back on the chair.
1:26 – 1:28 1/2	3 drum beats which gradually get softer.	Ending on chair, 'melting' with each drum beat.

Motif 3 - Development 1 (Extremes of Space)

- Start facing stage left in neutral position.



















- Drag right leg across left, take 2 steps (1 slow, 1 fast)  towards the back. On the second step, do a ronde de jambe (with head down) , sweeping till facing stage left. Lift right arm to grabbing position.

- Starting on the right leg, take 2 steps backwards (fast paced) and do a roll on the floor.

- Get up on the left leg, stick right leg out towards the right (on demi-pointe) and slowly angle body awkwardly with the arms dangling at the side and the right shoulder protruding out.

- Step right leg over left and then left over right (slowly) and then again but fast. When on both legs, plie and bring body in a circular motion from right to bottom then to the left.























































- Jerk and throw yourself into a position where your knees are bent and crouch down.



















- Facing the front left corner, do a ronde de jambe on plie and with arms pushing outwards. When right legs get to the back step onto it and jump into a position where right leg is at 90 degrees and left leg is bent as well.



















- Fall onto the floor and then grab right leg up into a passé position.

Motif 3 - Original (Sweep and Drag)

Motif 3 - Original

* Motif starts facing stage left, standing in neutral position. 

1) Right hand comes up, as if grabbing something - at belly-button level. At the same time, the right leg goes on demi-pointe. This is done with energy.

2) Wrap your right arm around your waist.

3) Sweep out the hand from the waist and using the right leg, take a step to the front in a circular motion, turning half a circle and ending with the left leg tucked behind the right. Right hand loosely spins around body, and ends up straight in front of the stomach.

4) Take a step on the left leg, tucking the right leg to the side creating broken lines and an awkward posture. The right shoulder protrudes to the front. 

5) Turning towards the right, take a step on the right leg and tuck the left foot behind after turning 3/4 of a circle. Right arm loosely follows and ends up next to body.

















6) Taking 2 small steps in front, collapse into a position where the whole body is relaxed, with the head looking down and hands also down.

















7) Come up into a 'dolphin' position, leaning towards the left. Take 2 steps, on the right and then the left and end up facing stage left again, hand in 'grabbing' position followed by swinging the arm around the waist.

8) Take another step on the right, turning half a round, stepping on the left leg, and end with hand in grabbing position.

Motif 2 - Development 3 (No chair + Extremes of Space)

- Sit on the floor with knees facing the ceiling together.

















- On the ground, use feet to push backwards and take 4 'steps' back while running hands through hair slowly.

- Lean backwards until lying on ground.

















- Roll towards the right, ending on knees facing the back then right hand pulls collar out.


































- Roll to face the front, turn head to right and nod. Then sitting on the floor with right leg in front of left, sweep left hand from the right towards the left against the floor.

- From the floor, cartwheel up onto feet.
- Run towards stage left, step right leg out at an awkward angle with arms to the left, left higher than right (x1 quick and again slowly).

















- Moving towards centre stage, do an illusion ending on knees facing the front with hands crossed in front of chest.
- Place both hands on either side of thighs, and using hands push legs backwards until stomach is on the floor.























































- Use the right hand to prop chin up. Relax completely and sweep head in a clockwise position and move legs so that you are sitting facing the back.













- Putting weight on right hand, brush right then left leg against the floor ending facing stage right.












- Lean backwards and slowly extend arms to the side with the right arm above the left.

Motif 2 - Development 1 (Dynamics)

- Turn chair to the left side.
- Run right hand through hair really slowly while leaning back.


















- Stick right elbow out while holding collar, jerk outwards towards the front and jerk back in.




































- Use head and look outwards slowly and then look back in quickly.




































- Turn body and face the front, and in the process cross right leg over left. Get into position with chin propped up on right hand.

- Collapse slowly down and get back into position quickly before collapsing to the side suddenly.

- Leaning to the right (onto the back of the chair), slowly get arms into position with left arm above right and jerk into place.


















- Cross arms quickly.


















- Repeat to the left but do it sharply, with strong posture and quickly.



















- Get off chair and lunge deeply on left leg. Clap hands together before lowering it onto the ground.