Thursday 31 October 2013

Choreography 365: Day 146 - This is Halloween


Very much looking forward to our Halloween party tomorrow, so of course I watched The Nightmare Before Christmas.  This is just a little bit of fun exploring possibilities for the group dance tomorrow, if it happens; we may well be having too much fun!


Music = This is Halloween by Danny Elfman




Wednesday 30 October 2013

Choreography 365: Day 145 - Smother


Very much influenced by my fellow 365'er Nat and one of her recent doors today.  She played me the song that these lyrics come from and I was hooked.  Inspiration overload, full four minutes and five seconds of film played in my head.  Plans to inquire about use of film in January performance.  Here's a mini taste, also more playing with light and shadow after yesterday.

Music = Smother by Daughter





Tuesday 29 October 2013

Choreography 365: Day 144 - Halloween prep


Had a lovely evening making preparations for our Halloween party on Friday. Well OK, Luna has been expertly carving a pumpkin (go here to see the work in progress) and I cut out a few bats, but we've been talking about what else to do and planning costume ideas with Taz; more making tomorrow.


It has been mentioned about doing a group Halloween dance on Friday, so having this in mind, I had a little dance in Luna's living room, seeing as it will most likely be the staging area!

Music = Lappi: Witchdrums by Nightwish




Monday 28 October 2013

Choreography 365: Day 143 - Pointe Position




Just a picture today from a photo session with Luna a while ago.

I've been working on a costume idea today but it needs more work.


Saturday 26 October 2013

Choreography 365: Day 141 - Amelie cont 3

Another few bars added on to this today.  The ending of yesterdays version was not sitting well with me so I spent some time working on the way it felt to dance.  I feel very restricted in my little home studio as there were lots of traveling movements and jumps that I wanted to include so I probably wont develop too much more until I have access to a bigger space.


Music = L'Autre Valse d'Amelie by Yann Tiersen.





Thursday 24 October 2013

Choreography 365: Day 140 - Amelie cont 2


Further movement material developed and added to the Amelie piece I am currently working on.  A little out of shot sometimes but the movement is viable.  Also feeling quite stiff after 3 very good but tiring days at college :)


Music = L'Autre Valse d'Amelie by Yann Tiersen.





Wednesday 23 October 2013

Choreography 365: Day 139 - Planned Performance

I've been spending quite a bit of time at college over the last few days and apart from the great feeling I get when dancing as much as possible it has also let to something quite exciting.  The college puts on a few performances a year and I have been given the opportunity to choreograph something for the January show.  This means I get to work with dancers bodies other than my own.  I'm very excited, so watch this space.


Tuesday 22 October 2013

Choreography 365: Day 138 - Amelie cont...



Just a bit more added on today.

Thanks to Luna for filming and the use of your beautiful bedroom.

Music = L'Autre Valse d'Amelie by Yann Tiersen.








Monday 21 October 2013

Choreography 365: Day 137 - Amelie Theme


Just to shake things up again I plan to put a short piece together to one of the themes from the film Amelie.  Today's is just a little taste which may or may not be included in the continued piece but we'll see :)


Music = L'Autre Valse d'Amelie by Yann Tiersen





Sunday 20 October 2013

Choreography 365: Day 136 - Everyday

Keeping on the improvisation theme from yesterday here is another one, but without me editing. I just danced and filmed and here it is.

Music = Everyday by Jamiroquai









Saturday 19 October 2013

Choreography 365: Day 135: Improv to Myrkur




Just a little improvisation today using some isolations and body ripples.


Music = Myrkyr by Sigur Ros






Friday 18 October 2013

Choreography 365: Day 134 - In Heels


After catching up on this weeks Strictly: It Takes Two ready for this weekend; I just had to get the heels on.


Music = Apple Blossom by The White Stripes.






Thursday 17 October 2013

Choreography 365: Day 133 - Cameo




Following on from yesterdays experimentation with choreography in image form, I had another play influenced by the shadow image.



I spent some time with the image settings and finally settled on this cameo type effect.



It's nice to spend time on something creative without expelling any more energy, especially after a very active day at college today.

Wednesday 16 October 2013

Choreography 365: Day 132 - Time for a Change

So I've managed to get myself in a bit of a routine with this project and need to move out of my comfort zone.  Time to create some ideas rather than produce something 'finished' everyday.

Today Luna and I played with our shadows in the sunlight coming through the window; yes I said sunlight :)


We worked with a few different ideas, some with potential and some which just made us laugh; and here is the one I wanted to share with you, after a bit of editing.


For me it's either a dark hooded figure standing over the viewer or the ashy imprint of someone trapped in a nuclear reactor that's just gone critical depending on how you look at it.  Two distinct images which conjure up different movement ideas in my body and mind. 

Tuesday 15 October 2013

Choreography 365: Day 131 - Back to Ballet

Just a little improvisation today after ballet class, inspired by the advanced 1 dance, but in my own style.  Originally danced in silence and then put to the instrumental section of the track, thanks to Luna for the suggestion.


Music = She Left Home by Djamel Benyelles





Monday 14 October 2013

Choreography 365: Day 130 - Testing the Elastic


Today I finally put new elastic on my pointe shoes to stop them falling off at the heel; so here is a little test of its effectiveness.


Music = Dietro Casa by Ludovico Einaudi






Sunday 13 October 2013

Choreography 365:Day 129 - Cecchetti's Eight

Having trained in the Cecchetti style from a young age these eight positions are old friends.  This is just a little play with the relationships between them.


Music = Rainbow by Oh Land





Saturday 12 October 2013

Choreography 365: Day 128 - Free Rotation

It's been a bit of a whirlwind few days with celebrating the engagement of a fellow 365er, lots of cycling and endless games of Settlers of Catan, so here's a little whirlwind of my own.


Music = Turn out the Sound by Daft Punk







Friday 11 October 2013

Choreography 365: Day 127 - The Cloak

The temperature has certainly dropped over the last couple of days so I have been wandering round the house in my lovely cloak, so of course I had to dance in it!

Music = Disintegration by Jimmy Eat World













Thursday 10 October 2013

Choreography 365: Day 126 - Battle 34 Beat 3 C



 I have been meaning to do something to some more of a friends music for a while and finally plucked up the courage.

I have mentioned before that this street/hip hop style of dance is not my strong suit but practice makes perfect (or slightly less scared in my case).




I promise there will be a change of scenery soon but our spare room seems to be my go to studio at the moment.

The track is Battle 34 Beat 3 C by J Billo and you can check out more of his work here 






Wednesday 9 October 2013

Choreography 365: Day 125 - Feeling Restless


I'm feeling physically and mentally restless today and the insomnia isn't helping. So much for getting an early night and being refreshed for college tomorrow.


Music = In Dark Trees by Brian Eno






Tuesday 8 October 2013

Choreography 365: Day 124 - Waltz


I should be meeting up with a friend tomorrow to discuss a possible film collaboration so here is a bit of research for it.  I'm not going to give anymore away about the idea than the waltz, hopefully you will get to see the finished results in the future.






Music = Serenade by Schubert



Monday 7 October 2013

Choreography 365: Day 123 - Today



Here is the little improvisation I did to 'Today' by The Smashing Pumpkins in the lights at the theater the other day. 

Despite my declaration about not using the music for profit or gain You Tube has decided to mute the music so here it is directly.




Sunday 6 October 2013

Choreography 365: Day 122 - At Sunset


I wanted to have another go at using the sideways transitions so I found this nice little area in the sunset and worked with some movements mainly balancing on one leg.


Music = Fairytale by
Ludovico Einaudi





Saturday 5 October 2013

Choreography 365: Day 121 - Ladder into the Roof


I couldn't resist doing something quickly on this lovely little ladder in the lighting box.



Music = Uno by Ludovico Einaudi






Friday 4 October 2013

Choreography 365: Day 120 - All Along the Watchtower


After a long and enjoyable day today I can finally sit down and post this video.

Today I've done a 'get in', technical and dress rehearsals, show, post show drinks and an impromptu park party post midnight.  And somewhere in there I found time to do two dances; I couldn't resit dancing under the lights I laboured over!  One of these is here for your viewing pleasure and the other one will be saved for the next time I am incapacitated.




I decided on the 'All Along the Watchtower' piece for today because it fits into my Daft Punk Evolution project and will influence my 1970's section.

Hope you enjoy, thanks to Pat for filming.




If anyone happens to be in Bath, England tomorrow and fancies coming along to the Rondo theater for 8pm start you will be treated to a splendid performance of The Zoo Story by Three Short Planks (£12/£10).

Thursday 3 October 2013

Choreography 365: Day 119 - Sedentary Dance


I've been I'll again!  A bug going round both home and work completely knocked me off my feet for two days and I'm still feeling weak.  Thank you to the friends who have wished me well and to the mysterious deliverer of chocolate. All have helped in my recovery.




So even though I am feeling drained and probably dehydrated I have been able to do a little sedentary dance today.  I think the frustration of being bed ridden for most of the past 50 hours can be seen in this little snippet.  Back to it tomorrow to tech a friends show in Bath armed with lots of vitamin C, water and a good nights sleep, hopefully.

Music = Break the Chain by Oh Land