The challenges of using speach during 'Walking piece'

I found it challenging at first to incorporate the use of speech within performance, as I have not done this before, so I had to work on my use of projection and letting go of fear of talking in front of an audience.


During one section we had to take it in turns to say a word from this list in order, while using a stomping action, jumping on the window ledge, and getting faster..

SPRIGHTLY
TIGHTLY
SLIGHTLY
NIGHTLY
SIGHTLY
BRIGHTLY
RIGHTLY
POLITELY

In another section we had to make out way around the corner, while brushing each other down and taking it in turns to say a tongue twister, then pass it on to another person in the group who then had to repeat it as fast and as clear as possible..

'SHE SIFTED THISTLES WITH HER THISTLE SIFTER'
'PLAIN BUN, PLUM BUN, BUN WITHOUT PLUM'
'RED LORRY, YELLOW LORRY'
'WHICH WRIST WATCHES ARE SWISS WRIST WATCHES'
'SIX SLEEK SWANS SWAM SWIFTLY SOUTHWARDS'
'ELLEVEN BENEVOLENT ELEPHANTS'

In another section we had to describe objects while moving in a turn table motion on different levels as part of the loops, and during the second time of doing so we had 'evolving walk' short moments- mine was a jump reaching back to touch my toes. Some of the objects were...

Cake
Car
Apple
Lift
Grass
Door
Hair straighteners
Socks
Table
Paper
etc..

A few Images of the rehearsal process

The 'here and there' section

coming down from the lift

'over the rooftops' walking on the walls

turn tables section

'sprightly' section

Brushing down, and tongue twisters

'here and there' section

the lift

Things to remember during performance

• Invite being seen
• keep seeing active in the room
• Each performance is an experience- keep learning no matter how small
• Get what I need from each performance, and don't settle for any less
• clear voice
• Taking time to do each section clearly and fully- not rushing
• laugh at my own serious intentions, even when those intentions are serious
• Be myself throughout- not trying to put on an act for the audience
• Enjoy each performance, and challenge myself throughout!

Final score.. Loop 2

Here is a score of the second loop performed as part of 'Walking piece'.

Final score.. Loop 1

Here is a score of the first loop we perform as part of  'Walking piece'.

'Retain the capacity to laugh at your own serious intentions, even while those intentions remain serious.'

I really like this as I find I can take movement too seriously and worry that I may not be doing it right etc, so by thinking of being able to laugh at my serious intentions has encouraged me to try new ways of moving and not worry about how it may look, and to just give it a go even if it does not work or makes me feel a little out of my comfort zone. I think this is a very valuable thing to remember when creating contemporary dance.

question to explore while improvisng

'What if all of my 100 trillion cells at once choose to surrender the pattern of facing a single direction?'


I found this idea engaging, as it is refeing to the connection between mind and body, and Matthias' interest in neuroscience, by introducing the idea of the cells in the body and how they connect to our mind and our movement. This required a lot of thought while moving, as trying not to have your cells facing the same way at all seems impossible. However, this encouraged a lot of new material and I found so many new dynamics and depths to my moving. I found that by not trying to face the same way encouraged me to use many more contrasting levels, speeds, amounts of space, and details in my movement.



       

Matthias Sperling

As part of my research on Matthias, before working with him I had a look on his website which gave me an insight to his background and previous and current works, in particular his solo 'Riff' was interesting to watch and get a feel for his style of moving..

http://www.matthias-sperling.com/

Performance project!

As a second year student we must take part in a module called Performance project. I am now part of a company called Influx, and our choreographer is Matthias Sperling. So far we have had one meeting with Matthias where we carried out several improvisational tasks. One of which I found I really connected with and enjoyed was building up movement by moving from areas of the body that 'light up'. So we moved from parts of the body that were of interest or held particular tension or energy. We also moved around the idea of all the cells in the body. I found that this encouraged me to feel light and bring the space into my moving, which influenced so many new ways of moving! Matthias also encouraged us to not take ourselves too seriously and I found this also encouraged the light movement, and not to think to much into what I was doing, just to enjoy dancing improvisationaly. Another task we did involved moving this way focusing on the cells etc but traveling from one side of the room to the other without the audience realising this was our intention. This still seems like an almost impossible task but after a few attempts we found moving slower and without outwardly focusing on the finishing point, we were able to move across the space without being too obvious about it. I really enjoyed the day with Matthias and look forward to our intensive rehearsal week :)