Shadows

• choreographer and company 


  Christopher Bruce for Phoenix Dance Theatre
• movement style 


  Bruce fuses ballet and contemporary styles
• stimulus 


  . the music fratres by Arvo Part for violin and piano

  . Bruce found it evoked images of Eastern European history and created an anxious mood which led him to his choreographic intention
• choreographic intention


  . a family as they come to terms with the reality of what lies outside the family home

  . can be interpreted on many levels

  . on one level, they could be waiting for the knock on the door leading to them being taken to a concentration camp
• dancers


  2 male, 2 female

  father, mother, son, daughter
• structure 


  semi-narrative
• performance environment 


  end stage
• aural setting/ sound accompaniment

  • The music is divided into sections which Bruce uses to structure the dance, each section showing a different family member's feelings
  • The dance starts in silence as the family - sat around the table - slowly turn their heads towards DSR which is where the source of fear is. The silence emphasises this moment and draws attention to DSR creating an eerie feel
  • The violin solo accompanying the daughter's solo is fast paced and reflects her rapid shifts of weight and changes of direction, both suggesting fear and panic. The minor key also creates a sad and melancholy feel
  • At the end of most sections, a low piano chord booms, this indicates the end of a section, helping with the structure of the piece. They might also suggest the omen of things to come, they are heard at the very end of the piece as the family are posed to leave the house suggesting their end has come
  • The calm piano notes played when the parents dance with the daughter show their mature approach and their ability to calm down their daughter
  • The smooth and fluid music in the parents duet shows their loving relationship and actions such as turning in a ballroom hold, suggests that they reflect on their happier days
• props 


  . upstage there is a wooden table, 2 stools, a bench, a coat stand and suitcases, all of which are worn looking showing poverty and dated putting the piece in a historical context

  . the mother stands on the table and punches it with her hands showing her frustration

  . the son lifts the stools above his head and strongly places them at DSR he then drags the table to DSR and pushes it on its side making a barrier, this shows him trying to protect his family
• props (pt2) 


  . towards the end of the piece the family put on the coats from the coat stand and carry the suitcases for the final image, this emphasises the narrative of them accepting their fate and leaving the family home - the daughter holds a bundle instead of a suitcase showing her younger age

  . they put on shoes and the daughter sits on the floor to put hers on, this also highlights her younger age
• lighting 


  . the lighting is dark which creates a sinister mood

  . lighting is on table when they are all sat around it to highlight this significant area and emphasise the family unit

  . when the dancers perform solos, duets, or trios the light is taken off the table where some dancers may sat, and the dancers performing are lit to highlight them - only a small area is ever lit to emphasise the setting of a small room
• lighting 


  . only white light is used to create a serious tone

  . during the sons solo there is a shaft of white light coming from DSR to emphasise the pathway that he is taking and that that is where the source of fear is coming from

  . at the end, shadows of the dancers can be seen on the floor, this can be seen like their memories
• costumes


  . the costumes are from the 1930s-1940s period setting the piece in a historical context, for example the mother has a floral pattern dress

  . the costumes are gender specific and show age, for example the father wears a shirt and waistcoat whereas the son just wears a shirt

  . the colours used on the costumes are pastel and dull which shows the idea of them living in poverty
• costumes (pt2) 


  . towards the end of the piece the dancers wear coats and the mother wears a felt hat to show the narrative of them leaving the family home

  . the daughter and son wear oversized coats referencing poverty

  . everyday clothes tells the narrative of the story that they are everyday people