Transcript Constituent Features of Dance

Constituent Features of
Dance
Physical Setting: Costume Design
GCSE Area of Focus 2009
Section C: Essay Question
Example Essay Question
What should be considered when choosing
costumes for dance works?
You should make reference to Bird Song
(Davies) and four other dance works in
your answer
Name each work and the choreographer
Approaching the Question
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Provide a short introduction linking to question
Ensure for each work you correctly name the
title of the work and the choreographer
Give a short insight into the dance you are
discussing to show understanding of the piece
Clearly state the point you want to raise but
make sure you explain/justify your point giving
relevant detail about the costume
Where possible provide evaluative points
Take care on the structure of your essay
Use Of Costume
Possible Points for Discussion
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Support/create character
Associate with theme
Enhance alignment of
movement
Define contrast of groups
onstage
Form a relationship to the
set design
Enhance the dancers’
dynamics
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Link to the era of the
dance
Enhance the lighting
design
Link to a cultural setting
Define gender
Suited to dance style
Provide visual clue to
narrative
Evoke a particular mood
Additional Discussion Points
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Adds realism/fantasy
Enhances flow to
movement
Adds colour interest
Indicates age
Adds humour
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Indicate time of day
Links to geographical
setting
Masks support
characterisation
Suggests season
Works Used for This Essay
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Bird Song (Siobhan Davies 2004)
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Still Life at the Penguin Cafe (David Bintley)
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Stomp Out Loud (Luke Cresswell and Steve
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Rooster (Christopher Bruce)
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Swansong (Christopher Bruce)
McNicholas)
Bird Song (Siobhan Davies)
Costume Designer: Genevieve Bennett
1. Costumes create individualism within group whilst
suggesting a sense of unity.
 Explain this drawing reference to the styles of the
costume in this work
2. The costumes’ colour and texture enhance and relate to
elements of the lighting used
 Expand on this giving an example from the dance
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Give an opinion on either of the points raised in terms of
effect/ importance.
Bird Song (Davies)
Still Life at the Penguin Cafe
(David Bintley)
1. The costume for this dance helps to enhance the
character of each animal which in turn helps the
audience to understand the dance idea
 Explain the design of some of the costumes e.g. the
great auk (penguin) and the texan kangaroo rat –
included use of mask
2. The costume also adds colour and interest to the dance
– making it appealing the audience
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Evaluate how effective you think this is
Stomp Out Loud (Luke Cresswell and
Steve McNicholas)
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The costume helps to create reality e.g. everyday
clothes/chefs outfit etc
The costume links with theme of the dance and with the
other elements (e.g real life lighting/set/accompaniment)
Costume is also used to define different sections/themes
throughout the piece e.g. kitchen scene very different to
basketball scene
Evaluate the effectiveness of either points raised or
both?
Swansong (Christopher Bruce)
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The costume for this piece helps to suggest the location
e.g. prison guards and prisoner and therefore helps with
the story/narrative of this piece
Explain this point by detailing features of the costume
that are typical of these roles
Simple costumes allow the dancers to dance freely
without worrying about heavy costumes/masks etc
Evaluate this taking into account the issue with dancing
in jeans
Rooster (Christopher Bruce)
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The costumes of the men and women help to set the
dance in an era (swinging sixties)
Explain specific elements of the costumes and how this
can be linked – women’s mini dresses fashionable. Men’s
velvet shirts and matching ties reflect the ‘dandy’ phase
that was popular in the 1960s.
Reflect the style of the dance (Jazz shoes – help dance
the style effectively)
Also the costume helps to contribute to the overall
atmosphere of the piece
Evaluate the effectiveness of this costume