Ghost Dances 1981

Ghost Dances 1981

1. People Involved

   • Choreographer/Set Designer: Christopher Bruce
   • Costume: Belinda Scarlett.
   • Lighting: Nick Chelton
   • Dancers: Rambert Dance Company
   • Accompaniment: Inti - llamani

2. Ideas

   • The Day of the Dead
   • Chilean Folk Music
   • Meeting with Joan Jara
   • Human/Civil Rights
   • Amnesty Charity

3. Costume

   • GHOSTS
     • Sea-weed like wig, skull face made up by face paint creating a look of grimace.
       • Sea weed material used to blend in with the surroundings of a coastal cave opening, gives the impression they are invisible.
     • Body paint (black & white) to outline main muscles and to highlight skeletal features.
       • Picked up by the highlights in the lighting
     • Armband/Skirt/Ankleband made from leather, dressing gown cord, spineless feathers (health and safety).
   • VILLAGERS
     • Casual clothing - immaculate on the left, and tattered on the right (before and after death)
     • Gender roles are obvious as women wear dresses and male dancers wear suits, trousers.
       • Lots of room in costumes so the dancer isn't restricted while dancing.

4. Structure

   • 7 separate sections all determined by a change in lighting and accompaniment.
   • The ending scene mirrors how the dance begins.

5. Accompanim,ent

   • Chilean folk music performed by Inti - llamani.
   • 1. Guitarrone (Rhythm) 2. Sikus (Pipes) 3. Bombo (Bass)

6. Setting

   • 7 3D rocks on stage give the setting depth and create a secret entrance.
   • Set at an opening of a cave mouth in a valley in Chile, South America.
   • Cyclorama is painted with translucent paints so light can pass through.
   • Lighting used tends to be earthy colours such as blues, greens and yellows.
     • Overhead bars of lights are used to project lighting downwards onto the dancers
     • Many Crosslight towers of lights project on to dancers from the left and right.
       • Top, mid, shins to ensure whole body is lit up in various colours.

7. Choreography

   • a Graham based contemporary piece fused with balletic movements along with traditional South American Folk Dance.
   • GHOSTS
     • Dancers remain light on their feet and silent to be 'undetected'.
     • Actions neatly flow from one another giving a hovering, lingering effect.
     • Lots of jumps, lunges and leans which are quite heavy move,ments but are performed delicately.
     • Folk Movements: Chains, Lines, Pivot Steps, Flexed Feet.
     • Graham based contemporary movements: Grounded, contractions, triplets, arches.
     • Ballet movements: arabesque, attitude, retire, grand jete.
   • Villagers tend to perform folk movements whereas ghosts are more likely to perform ballet movements.