Shadows

Shadows

1. Choreographer = Christopher Bruce

2. company = Phoenix Dance Theatre

3. Premiere = 26th November 2014

4. Dance Style = classical and contemporary dance - "neo-classical"

5. Choreographic approach

   • Waits to work with dancers
   • started with idea of family sitting round hearth
   • "anxiety of music" greatly influenced movement content

6. Stimulus

   • Arvo Part's 'Fratres' = starting point
     • Bruce says music "evokes images of European history and tradition
       • translates this into relationships between each family member as they deal with an outside force

7. Choreographic Intention

   • invites audience into world of piece - small family
   • Maybe Eastern European family
     • living in poverty

8. Structure

   • Semi-narrative
   • solo, duet, trio, quartet

9. Aural composer + overview

   • Arvo Part
     • pre-recorded
   • no break in tempo
     • uses broken chords + diatonic scales
   • In minor key
     • dark, solemn atmosphere

10. Costume designer + overview

    • Christopher Bruce
    • gendered
    • 1930's - 1940's
      • girl = top and skirt
      • mother = floral skirt
      • father = waistcoat, shirt, trousers
      • son = shirt + trousers
    • muted + worn down
      • deprivation + poverty
    • Jacket oversized on girl - poverty

11. Lighting

    • design = John B Read
    • creates intimate space through:
      • dim lighting
      • lighting downstage
      • creates feel of a room

12. set design and staging

    • by Christopher Bruce
    • minimal set within 'black box'
    • wooden table, bench, two stools, coat stand, suitcases

13. Performance environment = End stage

14. Duration = 12 minutes

15. Dancers = 4 (2 male, 2 female)