Presentation

Midpoint assessment: 

22nd March: Friday 

Today we presented every piece to get feedback and to see how much progress we’ve made as it’s the halfway mark. This assessment allows us to see what we need to prioritise and whether we need to adapt or change anything. 

All that jazz: 

I had added on new choreography earlier today and when we were performing it Dylan and Marshall forgot some of the choreography. I know that it needs work as it’s still not finished and the fact that people don’t know the choreography fully yet. 

The feedback that I received was that the choreography was much improved and had a greater complexity, and if the spacing is refine it’ll be good. Things to work on are to exaggerate the movements and while we walk in the lean, we need to lead with the hips more, we need to direct our attention to the audience but we’re not allowed to smile at them. 

Target: to clean and tidy the choreography and go over it with everyone, and to complete the choreography. 

Alice part 1&2: 

We had finished the choreography earlier that week and there are a lot of things that need to be tidied. 

When showing the piece, I struggled with a step that comes up from the floor and starts to travel, this led me to thinking that I should adapt the step so I can still relate back to the movement that Marshall is doing. 

The feedback was that I need to be more realistic during the beginning where Alice wakes up and that I need to act more surprised. Marshall and I need to work on the spatial relationship between the two of us because we always have that gap. we also need to add more characterisation but other than that the choreography is great. 

Targets are to work on the spacing with me and Marshall, characterisation and that I should look at Marshall more to enhance the relationship between the Rabbit and Alice. 

Solo Contrast: 

I hadn’t practiced much with the blocks and I hadn’t figured out what movements I was doing with blocks so it was unfinished, and I couldn’t go full out so I was marking it through. 

My feedback was that overall it lacks impact and it doesn’t seem to have a narrative, I was told to think about what each movement should mean and that the music might have to be changed as it’s not my style. Some parts of the movements were nice but I need to do them full out and complete the choreography. 

Targets: look into other pieces of music and do more research to figure out a narrative that can be linked to the game. 

You can’t stop the beat: 

The choreography wasn’t finished and we have only just begun to sing while doing the choreography, so while we were performing, we got really out of breath. 

The feedback we got was that the performance needs to have more energy, more precision and more exaggerated, there were also issues with spacing. We were told the choreography has potential it just needs all the energy and other aspects to be added. 

Targets: to improve on our stamina so we can sing and dance at the same time, and to add more choreography on. 

Hard to say goodbye: 

The choreography is finished however since we made it we haven’t gone back and rehearsed it as other were prioritising other things so when we showed it, it was messy and people were out of time. 

We were told that certain movements needed variation such as swaying our arms and that we could do that by changing direction or levels. The movements need to be sharper and more over the top as it’s the finale number. 

Targets: to go through the choreography with everyone to clean up the time and the movements themselves. 

Overall this mini assessment was helpful as it pointed out what we have to do next and using the feedback to improve the pieces, it was also a wake up call to get into gear to be more productive. 

1st May : Dress rehearsal Full Run-through: 

This run-through was really important as it’s the final rehearsal before the actual show so we had to go full out and if there weren’t any other changes needed to be made it would have to be today. We had the photographer in to take photo while we perform and we also filmed the run-through as a way to look back 

and to notice if anything is right. (videos of run-through below) 

Video of the first half of the dress run.

Video of the second half of the dress run.

How the dress rehearsal went: 

I think overall the dress run was successful and raised the mood and energy for the performance the next day. For All that Jazz I think spacing and timing were good I just need to define some of the choreography with every, for example, just before the kicks to the side we circle our hips however some are swaying them some are bopping them so I needed to go over that. I think the first part of Alice went really well and the only small things to keep in mind was spacing on the rolls and technical aspects like pointing feet and turning out. For my solo I felt that I had opened up more and extended my movements more and that I need to do the performance with this energy I had and to do the movements with more confidence. Marshall and I needed to work on the partner sections of the second part as the turns weren’t as smooth as they should be but other than that I felt it was a good run-through. 

Setting the cabaret scene: 

Ideas and planning:

Sketch of how we would like to have the stage set.

The performance:

The pictures below show how the audience was seated, at the tables around the main stage that resemble a restaurant table. Marshall and I came around before all that jazz with silver trays with candles that we then place on the tables to have the ambience of a cabaret. 

How the space looked with a full audience.

Layout of the space and how the tables were set.

For the evening performance we created a “bar” where we made 'mocktails' and served popcorn as the audience came in and took their seats. This is because we wanted to create the setting of a cabaret where you could purchase food and alcohol.

The popcorn and one of the 'mocktails' we served.

One of the other 'mocktails' that we served.

One of the other 'mocktails' that we served.

We had a small stage at the back of the main stage where the introducer of each act stood as they welcomed the next act and to connect to the audience by addressing them in the introductions  ”how are you doing? You good?” 

The small stage at the back that i stood on to introduce the next act.

Final performance and Evaluation:

Video of the matinee performance.