Lindy hop.

This was mine and Cheryl's first attempt with the lindy hop. I have not had much experience with this style of dance except from when I've done basic classes in the younger years of school.

To find out the basic steps we went onto youtube and found a step by step guide to basic lindy hop which I didn't find particuarly 'basic'.

It's really cheesey to watch :/

My first improvement would be to stop laughing. Even though it's clear I dont really know what I'm doing, the laughter reinforces it and makes it look even more of a joke. My second improvment, if I was to do this activity again, would be to get more information on thd dance style and try to understand it more. My third improvment would be to make my movements clearer rather than being too concerned with the speed of the dance.

Cunningham technique.

Our first Cunningham video with improvements.

0:04- Make ny head more 'heavy' and keep my balance central to avoid the movement looking as though I'm going to the left hand side.
0:26- I need to make sure my plie is accurate and my bottom is pulled in and back is straight.
1:04- Lost count and came in too late so I need to make sure that my movements flow and I count accurately.
1:08- My foot looks as though it is just touching the floor and lifting back off again when it should look as though it is pinging off of the floor.
1:26- Messed up the turn. Make sure that the foot CROSSES over first and then turn through the movement.

Cunningham technique- Video 2.

Second Cunningham video with improvements.

0:45- I need to engage my arms more and make them more expressive. I also need to make sure that the movement doesn't just swing side to side but pushes and lifts and swings. This will make it look more energised and fresh.
0:58- I really look like I'm tired or can't be bothered! My arms are literally swinging by my side and my foot, which isn't even pointed, is barely lifting off the floor! I need to make my whole body engaged even if the movement doesn't involve certain areas because this will make the movemtn look better overall.
1:15- Make sure my turns are accurate and I spot make sure I end up in the same place.

Cunningham duets.

Me and Ray did a duet based on separation and how sometimes distance can make you lonely but someone is always there even if they're not in the same world as you...

1:39- Make sure my turn is accurate and I don't lose balance. This can be done by making sure I spot before I turn.

There isn't much to say on the video as I'm only in it for a short time. I need to aim to make sure that the piece is extended with relevant movements and emotion and chemistry can be felt from the audiences perspective.

Cunningham technique- Video 3.

This is our third Cunningham technique with improvements.

0:22- Make sure that the upper part of my back is lifted and not sinking into my waist. Also, make sure that my back twists to all four corners of the room.
0:37- Make my plies deeper.
1:20- Try to get a deeper plie when I pulse.
1:37- Try to keep my balance central and focus on a specific part of the room to make sure that my balance is kept.

Yr 12 Graham Technique 3- Triplets and Centre phrase.

This is so cringey...
0:42- RELAX hands and arms.
Overall- Take LARGER steps.

1:14- Stumble on turn.
1:19- Forgot the rest of the piece.
1:34- Stumble on turn, AGAIN.

Yr 12 Graham Technique 2- Standing Contractions, Twiddles, Core Training, Jumps.

1:00- From the side you can see my flat back isn't actually flat. My top half of my back is risen more and this makes me look like I am on a diagonal.
1:33- Stretch arms more.
2:40- Strengthen arms when twiddling.
2:48- Focus on keep hips still.
3:22- Arms are saggy!
3:35- Focus on getting my leg higher.
3:45- Need to improve balance- spot.
5:26- Try to sit up more with a straighter back.
5:40- Try to go back further.
6:35- Suck in tummy when doing sit up's.
8:14- Having a cheeky rest...
8:18- Tuck bum in!
9:00- Try to make jumps bigger and more expressed.

Cunningham Technique 1

In this video we focused on the Cunningham technique:
Curve,Arch,Tilt and Twist.
0:13- I need to focus on making my head more 'heavy' to complete the arch.
0:31- Focus on bringing my shoulders down so that they don't hunch up.
0:43- Try to relax more and not be so stiff. I need to make my bounces more relaxed.
0:59- DON'T FLICK THE FRINGE!
1:43- Make sure flat back is flatter and arms are enagaged.
2:10-2:13- Mini shuffle!
2:16- Make sure arms are engaged to prevent them from moving when feet point.
2:30- Push onto toes more to achieve a full demi.
2:32- Push through the floor more to force point which will make the perfect point :)
2:52- My arms start randomly going up and down. Increase stability by having engaged more.
3:20- Scratching my face...
3:32- Keep hips still so that only the top of the body moves.
3:38- Thought I'd add an extra cheeky downwards plie...
4:23- Leaning onto my left. Need to straighten my posture.
5:12- Make sure I roll up through the whole spine.
5:50- Sort out position of plank. Suck bum in.
5:51- Bring leg across whole body.

Contraction

She's a bit weird? Her voice is annoying but it helped a lot!

Martha Graham Technique.

The perfect Martha Graham technique mastered by third year students.

YR 12 Graham Technique- Warm up, Arms, Seated Contractions, Feet.

This is our first video of us attempting Martha Graham technique... oh God.
The first thing I noticed when watching the video back was my habit of fidgeting.
1:51- the shuffle.
3:01- playing with my strap
3:03- pulling down my leggings!
My alignment in stretches are pretty good but there's plenty of room for improvement. At 2:50, my arm is slightly out but will be easy to correct next time :)

3:10- I look like I'm in army training but nevertheless my toes are pointed!
3:19- Starting to lose it ever so slightly...barley lifting my feet off the floor.
3:39- Pull down leggings...again.
3:52- What a disaster! The fear of tripping over wedged out dance from my head. I need to work on my balance and spacial awareness so I don't knock somebody over when attempting to run backwards.
4:10- FINALLY SOMETHING POSITIVE! My arms are engaged and this really helps my moves look extended and full.
4:13- Alignment's looking sharpish :)
4:55- I do it wrong... Need to make sure I don't get too lost in the exercise and actually remember which way I'm meant to be doing it!
6:23- Make sure my head is down making the bottom of my back to the top of my head a straight line.
Martha Graham doesn't look like the hunch back of Notre Darme so neither should I. Really need to focus on lengthening my back fully to get rid of the hunch.
7:48- I tried my hardest but really could not get it! I need to do the correct technique so that my foot HAS to ping off the floor:
1)Flat
2)Toes
3)Through the toes causing it to ping!

Contraction

A contraction starts in the pelvis and travels up the spine lengthening each individual vertebrate, in turn, making the spine appear longer. Contractions were founded by Martha Graham and based on emotions. She believed that every emotion could be shown through the front of the body e.g. grief, happiness. 

A Level Dance Induction Day

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A Level Induction Day! We made a short piece based on the different stages of a life. We had literally 15 minutes to put it together and managed to come up with this!