Blog 5- Practitioner Study

 

Naharin, as discussed in previous blogs, is a choreographer who is very much concentrated on the relationships between the dancers and their bodies, which is seen by the constant conversation through the dancer's movement and the tenderness of their touch. His piece has such texture and dimension. (Ohad Naharin, date unknown)


The piece begins with two dancers entering stage left, hunched over and facing one another. The male dancer clasps his hands together as if carrying an invisible sword. There is a hot, heavy pull between the dancers even though they are not looking at one other.

The first powerful movement (the male dancer stabs the female dancer in the stomach) makes her stumble back as the music shifts almost in response to the outburst.

The grand music compliments the intricate uniform-like costumes but is in contrast with the rawness of the ‘Gaga’ style. (Gaga people, date unknown)


The motif of the man holding the sword is continued in bursts throughout the beginning of the piece before they finally make contact with their hands and start to move together as one. The dancers perform intricate lifts which involve much bodily contact and trust which is prevalent in Naharin’s style of choreography.

A second motif is of the women sitting on the man's shoulders as they gesture with their hand to their face which is performed twice (one in the middle and again at the end of the piece).

There is a constant contrast between the violent acts and passionate embraces of the dancers. The man seems to be remembering trauma, which can be seen when he harshly bashes his head against her body as she attempts to console him and his solo which involves jumping on one leg as the other is crossed over in uncontrollable panic.

For our own piece, we intend to create juxtoposition between fast movements and our slow, continuous music. 





Watch the piece here:  from 13mins 36 secs

https://youtu.be/7xxLV4lnnnk?si=m4o7eBy-wQ4isrLj 



Bibliography:



Gaga People. (date unknown) Gaga Movement Language. Available at: https://www.gagapeople.com/en/ [Accessed 4 November 2023]


Ohad Naharin. (date unknown) Bastheva. Available at: https://batsheva.co.il/en/about/ohad-naharin/ [Accessed 4 november 2023]


SaintsDance. (2014) Ohad Naharin Deca Dance. Available at: https://youtu.be/7xxLV4lnnnk?si=GpV8m7mr6K2yvtj2 [Accessed 31 October 2023]






Comments

rachel stanford said…
Could you expand on how you intend to create this juxtaposition between the movement and the music and why you have chosen to do this?
5 November 2023 at 12:05
Kimberley Stevens said…
Of course! I find contrast extremely pleasing to the eye. It is the element of surprise that is so interesting and gives the piece texture. We believe that this contrast between the slow music and fast movement in the beginning of our piece gets the message across that our character is living a fast passed life and cannot seem to slow down. The dancer performs sharp, jagged moves to convey this. This takes the audience on a real time journey of the change when our character eventually learns that they cannot live like this forever, that eventually this will lead to burnout. We then see the change of dynamic as the dancer moves more continuously with extension and reach and breath. We intend to create positions with longer leg and arms lines which have suspension and pause.
6 November 2023 at 00:01
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