Rehearsals

This week we rehearsed all of the beginning sequence and went through the promenade piece in  our minds. We also had a some time to teach and learn everybody else routines, so that we could synchronise them together towards the end. After this, we just rehearsed all of the different parts of the piece over and over again to all of the different music so we knew cues, marching etc.

2nd Lesson Back

For the first part of the lesson, we all talked about the monologues for everybody's auditions, after that our class went back down to the dance studio to rehearse what we had done the week before. Lining up, and going to the music in the background, doing a devised, no dialogue movement piece with the other 5. This week we rehearsed for a bit, and then taught all of the other groups our piece, by mirroring them and getting them to copy it. Firstly we are using levels, 3 of us go forward, and kneel on the floor pointing guns, after about 2 beats, the rest of us (3) walks to the same line they are in, but standing. After this, we swap, so they are standing and we are kneeling, then all get up and get shot one at a time. After teaching this to various different groups, we then learnt other groups, using the same mirroring method. We did this so we can all swap and know each others so it looks in time. We then went to watch a play called 'Advice for the young at heart'.

1st lesson back

In our first lesson back after half term, we sat as a whole group and talked about the performance, that will be in week 6! We talked about it being a promenade piece and closed our eyes and mapped it out in our heads. Firstly, we will start in the New Canteen, all doing the waltz, with parents joining people who aren't dancing in a horseshoe shape. We practised this over and over as our beginning piece. When all the couples in the middle are dancing, we, around the edges are 'drinking tea and eating cake' as if we are all at a tea dance. Then, when the boys are signalled off stage, to leave and start performing on the way to the space, through the corridors, all of the girls start dancing alone, waltzing around the space. Isabella starts slowly singing the beginning of 'pack up your troubles in your old kit bag' and we all eventually join in. All of the girls slow down and you start to see a sad and desperate look of realisation on our faces, whilst we are singing. When we have finished it first, we sing it again, but this time, to the parents in a more 'jolly' manner. When its finished, we all leave still singing, and make our way to the space. We then perform in two groups, our own 15 minute performances. Miss Goodhalls group went into one of the dance studio to rehearse it. We got into groups of six. Me, Ben, Tyler, Claudia, Ursula and Kim were all 'Frontline'.  We devised a piece, really focusing on the music and using levels. Half are up and half are down etc. Then you have the other groups behind us doing their own pieces. We go and find a place to sit down and take off our shoes and socks, and ring them out. Improvising by bandaging our foots, being sick etc. A really dull view on the trench life, to show what it was like.