GCSE DANCEUnit 1 – Critical Appreciation of Dance

Physical Setting

YOU NEED TO… Be Organised!

Be Prepared!

Be Willing!

Read the question carefully and always look at the number of marks for each question.

APPROACHING THE QUESTION Provide a short introduction linking to

question Ensure for each work you correctly name

the title of the work and the choreographer

Give a short insight into the dance you are discussing to show understanding of the piece

Clearly state the point you want to raise but make sure you explain/justify your point giving relevant detail about the costume

Where possible provide evaluative points Take care on the structure of your essay

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT…

Physical Setting

Costume, Set Design, Lighting & Props

COSTUMESDESCRIBE COSTUMES using these words …

allowing and restricting movement, cost, formal, flow, line, size, weight, colour, texture, decoration.

CONTIBUTIONS OF COSTUME Mood and Atmosphere

Era Social setting

Historical setting Sense of Place Sense of Time

Event Location

Character/Role Season Gender

Groups of Dancers Status

Theme of Dance

PHYSICAL SETTING POINTS

Remember the Magic List!

PHYSICAL SETTING POINTS

Describe Set, Lighting & Props

Colour Shape Size & Location Style Texture Mood

Other Considerations

Cost Durability Ease of dancing Health and Safety Size of Space

It’s really important to DESCRIBE the set, lighting and props in each example that you

discuss

PHYSICAL SETTING POINTS – MAGIC LIST

Physical Setting Contributions

Support the dance style Provide a context Provide a sense of reality Create interest Can replace dancer - support Time of day / Season Establishes mood Props help identify character Can provide a climax Setting the dance in an era Can provide exits and

entrances Geographical location

Always Remember to Include Examples

o Creates social contexto Light/set can structure danceo Props can inspire movemento Lighting can highlighto Set creates shape and levelso Add textureo Compliments other

componentso Can clarify narrativeo Can show changes in timeo Add to the theme of the danceo Add humoro Add variety through set and

lighting changes

CAN YOU GIVE EXAMPLES FROM NUTCRACKER! BY MATTHEW BOURNE?

Set/lighting helps create contrast

Lighting establishes mood

Set creates varied levels/platforms

The set creates exits and entrances

NUTCRACKER! ANSWERSSet/lighting helps

create contrast

Lighting establishes mood

Set creates varied levels/platforms

The set creates exits and entrances

The contrast between the dark colours in set and lighting of the workhouse and colour of Sweetieland

The brightness and soft colours used create a magical and fun feel to Act 2

The wedding cake creates different levels for the dancers

Dancers enter through doors in side flats, upstage window and mouth into Sweetieland

SWANSONG CHRISTOPHER BRUCEDefines SpaceProvides a sense of placeAdds humourAdds to themeContributes movement material

SWANSONG EXAMPLES

Defines Space

Provides a sense of place

Add humour

Contributes movement material

- The shaft of light provides a narrow space in which the prisoner’s solos are performed

- The stark set of a single chair hints at isolation and the dark edges of stage give impression of confined space

- Use of hats and red nose add humour to the dance

- The chair as part of the set acts as key part of the choreography as do the canes in the cane dance section

EXAMPLE QUESTIONDescribe the physical setting of both

professional dance works that you have studied.

Physical setting in work 1: (2 marks)

Physical setting in work 2: (2 marks)

Compare the way the physical setting is used in both professional dance works that you have studied.(8 marks)

EXAMPLE QUESTION

ANSWER Compare the way the physical setting is used in

both professional dance works that you have studied. (8 marks)

1–2 marks for simple, descriptive responses, possibly with reference to only one work. Comparison, if attempted, is unclear or inaccurate.

3–5 marks for a more coherent response which includes some accurate comparison.

6–8 marks for well written, clear, coherent answers which demonstrate knowledge of the similarities and differences in usage of physical setting in the two works chosen.

Examples may include: providing realistic/naturalistic setting, entrances/exits, space for focus on dancers, multiple settings, mood atmosphere, context – social, geographical, historical.

EXAMPLE QUESTION Choose one of the professional

dance works that you have studied and explain how effective you think the use of physical setting is. (3 marks)

Name of piece ............................

How does the physical setting contribute to dance works?

Give examples from your 2 professional dance works.