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Romeo and Juliet Blog 2

Within the rehearsal today we started to prepare to be ready and fully focused on the outlined tasks we had set today in today’s lesson we were given a tech role of which mine is costume. We have also decided that we would pair up into line buddies and work out some dates in which we are free to learn lines. After this we all got into the open space up on our feet ready to do a physical warm-up. This is to give us energy and make it our main focus to work on our gestures which is an important technique we need to include within our characters. But also work on different levels and different paces of movement which comes under elements of dance which is needed in the ball scene later throughout the rehearsals we have but this is put in place to prepare and ensure we are ready for that stage but it also is to make us aware of other performers around us. We also did a vocal warm-up to open our lungs and clear out our throats to ensure we were projecting our voices throughout. We did some tongue twisters and some lip trills these are all techniques we need to develop our characters. My main focus of today is working on putting in some gestures as this will develop me within my character in the style we are performing in this will help me to get a better understanding of my character. We also did a textual analysis this initial research has helped me to gain knowledge on what style we are using and the period it is from and the type of costumes which would have been used. The style we are using is Jane Austen style which is useful for me to know as costume is my tech role.

I feel that the lesson today was something I find useful to learn and sometimes your gestures are more effective in your physical performance than the actual dialogue because if someone cannot understand or hear clearly at some part they can always see what you are doing if they are over the top and well exaggerated and will still understand how your character feels. I have enjoyed learning something new in a technique I used before and this will help me to get the best out of my own personal performance and allow me to portray my character so that the audience will always find my character/characters interesting as I am playing two completely different characters and one of the characters (original name Peter) I am changing to a girl called Patricia as a lot of the time my character is on stage but has very little dialogue and it is important the audience are able to pick up on my body language to not only understand my character’s mannerisms but also understand my character’s thoughts and feelings within the scene.

I attended the lesson on time and fully equipped in the correct and suitable clothing which were blacks ready to work as a professional performer. I worked with another peer to help me to understand specific gestures I have chosen to use for my character throughout the script to see if they worked only we haven’t blocked out these scenes yet. I also marked out all of my lines and I am starting to pick up and know most of them. I remain in a calm and focused manner and I listen thoroughly to everyone throughout the lesson which has helped me to learn new elements of performing or expand on techniques I already knew but in further detail.

Me and my line Buddy Evie have decided on some separate times when we are free to go over our lines to ensure we know and are ready to perform on performance week. This can be found on a separate post these skills that I used today will help me develop my character within the performance and work on building up a character profile for it and it will give me a better understanding on whether I am using over the top gestures or not. Doing the physical warm-up has helped us to become aware of the people around us and know what space we have to work in so there are no injuries caused.

My strengths and weaknesses within the rehearsal lesson today:

Strengths:

1. I explored a wide variety of gestures and tried them out in character and then made them bigger each time so it was performed in the correct style of this play. I am confident in showing my gestures to the rest of the cast to show the different ones I used as I feel they are over exaggerated and the audience will be able to understand what my character’s initial thoughts are in the different scenes I am in.

2. I have gave feedback to other people within my group so that they can improve and make their character better for example with Lady Capulet when Juliet refuses to marry Paris she looks at her with pity so that just by her facial expression the audience can see that she knows not to step out of line and that Lord Capulet will not be pleased. But when Lord Capulet is also in the room shouting at poor Juliet for being honest about her true feelings she could gulp and go to talk but not show that she feels guilty about making her father aware of the situation.

3. I know my lines for Patricia (Peter) therefore line learning and memorizing is a main techniques needed within being able to work as a professional performer and I can perform my lines to a high standard and I know what I am portraying in my dialogue in the different scenes I have lines.

Things to improve:

1. I need to get a better understanding of my other character Friar John before it comes to blocking his scenes as I am unsure of some bits within the scene towards the end that he is in. To improve this I will do some extra research in my spare time so that it gives me a better understanding of who this person is.

2. Occasionally when performing I slip into my own mannerisms and out of character I feel that I need to come with some extra movements to prevent this from happening in the future as this could potentially make me lose focus.

3. When there is background noise I need to work on projecting my voice louder so that the audience members can hear me. I will do this also so they don’t lose interest and start to focus on things that aren’t relevant to this performance.

Romeo and Juliet Blog 1

Into today’s lesson we looked at starting the Romeo and Juliet script and read the first bit which was the Prologue after this we got onto our feet and started to do as a class a vocal warm-up to warm-up our voice and prepare us to project our voices and we did some tongue twisters alongside this as our main focus was getting our head around the Shakespearian language. After this we went onto looking at the types of costumes that would be needed for this performance and what era roughly they came from. We then started to talk about the potential venue we could be performing at Haddon Hall. In the second part of the rehearsal that we did and decided to block and go through acting out the prologue of which all the cast was a part of as we was fully prepared to start our very first scene.

I feel that this lesson personally went better than planned and I was very excited to get on with Romeo and Juliet as it is one of my favourite performances. Starting the prologue we learnt our cues and that we would have both the Capulet’s and Montague’s on opposite sides we also think later on in our rehearsals we may add a song into it to reflect what this tragic story is about. The vocal warm-up we did consists of breathing in for 8 and then out for 8 repeated ten times we also looked at pitch within our voices as we got into partners and we acted a short small piece from the script in our characters. Then we performed it to the rest of the Cast getting further and further away until we was at opposite ends of the room to see if we could still hear and understand each other clearly. I feel this technique as helped to determine our own vocal range but understand how to add pitch and the right emotion to our voice and get it across to the audience in a powerful way with projection but no so much we are forgetting that we are in character and just shouting it out. But also this is something useful to learn as we are performing the majority of this performance outside so it is important for us to have projection in our voice so the audience can understand the story and follow it throughout. The purpose of us learning the prologue is because we help each of us to know where to stand and also to show how we are going to start the play to audience but put our ideas together so that we know what works and what needs to be improved. The techniques and skills learnt into lesson are being used alongside this play to help us to perform in the Shakespearean style.

Working with the use of pitch, projection and the different levels was effective and necessary at the start of the rehearsals As these three techniques will be need a great deal also in the prologue we incorporated some facial expressions as it was a very tragic end to two people’s lives who wanted to be together but family feud got in the end. We need this techniques as we are performing in a stately home and outside which means there is going to be a lot of background noises such as birds and cars which means we need to know the dialogue fluently as it is a tricky style to perform in but also we need to be able to project our voice in our characters to be able to portray them to the audience so they are completely engaged in the performance.

I feel that I have used my time effectively with today’s rehearsal as I kept myself busy within the lesson and when watching peers back I have made some notes on my script so that I know my cues and understand what position I need to be in but also looking at ways I could improve a certain facial expression etc. I feel I have been in a professional manner throughout the entire lesson as I have arrived on time fully equipped. So that I know what happening and haven’t disturbed my peers I have arrived in the correct clothing ready to work alongside the rest of the cast as a professional actor. I have stayed in a focused manner and contributed what could be made better.

We explored the script today by blocking the prologue and starting to get to know our parts and the evidence of the work I have done in the lesson can be found on my task sheets.

Strengths and Weaknesses:

Strengths:

1. I remained in a focused manner throughout the rehearsal and didn’t get distracted by others I got on with my work and remained in a positive attitude and wrote down some notes of the tasks I have completed today so that I can revisit them.

2. I able to understand the style and the language they have used within this play of which this isn’t an easy task to do but I can read the dialogue and know what they are expressing.

3. I contributing to different ideas that could be used in the Prologue such as changing how me and the nurse stand to make it more effective as she is suppose to be looking towards Juliet as she is like her second Mum.

Weaknesses:

1. I need to look at the facial expressions I have chosen to use as I feel as though I need to add more to it to make the audience understand the emotions I was trying to get across both sadness and sympathy. I will get a peer to look and observe me in the prologue to see if my facial expressions are suited to that scene.

2. I need to look at where I am standing so that the audience can see my character fully as at times I am not noticing that I am being blocked by others so that they are unable to see me. I can do this by looking at who I am stood next to and arrange where they are likely to stand so that I can prevent this.

3. Make sure that my hair is tied back so that the audience is able to see my full reaction to the scene without my hair being in the way as this is a potential block and if people are unable to see what I am doing this may make them a bit unsure of my character.

I will review these weaknesses in two weeks time.

Dance Blog 4

In today’s lesson in dance we got straight into warming up our muscles ready for the choreography Rich man’s frug. In the warm-up this includes isolation's, energy,arms, cardio, core and legs some of these warm up exercises are key movements within Bob Fosse’s dances and these skills are what we are learning ready to perform to an audience. After this we got on with choreography focusing on the choreography we have done so far to see what needs working on and improving to make it better for the performance at the variety.

The skills that i have used within the lesson today have focused on isolation's, synchronization, timing etc. These three techniques are very important when performing Bob Fosse’s choreography in order for it to be accurate the audience. I feel so far within the rehearsal process of the choreography we are learning for the Rich Man’s Frug i developed my facial expressions and made them over the top and different each time as something Fosse would concentrate and would be key to his dancing would be is image and i feel it is correct the image is everything when performing this style and it needs to be well rehearsed so that the audience stayed interested and focused in what we are doing. I worked on my musicality alongside my peers to make sure that we all know the choreography steps and are in time to music so that his steps look sharp and precised. I also feel working with isolation's as help to focus on working on just one specific part of the body to make sure that is accurate and gains the most focus upon it.

My levels of professionalism within this lesson working on our main focus which was the choreography. I was on time to make sure i didn’t miss anything important or disturb my peers by arriving late. I arrived in the correct clothing to ensure i won’t cause injury. My hair was tied back so that my facial expressions were clear to the audience i had a bottle of water to ensure that i kept hydrated throughout this lesson. I remained completely focused and what i was doing and helped peers where necessary to find their position or work on a certain step and when listening or watching another peer i made sure i gave it my full attention and remained in a positive attitude.

My Strengths and weaknesses :

Strengths :

1. My Facial Expressions were a key strength that i noticed i had within this lesson i used a variety of different ones and kept them up throughout making sure they remained in the style keeping them over the top at all times throughout the choreography.

2. My spatial awareness is a good one to have within this style as there is a lot of fast movement. which requires a lot of movement i am aware of my space and know what steps are appropriate to use within the space i have to work in this is also a good skill to have to prevent tripping and causing an injury to others either side.

3. Movement memory is another good skill that i have within my choreography as i able to remember the choreography steps we have previously done in order to remember what comes next without thinking about when performing so i am able to give the audience my full attention and interest for learning this so that they don’t choose to disengage themselves from the performance and understand what it is about.

Weaknesses :

1.When travelling across the space in a similar way to triplets i need to remember to keep my foot forward instead of letting it point to the side because it is not getting this movement across fully and working alongside the struts.

2. I need to work on my timing as occasionally i slip off what i am doing in the choreography. I feel this is my focus sometimes letting me down as it is fast paced and at times i need to look at the moves i struggle with so that i keep up at all times.

3. My balance is something i need to work on as sometimes my choreography is wobbly as i am not always able to hold it.

My Action Plan :

I need to work on travelling across the space being able to point my foot so that I can improve my triplets and struts. I am going to practice doing the footwork exercise, triplets and struts for thirty minutes a day so that in a weeks time I will be able to see an improvement in this area.

I need to work on the part of the choreography where I struggle with the fast paced timing so that I get used to doing the footwork at this speed. I’m going to practice this section of the choreography each day three times over so that I get better at performing the section of choreography that I struggle with. I hope that I will see this section of the choreography improved in a weeks time.

To work on my balance I am going to have to improve my core strength so I am able to hold my positions better if I have more strength. To build up my strength I will do the core strength exercise once a day until I see an improvement in the area that i struggle with my balance.

Dance Blog 3

Within today’s lesson we started with warming up our bodies to prepare and ensure that we are using safe dance practise so that we know we aren’t going to pull a muscle or cause injury. First we started with a warm-up to get the blood pumping to our muscles. Working with isolations, our legs which involved two types of cardio, arms and core these are all important techniques we need to warm-up properly. Then in the second part of today’s lesson we worked on our techniques only this time we did peer observation forms on one another. We choose one peer at random to evaluate for this we completed all of our techniques which were the following plies,Tendu,jumps,kicks centre side and back,pirouettes,chaines,triplets and this new technique we had learnt were kicks on the floor side front and back. After each of the exercise we gave our peer some verbal feedback throughout the techniques so they could see where they were working at the whole time and then we swapped over so that we could observe them properly.

In the lesson today I used both physical and interpretive skills and I can see from my feedback of how much I have progressed throughout dance compared to when I first started. I have noticed that I am much better at coordination compared to how I was at the start not being able to correspond with legs and arms and now although I am still finding it a bit hard it’s getting much easier from the practice I have had. I feel much more confident about my dancing which made today a lot easier for me as at the start of the class I wasn’t confident about my peers seeing my work as of now I am as I feel I know the routines really well which shows me at my strong point and shows how enthusiastic and how much energy I am willing to put into my dance work which as meant I able to concentrate more on adding in facial expressions and has gave me the chance to work on it and notice that this is a key important skill needed and is one of the most important because if you don’t use facial expressions it could immediately put someone of watching you as there is no story to what you are performing but also it can put across that you aren’t enjoying it. My ability to focus has got much stronger and I am able to focus on just me and work on my strengths and weaknesses giving it time and effort to make it the best it can be.

My professionalism within the lesson today has been without a doubt the best lesson in which I have worked and showed of my techniques to my peers as even when I got a few things wrong compared to normally I still carried on with what I was doing. I arrived to dance on time fully equipped with water etc. Ready to start the lesson I gave it all my energy and showed off my skills to best of my ability staying focused at all times and keeping confident in myself.

My strengths and Weaknesses of today’s lesson/ Action plan.

Strengths:

1. My confidence within dance as improved a lot more and I try a lot more compared to some of my previous weeks where I would just give up I have learnt how to keep going as small steps will help it to improve much more than to just stop trying.

2. I am using facial expressions more and more which is contributing to my work massively and making the techniques look better when performing them to an audience.

3. My musicality as improved with the previous lessons we have had and I am able to keep in time with the others dancers as well as following the beat to the music and keeping in time with that so that the steps fit in perfectly and the whole thing looks more confident.

Weaknesses:

1. when performing and using my arms to balance I need to relax my shoulders as at times I am keeping them tense which isn’t allowing me to perform the moves in a nice graceful way. This could come across as me struggling to improve this and make my arms feel secure when performing the certain techniques I will practice the arm exercise in order to release the tension have In my arms I can do this once a night in order to make sure my arms are getting stronger and steady so they are able to work alongside the music rather than against it. I will achieve this in next couple of weeks and track my progress by recording myself doing this.

2. I need to work on my point when extending my leg this is needed for all sorts of techniques and choreography but mainly within today’s lesson was tendu. I feel as though this wobbly due to me not having enough balance or weight placement. In order to ensure that this is made stronger in the future I need to keep my weight central and working on extension to ensure that this is improving I will work on my balancing. My doing some of the leg warm-up exercises for fifteen minutes a night to make sure that it will improve by working on this in my spare time. I will observe my progress before next week’s lesson.

3. I need to work on my eye contact as occasionally I get two focused on the steps I am doing within the technique exercises. As when performing I don’t always give it to the audience which can come across as though I am disengaging them in my performance. I feel that the mirrors at the front of the room will help me to keep eye contact with audience at the same time I can keep an eye on my steps and the audience normally sit this way so I roughly know where they will sit so I put my posture upright and focused my head towards their attention so I keep them interested throughout. To improve this in my spare time in between lessons I will go into the dome and practice my techniques and get a peer to come and watch me to see if or not I am giving them eye contact and engaging them within my own personal performance.

evangelinecullperformingart-blog

Romeo and Juliet - Map of Tapton house/where we will be performing the scenes.

Tech for Romeo and Juliet that Me and Tia have done finding out the prices for the items needed.

found some bed sets for white sheets Argos 5.99.

Rehearsal Schedule Romeo and Juliet lesson 21/03/17.

whats on the plan?

rehearse scenes

fight scenes

Romeo and Juliet Lime buddies

sell cakes for the raffle tickets

programme blurb finish head shots

Costume sort out and try on trousers

Friar and Friar john could rehearse

What will you be doing ?

For the first half of the lesson before break i sorted out the trousers for the boy character roles within my group

i spoke to Sue and got the costume list and find out who needed trousers specifically and about other tech roles e.g props.

Within the trousers that me and Victoria found weeks previous. The three quarter ones of which i have found some that fit Tom Albans and got Luke to try some on.

they have been labelled

The page, The prince, Paris have already got trousers on hire from the costume company e.g Nottingham playhouse.

Remind Props -

Need to add writing to the letters and still need some potion bottles also more white flowers prerably a bunch of white lillies. ( white haiiwan reef to make into seperate ones).

If anyone has any Knee length White socks please could they bring those in for the show.

All shoes are everyone’s own reponsibilty to get e.g : black boots, Lace up brogs/pumps or ballet type shoes.

I have completed all the above within in the lesson. For tech and stated what is left and needed.

In terms of feedback in the second part of the lesson me and Tia worked together and watched some of the different scenes within Romeo and Juliet adding in more emphasis and certain techniques to make it believable.

I like the scene the most between Nathan (Romeo) and Emily (Juliet ) the most because as an audience member watching this it made me have sympathy towards Juliet and made me feel like i was apart of that scene and it clearly shows how it made her feel and that she had woke up from a deep sleep using motion memory within this scene with access of breathe really showed the sense that she was panicking.