Political Climate:
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Between first and second world wars.
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Peace conference was popular satirical image
Artistic movement: Expressionism
Formless outpouring of emotions
End of movement: dance artists found their own structure and form while
continuing to rebel against the aristocratic style of ballet.
All movement has intent: dance-theatre.
Kurt Jooss: 1901 - 1979
Fascinated with TotenTanz
Death as great equalizer.
Death comes to us the way we live.
Great sense of social justice (fled to England 1933)
student of Rudolf von Laban: language of dance, eukinetics
reaction of body to gravity
Pulse governed by emotional and physical state
Breath occurs rythmically
Student demo:
Posture (reaction to gravity)
Heavy v Light
Bound v Free
impulse, impact and swing
Stable v Off balance
How dance communicates: kinesthetic response
music and sports
necessity for intent: spiritual connection
video's shortfall as a medium
Video The Green Table: A Dance of Death in Eight
Scenes. (Choreography by Kurt Jooss, reconstruction performed
by the Joffrey Ballet in the 1980s; music composed by Fritz Cohen).
Prologue: Gentlemen in Black
Transitional Solo: Death
3/4 time against 4/4 music, creating tension
clicking feet -- may not be heard well on video
angular, bound, relentless weight
form ABA
The Farewells (Jooss's memories from WW1.)
Standard bearer: white, fluid
Young Soldier: lifeless marching, uplifted, driven
Young girl; restained with own weight, enfolding, impulse
Old Soldier: heavier steps, burdened, hindered by woman, halting, after
the beat, crucifixion image
Profiteer: goves, claps, stacatto movements, snakelike
The Battle: ABA form, red flag, strong, impulse, off balance
The Refugees: calm, boatlike motion, old woman peering
The Partisan (underground fighter): red, opposite polarities
The Brothel (whore house): out of control, free hair
The Aftermath: Danse macabre procession
Transitional Solo: Death
Return to the Green (conference) Table
Epilogue: The Gentlemen in Black
Ballet begins as it ends -- why?
Questions:
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Why did the composer select a tango for the Gentlemen in Black?
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Why do many people label this modern piece "ballet?"
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How does this statement of political justice relate to Machiavellian justice?
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Draw some pictures from The Green Table. Are there images that stick
in your mind? What do these images communicate?
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