Class rehearsal on the dance piece

Today's dance class rehearsal we were going over the timing and the movement of the dance sequence. One of the strengths that I noticed during dance rehearsal is being in time with everyone and having spacial awareness as a dancer(watching the dancers around me). For example, when I was dancing I made sure that I was listening to the music and dancing on the right count. Showing a good sense of musicality and a rhythmical sense of movement and timing.

Another strength that I identified is my extensions of my legs and arms. For example, when I do the cartwheel jump my legs are extended through in a split position with my legs pointed. I have been improving my leg extension by stretching more in the splits position and going to regular technique classes.

Furthermore, another strength that I recognised was memory of movements. For example, in class rehearsal I am able to pick up the movements very quickly and apply them with the correct technique. As, I present the repertoire of movement full out and being able to dance the style contemporary well.

One of my weaknesses was my posture and use of balance. For example, when I'm in the contemporary stance of the first position. My body tends to be slightly forwards and not straight. A way of how I am going to improve and work on my posture is to go to a ballet class and working on my plies.

Another weakness that I noticed was elevation. For example, when I am turning I need to be on the ends of my toe. I am going to be improving my elevation by practicing jumps in full and demi plie and to rise and hold the movement to help with height of turns or jumps. Improving on my elevation will also help me with my jumps and my turns such as piruoettes and etc.

One of the other weaknesses that I captured out is my use of release technique. For example, this was shown as my swings and drop downs was stiff. As, I was not throwing myself enough with the movements. One aspect of how I am going to be improving on my release technique is by practicing more release exercises before doing the dance piece. So, that the feeling of releasing myself is captured within the dance.

Analyzing sinnerman, "Alvin Ailey"

This section from Alvin Ailey's work is represented as the powerful men's trio for sinners-men of who are desperate to escape the fires of hell. For example, the use of the off- balanced movements, such as represented when the trio are performing the T shape off-balanced shape on a diagonal. While using some of Alvin Ailey's stylistic qualities such as suspension and alignment. Alvin Ailey shows an implication of these movements used to rather imply the fear of what will happen if you can not be forgiven(it is like an burden that has an explicit rather alert warning which you can not run away from). It creates an metaphorical sense of how it like a weight that you are carrying full of grief and sins. As, you would have to eventually confess and repent from your sins. Hoping that in Gods eyes that you are forgiven from your mistakes. For example, the jumps across large distances of space such as leaps and pirouettes portray the men trying to escape and run away from your problems. This is because of how your problems will always come back to you. Furthermore, the jumps could also connote on how that you have to reach to heaven in order to get/receive any forgiven. Moreover, through the use of the 20th century gospel music infused, which is very upbeat and the strong dynamic field of dynamics. Therefore, the jumps would be very large and uplifting. Forgiveness is being presented as one of the themes of Alvin Ailey's work. It describes on how Alvin Ailey is telling the story of the American Faith experiences from slavery to freedom. The dancers were going in a pathway of space forward and backwards. Through the use of the action running within the pathway. Which could have the implied meaning of how they are seeking for freedom and help. That Alvin Ailey was trying to convey through his work as he had an hard life as of being in the Black American Culture. For example, they were not given as many opportunities or chances. Which Alvin Ailey wanted to present through his piece of the struggles and the salvation of which African American Culture are facing such as acceptance into society. The use of the reaching out movements on the floor demonstrates his infusion of graham technique. That he incorporated into his works i.e. Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey and Jose Limon. The portrayal meaning and desire of the section, "sinnerman" is aimed to show a mesmerizing and captivating moment of time when you are reaching for indulgence. Furthermore, this piece reinforces the issues involving around African American Culture and of how that they are treated nothing more than animals. In the eyes of Alvin Ailey and many other African Americans.

How did we as a group explore the stylistic qualities of Alvin Ailey

What are the stylistic qualities of Alvin Ailey?

By Alvin Ailey valuing eclecticism, he created more of a dance style rather than a dance technique.  Some of Alvin Ailey’s stylistic qualities included Martha Graham (both Martha Graham and Alvin Ailey both studied dance together in New York) - contraction and release. Which is Graham technique, this is a modern dance movement style. Furthermore, Alvin Ailey’s use of a variety of teaching and technique (like the one of Katherine Dunham, Lester Horton, Doris Humphrey, and Martha Graham), before creating his own company: The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. One of the main elements of which distinguishes his stylistic qualities in his work the most is the focus on the expression on black people’s feelings. “Revelations” is considered as a master piece that gathers his most renowned aesthetical choices such as lyricism, use of ethnic music, Graham technique, and spirituality also revolutionary ambience.

Furthermore, he is recognized for his inventive prominence within the black culture aspects, gradually over time he opens his company to multi-ethnic possibilities. This happens before Alvin Ailey established own choreographic language. Alvin Ailey always opens up to new multi-ethnic dances and new choreographer. 

How did you do them in the performance?

One of the ways in which we included aspects of stylistic qualities from Alvin Ailey works is contractions. For example, all of us in unison rippled with our arms and right leg towards the right side. In the direction of the left side. Another aspect of stylistic qualities that we included in our choreography is arm extensions. For example, this was demonstrated in the section of when all of us brought our arms to the front on the left side (our arms were slowly coming up). While, our right leg is the front of the left. 

Working on choreography for Alvin Ailey

In today's dance lesson, we had to explore some of the aspects that Alvin Ailey included in his famous dance piece, "Revelations". Some of the aspects included long extensions, contractions, use of dynamics and etc.

Practicing a section from Alvin Ailey piece Revelations

During todays dance lesson we were exploring the concepts and ideas of what Alvin Ailey's dance pieces such as Revelations involve. For example, Revelations involved the aspects of survival, salvation and fighting for what you believe in. 

Biography on Alvin Ailey

Biography on Alvin Ailey

Alvin Ailey was born in Texas in 1931, he was the choreographer who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in 1958.   The Alvin Ailey American Dance theatre was known for demonstrating issues of which effected the African American Culture such as multi- racial issues i.e. segregation and equality. It establishes using and representing modern dance around the world. One of his best known dance work is “Revelations” which connotes and shows a spiritual meaning. As, the dance displays and shows Alvin Ailey’s life in stages such as baptism and going to church.  He wanted to make modern dance known as a whole and for it to be recognized. Alvin Ailey played an important role within establishing black modern dance. Through being one of the most successful choreographer in America.

He became a noted Broadway dancer, and in the late 1950’s became a choreographer of work that explored a wide and vast range. Alvin Ailey became less of an important figure/role within the African American Culture of 20th century modern dance. He grew up in a small area of within Texas in the town “Navasota”. One of Alvin Ailey’s main inspirations is that he grew up in church services that he attended. Also, the music that he heard within his local dance class. This inspired through what type of music he used in his piece which was gospel music. Ailey was encouraged to follow dancing. He launched reading modern dance with Lester Horton in 1949. Furthermore, he joined Horton's dance company the following year.

Some of his key career highlights consists of Ailey achieved his greatest fame with his own dance company, which he founded in 1958. That same year, he debuted Blues Suite, a piece that drew from his southern roots. Another of his major early works was Revelations, which drew inspiration from the African American music of his youth and young age by attending church services. “Revelations came from Ailey's "'blood memories' of his childhood in rural Texas and the Baptist Church."

The company was known for its vibrant artistry.

 He stopped performing in the mid-1960s, but he continued to choreograph several masterpieces such as “Ailey's Masakela Language”. Furthermore, he also expanded his dance company by establishing the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble of within the same year. This was known as one of Alvin Ailey’s best accomplishes.

 In 1988, Ailey was privileged by the Kennedy Centre for his huge contributions to the arts.

 Alvin Ailey "had a big heart and a tremendous love of the dance," dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov told The New York Times, adding, "His work made an important contribution to American culture."

Despite his ultimate death, Ailey continues to be an important figure in the arts through the ballets he created. He was an illustration of a important figure in modern dance as a current art form in America.

 “Ailey directed the growth of his small, pick-up group of seven dancers into a large, carefully managed, internationally-renowned enterprise including several companies of dancers.”

Ailey also changed the landscape of modern dance through the use of developing new audiences for its performance through a consistence combination through its use of “creativity and artistry”. His creative imagination through dance was based on the creative artistry of “blood memories” of some of the cultural formations that he witnessed as a youth. He learnt so much through being an African American within the depression-era south. For example, he learnt that he had to work twice as hard as a black person. In order, to succeed and achieve. Ailey wanted his dance pieces not only to connect to the audience spiritually but emotionally too as well. He wanted his entire dance to match with imaginary story telling.