Class rehearsal on revelations

In today’s dance class and rehearsals we were going over each section of which we are doing for revelations such as the fan dance, revelations (beginning section) and sinnerman. Within revelations we have to move through the space and use our whole body including the centre of the torso when doing contractions. Which is one of the key elements of technique that we have to apply to revelations. Alvin Ailey represents this as one of the most important parts within revelations (to show isolations through the movement of contracting and using suspension within the jumps and extensions). That are required within sinnerman the most. As, it is a very fast pace dynamic section of Revelations (it is uplifted and the movements are very explosive and contained). It represents on how Alvin Ailey wants the African American culture to be given the chance to do the same opportunities and chances that the western culture have. It is a journey that black African American's are going through. They were segregated and degraded from the western culture. During, where Alvin Ailey lived Ailey felt entrapped within the western culture. Due to how this culture thought they are more superior and impower of other cultures. Ailey wanted to show through Revelations that everyone should have the same opportunities. 

One of my strengths from Revelations is applying my technical skills that are required for contemporary dance such as leg extensions. For example, one way that this was applied was within the section of sinnerman section when I project my body by extending my legs in the air. Extensions is meant to be shown within Revelations to represent on how we are searching, reaching and looking out for freedom. Using extensions within the solo dance that I have in sinnerman is to show poetic and artistic qualities that are meant to be emphasised and expressed within Revelations. 

Another strength that I have noticed within Revelations is my turn out position(the placement of my feet). One way that this is being represented is through by in the beginning of Revelations when we had to go into a releve position with our feet in a turn out position. Going into a turn out position represents how we are using the contemporary dance technique to go through Alvin Ailey's movements. 

The last strength that I have noticed is my projection of the movement explored within Alvin Ailey's piece. For example, in the beginning section of Revelations I was using my movements to represent and show that I am struggling and in pain searching and looking for freedom. Alvin Ailey expected us to use the movements to represent a path that we are going through. In terms of applying the stylistic qualities that are meant to be in Alvin Ailey's dance piece. 

One of the weaknesses that I have noticed is my lack of character within the piece. For example, my movements are exploring and showing that I am suffering looking for a way out. One way of how I can improve and work on my character is through looking at the videos of revelations and the self recorded video of myself in Revelations to compare to see how I can apply more character within my movement and through the performance. 

Another weakness that I have noticed is using more emotion through Alvin Ailey's work. For example, I should represent within my facial features that I ease with breathe through the music and that the illustration of suffering is explored and that there is weight on my shoulders that I am carrying out within the world through my dance.