Dance Evaluation for Overdrive

Unit 45: Developing Contemporary Dance Technique - Evaluation

1.    Describe your levels of application, focus and self discipline in class?

I approach class with commitment to learn and my self-discipline within class is good because as soon as I enter the class I just get on with what I have to do. I’m focused in every lesson because I know have to get on with what I need to do so that I could improve my weaknesses and do my targets that I have set myself. My best lesson was when we performed our piece a day before the actual show because I felt we put the most energy and effort into it. What I could do better on is focusing on myself more than on other and I could improve on making my moves sharper. I have practiced the phrases at least more than 10 times. I think we had enough rehearsing lesson before the actual assessment but I do also think we did need to make certain piece stronger for example are group pieces. Yes my movement memory was good after a few practice runs and rehearsals because I did at first start to forget movements but after I practiced and looked at a few videos of our rehearsals I found easier to remember. Yes I could remember phrases between lessons for example for the first section I got the hang of the movements in the phrases but in the second section I did struggle a bit with remembering the phrases but after a few practice lessons I found the phrases easy to remember. I've improved my balances and my turn outs because I have practiced in lessons and in my own time as well and making sure as I do this when balancing I should focus on something and then with my turn outs I should point my feet and extend my leg. 

Response to direction

I do take all my feedback and correction and use it to improve my movements when I get in to my lesson and from my peers as well. I think we able as a group to see are individual skills and what we need to improve on because seeing a group giving you feedback on what you are good at and what you need to work on is better as we are helping each other to become better altogether. I can adjust my timing for example when I’m doing my group piece because I need to slow down and keep in time with my dance partner. I am able to target myself for example in one lesson I targeted myself to point my feet when doing kicks, flicks and turn outs and I also put these targets on to my blogger so that I remind myself for the next lesson. I could look back on what I have done and my targets and improvements then use them for example I could make moves sharper and finish them off.

2.    Which technique phrases did you demonstrate the most accurately and confidently and why?

The moment or phrase I danced especially well was when were in the first section doing the last phrase because when I do the kicks and flicks my legs aim to go high making sure that I am extending and pointing my feet at the same time. I did also have the balance and coordination when using arms for example in the first section last phrase when we do the flicks are arms flick as well. I practice a lot to make sure I had the right coordination with my arms and legs and also have the balance when doing turnouts. I did also have transfer weight for example in the second section near the end of the first phrase when we turn out and put all our weight when balancing on one leg. I could develop more by making my moves sharper and keeping in time for example the first section at the start of the first phrase because sometimes I felt that I came in a tiny bit late but when I watched it back I thought it looked better than I thought it was. I would like to add to my third performance sharper moves and finishing them off and also keeping in time because sometimes I go off by myself and I’m not in time with others or others are finding hard to keep in time with me. 

3.    Which physical skills do you feel that you are most competent in?

I found the kicks and the flick easy because I can naturally make them high when balancing. I practice and rehearsed everything of the over drive dance but mostly our groups parts as some days we had forgotten it and some days it was not enough for example it was too short so we had to make it longer so it fitted. I did apply the correct alignment for example when we did the first section last phrase when we pose at the end then run off to our sides. I did use a turnout for example in the first section start of the second phrase. I did use my arms correctly for example when I led the first section at the start of the last phrase. I did fit in the space as we did moves I do feel like I come close to people behind when I do my kicks and flicks. I was aware of others around for example when we do are groups and I have to be aware when travelling and crossing through each other. I did a just my dancing to accommodate others for example in our group pieces when me and my partner dancing do sometimes go a bit fast and it’s hard for my partner to catch with me so I had to make sure I was in time with partner by slowing my dance down. I did fully extend for example in the last phrase of my group piece. I was able to complete all the moves to my best ability because I knew what I have improved on and I know what I’m capable of doing so I used that in my performance to show that I can do it to my best potential.       

4.    What interpretive skills did you apply to the performance of your class work?

I listened to the music which helped my performance because I knew the beats of the song also the parts were come in. The times I used the counts was when we were doing the groups because for my group I had to use the counts with the song to make the shapes of me and my partner’s movement. During the dance I felt like I’ve danced for a long time, felt professional also relaxed and focused. Yes it was similar to Alston’s direction and intention because we took the dance routine and made it similar because the direction was different to the direction in his dance but it seemed similar to us. Yes we were relaxing in areas for example in the second section last ending phrase when we go as a cannon with are flicks then jumps and also we were sharp in areas for example in the first section ending of second phrase when we turn out our leg and make a sharp position.

Performance skills

The dance became clearer as we started to practice and rehearse it. The moment that had the most impact was the first section because we started doing that piece first so I thought it was the moment that had the most impact to it as we knew it more than the others. I could enhance my performance to make sure that it was my moment that was the most effective by making sure I focus on myself more than focusing on others. I was focused and engaged for example when I have look at the person that starts the pieces or a section or phrase so that I don’t mess up or get distracted so I have to be engaged and focused. I did show confidence for example in my group piece because I felt that I knew that better than any other section or phrase. The style and mood I tried to convey was contemporary dance with more action with the movements. I wanted the audience to think that I was more confident with my performing skills.    

  

5.    What targets would you set to improve your work?

For my next part the advice I would give myself before beginning would be practice over things that I struggle with so I can become better. What I would do differently in my next contemporary dance piece is making sure I’m in time with others and not go off by myself. My strengths are my extensions, coordination and making my kicks and flicks nice and high. My weaknesses was my focus and timing. My three targets to improve on are making sure I keep in time with others, make sure I have sharper moves by finishing them off and making sure I have focus on myself more than others but only focus on them when needed for example I need to focus on my partner to make sure we are going at the same time and doing the movements at the same time.