1. Unit 1 – Critical Appreciation of Dance Physical Setting
GCSe Dance
Unit 1 – Critical Appreciation of Dance
Physical Setting

2. You need to… Be Organised! Be Prepared! Be Willing!
Read the question carefully and always look at the number of marks for each question.

3. Approaching the Question
Provide a short introduction linking to question
Ensure for each work you correctly name the title of the work and the choreographer
Give a short insight into the dance you are discussing to show understanding of the piece
Clearly state the point you want to raise but make sure you explain/justify your point giving relevant detail about the costume
Where possible provide evaluative points
Take care on the structure of your essay

4. What you need to know about…
Physical Setting Costume, Set Design, Lighting & Props

5. CONTIBUTIONS OF COSTUME
Costumes
DESCRIBE COSTUMES using these words … allowing and restricting movement, cost, formal, flow, line, size, weight, colour, texture, decoration.
CONTIBUTIONS OF COSTUME
Mood and Atmosphere
Era
Social setting
Historical setting
Sense of Place
Sense of Time
Event
Location
Character/Role
Season
Gender
Groups of Dancers
Status
Theme of Dance

6. Physical Setting Points
Remember the Magic List!

7. Physical Setting Points
Describe Set, Lighting & Props
Colour
Shape
Size & Location
Style
Texture
Mood
Other Considerations
Cost
Durability
Ease of dancing
Health and Safety
Size of Space
It’s really important to DESCRIBE the set, lighting and props in each example that you discuss

8. Physical Setting Points – Magic List
Physical Setting Contributions
Support the dance style
Provide a context
Provide a sense of reality
Create interest
Can replace dancer - support
Time of day / Season
Establishes mood
Props help identify character
Can provide a climax
Setting the dance in an era
Can provide exits and entrances
Geographical location
Creates social context
Light/set can structure dance
Props can inspire movement
Lighting can highlight
Set creates shape and levels
Add texture
Compliments other components
Can clarify narrative
Can show changes in time
Add to the theme of the dance
Add humor
Add variety through set and lighting changes
Always Remember to Include Examples

9. can you give examples from Nutcracker! By Matthew Bourne?
Set/lighting helps create contrast
Lighting establishes mood
Set creates varied levels/platforms
The set creates exits and entrances

10. Nutcracker! answers
Set/lighting helps create contrast Lighting establishes mood Set creates varied levels/platforms The set creates exits and entrances
The contrast between the dark colours in set and lighting of the workhouse and colour of Sweetieland
The brightness and soft colours used create a magical and fun feel to Act 2
The wedding cake creates different levels for the dancers
Dancers enter through doors in side flats, upstage window and mouth into Sweetieland

11. Swansong Christopher Bruce
Defines Space Provides a sense of place Adds humour Adds to theme Contributes movement material

12. Swansong Examples
Defines Space Provides a sense of place Add humour Contributes movement material
- The shaft of light provides a narrow space in which the prisoner’s solos are performed - The stark set of a single chair hints at isolation and the dark edges of stage give impression of confined space - Use of hats and red nose add humour to the dance - The chair as part of the set acts as key part of the choreography as do the canes in the cane dance section

13. Example question
Describe the physical setting of both professional dance works that you have studied.
Physical setting in work 1: (2 marks)
Physical setting in work 2: (2 marks)

14. Example question
Compare the way the physical setting is used in both professional dance works that you have studied.(8 marks)

15. Answer
Compare the way the physical setting is used in both professional dance works that you have studied. (8 marks)
1–2 marks for simple, descriptive responses, possibly with reference to only one work. Comparison, if attempted, is unclear or inaccurate.
3–5 marks for a more coherent response which includes some accurate comparison.
6–8 marks for well written, clear, coherent answers which demonstrate knowledge of the similarities and differences in usage of physical setting in the two works chosen.
Examples may include: providing realistic/naturalistic setting, entrances/exits, space for focus on dancers, multiple settings, mood atmosphere, context – social, geographical, historical.

16. Example question
Choose one of the professional dance works that you have studied and explain how effective you think the use of physical setting is. (3 marks)
Name of piece

17. How does the physical setting contribute to dance works?
Give examples from your 2 professional dance works.