DRAMATIC ARTS July 2006 Physical Expression

z Assessment Standard 1 Describe and explain essential features of voice physical expression production, physical expression and creative interpretation z Learning Outcome 1: Apply Personal Resources

Tension  Blocks connection  Removes from yourself  Splits body, head and heart Physical Expression Body work Release of tension  exercises / games  fun  shaking  swinging  feel the floor  feel the weight  grounded  release from the joints  deepening into the back/ spine  find breathing

Neutral posture  Rock backwards and forwards - gently  Find middle point  Find side to side  Release joints  Feel the floor  Find a body that doesn`t say something specific: I am angry, bored Physical Expression Body work

Use of energy  Relaxed  Focus  Creative  Release joints Physical Expression Body work

Gesture  Universal  Culturally  Gender  Class  What is the story / meaning Physical Expression Body work

Characterisation  Neutral to body placement  Universal  Culturally  Gender  Class  What is the story / meaning Physical Expression Body work

Characterisation 1. Placement. *Body parts in relation to one another *One body placed in relation to another body Emotions and thoughts change / shift Invest the movement Creates meaning Universal, not culturally bound 2. Breath. (Inhale / Full pause / Exhale / Empty Pause) Gesture / body parts 3. Degrees / state of tension and relaxation (style and genre) / released to gravity  Extreme exhaustion - complete release  happy state of the body on holiday

Physical Expression Body work Characterisation  happy state of the body on holiday  economic body - minimum effort & maximum efficiency (pace), empty, no tension  neutral body - awake, no story, deep internal awareness / focus, ready to respond, anticipation, first time you drop tension into the body, powerful, take with you the weight of your whole being into the space, beginning of the sense of dramatic tension, body in naturalism, body ready to dramatise  state of action, take awakeness into action, dropping more tension into the body, moving even slower, see something you respond, melodrama  state of suppresses tension - jump into stylised form of theatre, as if body is working with a sense of suppresses passion, slow, large, extended getures, mask work, big gestures,state of heightened tension, non naturalism (Greek, Commedia)  Extreme state of tension large gestures, close to death, Japanese forms, Noh theatre, KabukiTheatre, stylised 4. Rhythm. Place eg: station. The musicality the body creates in space 5. Direction. Drama and conflict. Bodies in opposite direction

Flexibility and versatility  Prevent injury  Release to gravity  Work through the spine Physical Expression Movement

Body awareness  Body checks  Different body parts  Tension to be released  Balance  Control  Engage core muscles  Integrate brain and body Physical Expression Movement

Expressiveness Physical Expression Movement

Confidence and skill  Know that if you land somewhere you know you will be safe  Balance  Control  Strength Physical Expression Movement

Physical Expression Resources/Authors/ Practitioners zBody work z Movement