Rehearsals 27/11/14

Today, we worked on the basketball dance which is continuation of the opening. We started by getting into pairs with someone on the other side of the studio, and made up our own motif. We also learnt another motif that was choreographed by Jodie and Andrea. Which we could also perform by ourselves. Brett and Jazz, (the assistant choreographers) also made up a section when we were split into the two teams.


After break we worked on yet another section which involved us trying to be cool when playing basketball. We put together all the sections and it was coming together, we just need to clean up the transitions and movement. Lastly we ran through all the group numbers before the end of the lesson.

Open Evening

On the 26th of November, from 5:30 till 8:30 was open evening for the upcoming year 10's. Dance strand had a rehearsal from 3:30 till 4:15 to practise the numbers we were going to be performing. The evening started of with a warm up, then we moved onto some ab work and stretching. We performed 'Glam', the 'Suitcase' routine, the 'Refugee' dance and a number of our small groups. In between dancing we continued to stretch while Jodie, Andrea and Hannah made speeches about the course and how to apply. After which we went to talk to the students and parents and answered any questions they had. Overall the evening was a success, as it was the first time we got to perform our routines to audiences, and managed to get a lot of rehearsals done.

Syrian Children

According to the U.N., more than half of all Syrian refugees are under the age of 18. Most have been out of school for months, if not years.

The youngest are confused and scared by their experiences, lacking the sense of safety and home they need. The older children are forced to grow up too fast, finding work and taking care of their family in desperate circumstances.

Rehearsals 20/11/14

Today, we focused on the opening section. Which is based around the different types of people you find in a park. This section is physical theatre, so we got into groups or pairs and started devising. My group is based on a picnic. The characters played in my group are a trouble maker, book worm, control freak, and girly girl. We improvised first to get an idea about what should happen, and then started laying down counts. Andrea also taught us a motif about putting on sun screen, and I made up my own motif as well.

Rehearsals 17/11/14

Today we finished of the 'Glam' routine, there was a middle section missing which we field with partner work, getting ready, and I am doing a phrase which involves flexibility. After which me and Hannah have to exist early as we have a quick change for the 'Packing' routine.


Then we cleaned our small group pieces with the feedback we got from Thursdays assessment. We needed to make our relationships clearer, so Jodie helped us add in more acting. And also helped us develop a section by changing how we order the phrase we perform.


Andrea then went through and cleaned the 'Packing' dance and the 'Refugee' dance as well.

What conditions are refugees facing outside camps?

Some Syrians know people in neighboring countries who they can stay with. But many host families were already struggling on meagre incomes and do not have the room or finances to help as the crisis drags on.
Refugees find shelter wherever they can. People have seen families living in rooms with no heat or running water, in abandoned chicken coops and storage sheds.
Most refugees must find a way to pay rent. Without any legal way to work in Jordan and Lebanon, they struggle to find odd jobs and accept low wages that often don’t cover their most basic needs. The situation is slightly better in the Kurdish Autonomous region of northern Iraq, where Syrian Kurds can legally work. But language is still a barrier.
The lack of clean water and sanitation in crowded, makeshift settlements is an urgent concern. Diseases like cholera and polio can easily spread — even more life-threatening without enough medical services. In some areas with the largest refugee populations, water shortages have reached emergency levels; the supply is as low as 30 liters per person per day — one-tenth of what the average American uses.


The youngest refugees face an uncertain future. Some schools have been able to divide the school day into two shifts and make room for more Syrian students. But there is simply not enough space for all the children, and many families cannot afford the transportation to get their kids to school.

Article

This is relevant because it is the situation Alice's family is in in the show. The sisters of Alice want to go to school but can't, and the mother and father feel helpless as they can't provide.

Dance Assessment Feedback

The feedback was to keep a strong intension between characters and a purpose for doing movements. Clear up the spacing of the group sections, look at the relationship at the end, and to continue to repeat and develop.

Rehearsals 13/11/14

Today in the first session we had an assessment on our small group pieces. And also ran all of the show, we had guests that were watching so they could get an idea of visuals for the back screen. In the second session we finished the 'Packing' routine, by repeating phrases but changing direction, and space.

Syria research

The majority of Syrian refugees are living in Jordan and Lebanon, where Mercy Corps has been addressing their needs since 2012. In the region’s two smallest countries, weak infrastructure and limited resources are nearing a breaking point under the strain.
Since August, more Syrians have escaped into northern Iraq at a newly opened border crossing. In a country that is still recovering from its own prolonged conflict, this influx is dramatic and brings additional challenges. An increasing number of Syrian refugees are fleeing across the border into Turkey, overwhelming urban host communities and creating new cultural tensions. Mercy Corps is working in these areas as well to help families meet their basic needs and find work.

Article

This can be linked to the 'Packing' routine as we are all escaping, and are trying to cross borders. This article is also relevant, as Alice's family will need to try and find work and this could be a part of the ending of the show.

Rehearsals in the Obie 10/11/14

On Monday, we rehearsed in the Obie. This helped us as we knew the space that our show was going to be in. We started of by recapping the phrases we had learned on Thursday, and then moved on to structuring the routine. Mine and Hannah's intension in this dance is that we don't want to pack, as after we would have to leave to go to the refugee camp. So we have to have high energy in fighting over the suitcase. The dance involves choreographic techniques like cannon, levels and different speeds.


In the second half of the lesson we recapped our small group pieces for an assessment on Thursday. So Charlotte and Callie lead the rehearsal, and we showed our small group pieces, and the rest of the dancers gave feedback.

Rehearsals 6/11/14

In todays lesson, we had to bring suitcases in as props for the 'packing' routine. Andrea taught us the choreography, which included picking up the suitcase over our heads, sitting on it, and lunging over it. We then got into threes, I was with Callie and Charlotte, and we labelled ourselves. Charlotte wanted to pack, I didn't and Callie was the negotiator. Me and Callie learnt a duet, which included things like suspension, contact work and floor work. After in our threes we made up 2 counts of 8 about packing. My group included a lot of repetition of packing and unpacking the suitcase.


In the second lesson we recapped our small group pieces for an assessment next Thursday. And had a production meeting where we discussed props, and other ways to raise money like selling candy canes for Christmas.

Rehearsals 3/11/14

In Mondays lesson we learnt a new phrase, which was based on refugee's having to pack to leave home. When refugee's leave home, they feel like they have no choice because they are at risk everyday from the war. However, when leaving they don't know when or if they will ever return. Or what the refugee camp will look like. We have to incorporate all of these feeling into the performance.
In the second half of the lesson we kept running the 'glam' routine going through the counts and exact positions. I need to work on keeping my elbows pinched together on one of the movements, and posture tight. After which we also recapped the first refugee dance.

Cake Sale

On Tuesday the 4th of November, Dance strand had a cake sale. To raise money for our show and War Child. I made Oreo  cupcakes and nearly everyone else brought cupcakes to sell. Tasha and I worked together, and brought in the majority of the money, both explaining the the charity and our show. This helped to spread awareness for both causes. Overall it was a really fun and productive lunch time. Below is a picture of the cakes I made.