Dance Fesstival Ensemble I. Journal Sample. 2011
Dance Fesstival Ensemble I. Journal Sample. 2011
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Festival Dance Ensemble I
20th September 2011
I was late for class today because of a slight weakness in my body. I couldn’t help it but to leave home an hour before class which is generally not sufficient time. Our ensemble is growing not only in size but choreography. Today’s class added more movements but perfecting the routine was the main focal point. Everyone counted each movement from one point to the next and tried to agree upon how each movement should be executed.
The routine from last week remained the same. The first set of movements around the room had eight beats each; eight chase and eight beats to make two side turns. The second movement was used to travel out into two groups with four sets and to cross the floor with four further sets. Both groups met each other using four sets of the third step. From this point partners were established and the turns were done starting from outside to inside. Eight turns were done; four without claps and four with claps. The movement which pushes the hip forward was done crossing partners four times then the rumba, the turn and the jump led into the eight salsa step, four steps for the meringue turn and four partner turns.
When the groups spread out, the first group took center then the second and each movement was done for eight counts. At this point in the routine, new movements were added to the dance floor but this was not done by Jorge but by the students. The guys each choreographed a phrase in whatever style they wanted and the four of them executed each phrase together. The girls moved into the space in groups of four travelling in and out then at the end everyone spread out to do the last movement which was four steps to the right and left.
The clapping rhythm is kept throughout; one two three….one two…..one two three…..one two as well as the vocals. Much to say, it was fun to dance today. Even though it is a course counting towards my degree I don’t feel the pressure of having the worries of passing the course because it turns into so much energy. Again today I was determined not to depend on anyone to remember my steps and maybe for next week I might bring a phrase from Indian contemporary dance. I think it is comforting to be able to be free to move and express in this class. There is primarily little constraint and when I observe the other dancers there is always a smile in their faces because they are feeling each movement. I grew up yes learning classical Indian dance but my performance always included the bollywood dance steps and this routine reminds me of it and it lets us move with our Caribbean heritage.
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Festival Dance Ensemble I
27th September 2011
Today began with the normal rhythmic claps to warm the body using different layers and patterns to create a unique tempo. Warm ups continued on the floor doing the Cuban movements where we moved the torso, the hips, the legs and the arms. In doing so, I felt that the body had to be relaxed and this something that Jorge tried to get us to do today. We are from the Caribbean and our culture and movements are very spicy and unrestricted, thus our bodies are supposed to move without any captivity. A lot of us in the class have been trained in techniques which keep our bodies aligned within certain restrictions so we move in that way and it is a little difficult to break out of it. I have done classical Indian dance but I grew up learning Indian contemporary and Chutney dancing. Chutney dances are very spicy with a lot of hip movements and gyrations of the torso and pelvic area. Chutney dances accompany chutney music and is sometimes free styled by many. However, today, a wide range of choreography goes into its pieces. I think this helps a lot with the Cuban movements done in class. I feel it is very relaxing to just let the body lose and feel that Caribbean vide.
Jorge discussed with us how cultures change over time and movements change but we have to learn to embrace our regional culture and feel our rhythmic movements. There was one thing I felt that was very true in what he said and that was when we stamp our feet on the floor, Mother Earth is sending energy into our bodies which makes it flex and move. In Indian dance, when we began a class or a performance, we pay respect to the sun, the earth, the teacher and the audience. We form a connection with the surroundings and when we stamp in Kathak, energy is released into our bodies which cause the feet to increase its speed of movements.
The routine increased again this week. Today was based on an activity where we were divided into groups of fours and fives and imagined that we belong to a part of a community and each community is against each other. The group I was in depicted Maraval which is somewhat an area where people live at a higher standard. Our movements were strong. We took movements from the warm up session and changed it to reflect a defensive nature. We stamped forward; we moved the torso while pushing the arms from side to side; we squatted low and moved our torso and shoulders while kicking and pushing from side to side and we turned and flicked our hands. This was our interpretation of a dance fight or a dance off. Each group’s interpretation was different in terms of speed, expression and drama. One acted out more than danced and the other danced with very slow movements but their main aim was to depict the area they were coming from.
I have to admit that this class is relaxing for me. I know that it is a course for credits but I look at it differently. I think if I begin to change my perspective I may perform differently and for me this is an opportunity to explore the region I come from and embrace all that it offers.
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Festival Dance Ensemble I
4th October 2011
Being sick always slows me down. It’s a challenge physically and mentally. I know how important classes are but my classes are so far from where I live that it makes it difficult to attend when I am not well. However, I thought to myself today that if I sweat a little in class maybe I might feel better. This is something I always do and I somehow fight the fever. It was tiring driving up the road. I take an hour and a half to reach to class from where I live. When I arrived at class I saw everyone still standing outside talking to Jorge. He was telling everyone to go to the Learning Resource Centre (LRC) to watch a play put on by the Bangalore Little Theatre called “The Prophet and the Poet”. The country will be celebrating the birthday of the great Mahatma Gandhi this weekend. Jorge told everyone to look at the performance and steal one move to put into our dance. I knew how cold LRC can be and with the cold I knew I could not take the chance of going so I told sir that I was going back home and he told me to rest.
I was really disappointed that I left south Trinidad to come up to UWI in my condition for absolutely nothing. As I was about to leave, I saw Sarita and I said to myself maybe I should see the play and if anything happens Sarita will drive my car to her home and I’ll be safe there. We went to the program and to all the dancers’ astonishment the play had no dancing in it. So sad it was. It was actually a play consisting of two men who played Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore and a young lady who narrated. The drama was a narration of the letters Gandhi and Tagore wrote to each other over 25 years about the Indian freedom struggle. It was about the two personalities and how they differed on the platform of the freedom movement yet they maintained a respect for each other.
Even though it was not dance I could still see movement on the stage; shapes in particular. Whenever the narrator would pause to listen to the men read their letters I would see her making a shape. Standing, sitting on the floor or sitting on the bench and she was so attentive that she didn’t move. The actions the men made had me thinking that what if there was no voice and they said their lines in their minds and made the actions? What if there was background music? I knew that everyone expected a colourful array of movements but dance is not just about colourful costumes and jumps but movement of the body in anyway. This can still be beautiful.
Even though the play was not as expected, when I looked at it I saw movements and bodies reacting to each other. I do enjoy dance classes but sometimes other things inspire me to think outside of the box.
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Festival Dance Ensemble I
11th October 2011
Class began today with the usual claps to give our bodies a rhythm. What was new today was that everyone had to create their own rhythmic clap and everyone would execute each. Everyone was very creative in their composition by using their bodies and sounds. Then we began to make rhythms with our feet but I think things became a little technical. All in all it was a good warm up.
Music was added to the routine today but somehow I wasn’t feeling the energy. I am not sure as to why I didn’t feel like dancing. Maybe it’s because my body is a bit weak after the flu or I was tired; I’m not sure. I was so swift for the past few weeks in remembering my routine and today I just forgot everything. I was a bit annoyed with myself. Sometimes things just take a turn and it’s a struggle to get back to the original point. I know that now I have to practice to remember because I am keen on performing this routine on stage.
With the music the pace was a bit challenging at first but everyone made it through after a minute. To me, this dance is freedom; freedom from technique and just an opportunity to let the body loose. We added in the pieces we did last day where we pretended that we were from different communities and there was one thing in particular that I liked about that part and that was we created movement out of the ordinary. Then somehow I felt like restrictions were added in. One of our members was absent and I missed her a lot. I don’t like where it is headed. I might seem unfair but I just don’t feel the rhythm again. This is not modern dance or Indian classical dance but our dance and our vibe and after some choreography was added in, I just didn’t feel it was ours again.
During rehearsal, the electricity got disconnected. I am afraid of the dark and I honestly cannot believe everyone stood there dancing in the dark. I felt stifled and I was searching for light. I felt I had no one to hold on to so I went to the door. Then I thought to myself what if someone snatches me away at the door. As I saw the group bring in light I went towards them. I am grateful that I was around people when this happened. I hope next class would be better.
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Festival Dance Ensemble I
18th October 2011
Chaos, chaos and more chaos. That is what today was about. Today’s class got the routine down for the performance but within that came a lot of disappointments from this class. I cannot believe that this class had people who were between the ages of twenty and forty. Honestly I felt like these were not the people I met two years ago. They were behaving worse than primary school children.
First of all, this class has a leader and he is the lecturer named Jorge. I cannot believe that there were moments where some of the students were behaving as though they were the teacher and that Jorge was the student. Are they employed by the University? NO! They have their own job. Let other people do theirs. They were loud and unruly and there were moments where I felt like just leaving that blackbox and going home. The atmosphere was competitive. I absolutely detested the behaviour from some of the dancers. I wonder if they realise that we are at an institution where we are not in charge nor are the teachers but we are the students and to a certain extent we have to behave a certain way and it doesn’t matter how old we are, we are the students and we have to behave like it.
Secondly, this piece has choreography by some of the students. There is a particular part where the boys take the center and dance. And for sure I know that each of them choreographed a piece of that section. Now, why is that only one of the boys remains in the center? Is that his dance? No! Is the entire piece his choreography? NO! Each of the guys should be at the center when their choreography reaches. I understand if they want to keep the peace in the classroom but there is a limit to everything. Every week their choreography changes and two of the guys have to learn it, then when other’s change choreography, there is anger and frustration. What kind of attitude is that? Is that the way to be? NO! Learn to accept different things. The class talks about how the people in high positions are unfair to dancers but sometimes they don’t realise of unfair they themselves can be to others.
I had a very bad and disturbing moment this week. I choreographed a dance for Mr. Balkaransingh’s concert this year and it is pretty special to me because it’s my first piece that was placed in a show. One of the students asked told me that we were asked to perform it in a function for the Prime Minister. I said they can go ahead and dance but I cannot go since it is during the day and I have to work. They all wanted me there and I knew it may be important to them since they would get paid. I took the day off and went to dance. I thought we were going to represent the dance students at the U.W.I. Little did I know that we were going under the name of a group led by one the students from class. I was hurt. I taught that dance, I bought the material for that costume, I designed that costume, I created that dance and too everyone, that dance belonged to that student. I am tired of the pretence and some people need to look in the mirror before they start judging others.
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Festival Dance Ensemble I
1st October 2011
Festival dance ensemble is probably by far the best class I have had since I started this degree. It is so relaxing. I do Latin dance with Trinidad Dance Theatre and I enjoy it because I am free and it is fun and relaxing. This class reminds me of that feeling, that freedom to really express and to take what we learn outside of school and bring it into the studio.
Even though Jorge was not here today, we worked the class as normal. Maybe we twisted things a little but we kept the concept. We began with claps and making different rhythms. Somehow we were all on some kind of high. We created everything easily. We made a sound and everyone joined in to make a musical piece. Movements and sound were then done. But what made it exciting was that each person went into the circle and did a movement and while saying a word. Some called their names while some expressed what they were feeling such as “ah tired” or “hungry”. I said “sexy!” After one person went, he or she moved to someone in the circle and it became there turn. It was fun I have to admit.
We went over the routine we have been doing since the first week of school. We corrected movements, our group pieces and varied the speeds of the routine. It cleared up a lot of confusion for some of us. Even though this week we worked as one there were some who just didn’t seem to be interested in the class. Then I thought to myself, we are taking this as a course while some are just members of the group. But then I said why is it that when Jorge is here they don’t behave the same way? I may or may never know the answer to that question but for the people I share my classes everyday with, I know we are there to learn and learn the right things with a discipline and our hope and vision is to educate the rest of Trinidad and Tobago.
We went into groups to do Orisha movements from Cuba. The group I was in had a piece done so some of us just learnt it. It has been a year and more since I did African folk dances and it was rejuvenating. I always enjoy those classes. Seldom do Indian dancers in Trinidad get to indulge in African heritage and both Sarita and I take pleasure in being part of it. Our group went last in the routine but the piece was not as clean as it should have been. We had movements where we were using fans, and flirting with our hands, moving our skirt and cutting with our hands. I recall Jorge doing some of the movements before but I did not know that it was African dances in Cuba.
Class was well kept in the absence of Jorge. I am relieved that we got through it together
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Festival Dance Ensemble I
8th October 2011
Class began as usual with claps and sounds but today we tried to create a harmony with our hands and the floor. We all had different rhythms which came together well. It was not much of us in the classroom because some of the girls had a stage rehearsal to attend. They were dearly missed. As we created sounds with our bodies, we began to make different sounds with our voices. This went on for about ten minutes. I never really created music before this class so this was new. So many new things I do in this class. I never really sang before, made music or create rhythmic claps. Even though the class may end soon, eventually when I begin to teach my own dance group I will use these techniques with them.
Jorge always brings us back to the cultures of Cuba. This time of the week is probably the only time I feel as though my body is free to move and I don’t feel the pressure of school work or grading. We learnt today, more Cuban movements. This is our third choreography with Jorge. This first was the choreography with the rumba, meringue and the groups from the different communities, the second was the Orisha movements and the third is this new piece which is street style dances.
One thing I appreciate with our lecturer is that he is very down to earth with the class and tries his best to communicate with us and ease our stressful life at UWI. Today I read an article to the editor of a newspaper in our country and it stated that there are gay activities happening at the Create Arts department. I have no idea who would even put such an article in a newspaper and more so why would an editor allow that. I felt hurt because I know how hard everyone works with their degrees and everyone in that department is so talented. People put a higher commendation on the Sciences and Business studies but they fail to realize that one day they may want to learn to dance or act or even their kids may want to learn to dance or act and it would be these very same students at the creative arts department that they would want to send their kids to because they would be the learned and experienced performers. People don’t think before they act sometimes.
Our routine began with four rumba steps then a cross turn to the left. We travelled four steps forward then did two of what is called the vaccination movements followed by another cross turn to the left. Next we crossed the right leg, left leg, right leg then left leg again, kicked the right foot as if we were dusting something from under our foot, back cross turn and three steps backward. The women swayed down low holding skirts while the men stepped with the left leg, rubbed the right foot against the back of the left carve and at that point the men and women stepped and leaned to the left shaking their shoulders. Left leg then crossed the right and the left kicked, then the right crossed the left and the left kicked into a step and lean to the right shaking the shoulders. We went around in a circle doing a 1-2-3 step eight times. The last two however we travelled forward. The next move was a twisting of the hips and knees on releve but the knees were bent during the movement. The right leg then crossed the left, no turning was done but pretending as though the body was misbalancing and as we misbalance we made three steps back. Cross turn with the right leg, shake the shoulders then a back turn with the right leg. The final step was step to the left, right leg crosses and left leg steps out then repeat on the right side with the opposite legs. The routine then repeats with pairs with crosses and exchanging positions. I think this choreography is going to be beautiful.
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Festival Dance Ensemble I
8th October 2011
Class began as usual with claps and sounds but today we tried to create a harmony with our hands and the floor. We all had different rhythms which came together well. It was not much of us in the classroom because some of the girls had a stage rehearsal to attend. They were dearly missed. As we created sounds with our bodies, we began to make different sounds with our voices. This went on for about ten minutes. I never really created music before this class so this was new. So many new things I do in this class. I never really sang before, made music or create rhythmic claps. Even though the class may end soon, eventually when I begin to teach my own dance group I will use these techniques with them.
Jorge always brings us back to the cultures of Cuba. This time of the week is probably the only time I feel as though my body is free to move and I don’t feel the pressure of school work or grading. We learnt today, more Cuban movements. This is our third choreography with Jorge. This first was the choreography with the rumba, meringue and the groups from the different communities, the second was the Orisha movements and the third is this new piece which is street style dances.
One thing I appreciate with our lecturer is that he is very down to earth with the class and tries his best to communicate with us and ease our stressful life at UWI. Today I read an article to the editor of a newspaper in our country and it stated that there are gay activities happening at the Create Arts department. I have no idea who would even put such an article in a newspaper and more so why would an editor allow that. I felt hurt because I know how hard everyone works with their degrees and everyone in that department is so talented. People put a higher commendation on the Sciences and Business studies but they fail to realize that one day they may want to learn to dance or act or even their kids may want to learn to dance or act and it would be these very same students at the creative arts department that they would want to send their kids to because they would be the learned and experienced performers. People don’t think before they act sometimes.
Our routine began with four rumba steps then a cross turn to the left. We travelled four steps forward then did two of what is called the vaccination movements followed by another cross turn to the left. Next we crossed the right leg, left leg, right leg then left leg again, kicked the right foot as if we were dusting something from under our foot, back cross turn and three steps backward. The women swayed down low holding skirts while the men stepped with the left leg, rubbed the right foot against the back of the left carve and at that point the men and women stepped and leaned to the left shaking their shoulders. Left leg then crossed the right and the left kicked, then the right crossed the left and the left kicked into a step and lean to the right shaking the shoulders. We went around in a circle doing a 1-2-3 step eight times. The last two however we travelled forward. The next move was a twisting of the hips and knees on releve but the knees were bent during the movement. The right leg then crossed the left, no turning was done but pretending as though the body was misbalancing and as we misbalance we made three steps back. Cross turn with the right leg, shake the shoulders then a back turn with the right leg. The final step was step to the left, right leg crosses and left leg steps out then repeat on the right side with the opposite legs. The routine then repeats with pairs with crosses and exchanging positions. I think this choreography is going to be beautiful.
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Festival Dance Ensemble I
22nd November 2011
I admire people who can choreograph instantaneously. Jorge has exhibited this throughout the semester. He is man passionate about dance especially his culture and he carries his country where ever he goes and that is admirable. It was a tiring class today. I was falling apart by the last dance. We have all tried our best with our dances for the performance next week. At the end of class I realized that this was our last class and every moment was an experience.
We started class with our claps to warm up. We had for the first time in this class live drumming. The first rehearsal was the Orisha piece which Jorge choreographed on the spot and it came out to be so energetic and beautiful. The drums enhanced it because it gave us that vibe that made us move with rhythm and soul. The next piece was the rumba and my partner is Nikisha. This dance is really smooth and sassy and it has a lot of depth in terms of Cuban culture. The third is my favourite. It is the Carnival piece.
I don’t know which piece I am excited the most for next week. The only concern I have is that we had such a full class up to last month and now the class is scanty and some people are missing their partners. Jorge said to just dance but sometimes you loose the excitement when you loose the people. I just hope that our presentation is wonderful. I want an ‘A’ but I want to enjoy what we have next week. The knowledge, the feelings, it comes and goes and we have to cherish them because we would never get back these days.
This class has amazing dancers and we are blessed to have a great teacher. God willing our presentation next week is great.
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Festival Dance Ensemble I
29th November 2011
It finally came, that moment we were all looking forward too, our final presentation. I thought about this since this first class. I wondered what it would be like. I actually thought we would have done one performance at a show within UWI but I think what we did was even more spectacular. We did the Rumba, Orisha and Carnival pieces in the studio. I honestly don’t know which piece I liked the most.
The rumba was so graceful. I loved that we were all in white. Our class has never been so uniformed for a presentation before. I stepped back and looked at everyone in their costumes and it was breath taking. We looked like angels in that space and truthfully I believe that we are the angels in that studio because we give it life. When Jorge began choreographing this piece I thought that we didn’t really put much effort into organizing it but probably that is the best way to go because everyone came prepared.
The Orisha piece to me was like a rainbow. We were dressed in different colours and we just danced for this piece. This was the first time I performed this kind of piece and I am very grateful to Jorge for making us do this because it was something different that we offered rather than the usual Modern dances. We had an audience and I think they we excited to see us perform. One exciting aspect of today was the number of changes we did and how quickly we did it within Jorge’s office space. Even though it was packed we still managed to get dressed and be in that studio for the next performance. It felt as though we were actually doing a show on a big stage.
The Carnival piece was extremely energetic. Everyone gave their best for this final dance. We were tired but we kept going. We danced our lives out for this piece. This dance would be so great for Carnival 2012. Within these few minutes we just let lose and released out bodies.
This class was such as amazing class. I learnt so much from Jorge and all of the students. It was difficult to drive up to class but I am happy that I thrived and made it to my sessions. The ensemble is more that just an ensemble, it’s a family. I may not belong to the group but I will cherish every moment that I spent with them this semester and hope that next semester is even better.
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