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Making It: Programmes
27–39
Programme 39: Making Moves
After watching the
programme, pupils should be able to:
- measure and mark out materials;
- communicate design ideas in different ways, bearing
in mind aesthetic qualities, and the use and purpose for which the
product is intended;
- explore the sensory qualities of materials and how
to use materials and processes;
- assemble, join and combine components and materials
accurately;
- design and make assignments using stiff and flexible
sheet materials and textiles;
- apply appropriate finishing techniques.
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The life of a dance student is hard and demanding.
You have to be tough and physically fit and you have to put in a
lot of practice. A young student does his dance class, then heads
off to a studio to watch professional dancers at work. They
co-ordinate abstract moves to build up a routine, working as a
group.
The student goes on to a Youth Theatre workshop, where he passes on
his skills and enthusiasm for dance to younger kids. After that,
it's back to the dance studio again to practice and develop his own
solo routine.
Finally, there's a chance to perform the finished piece, alone in
the spotlight with the music.
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- Art: investigating and making art, craft and
design.
- Science: materials and their properties.
- PE: dance activities.
- Music: explore and express ideas and feelings about
music using movement and dance.
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Ballet dancing began in Italy during the 1400s and
grew out of the complicated and formal dances in the courts of
Italian princes. The first proper ballet took place as an
entertainment for the Queen of France in 1581. It took five and a
half hours to perform!
A person called a choreographer plans the ballet. In the 1920s, a
choreographer called Rudolf van Laban came up with a set of symbols
that could be used to note down all the different moves and steps
that the dancers made. Ballets may tell a story, or simply present
a series of moves in response to the music. Dance steps include
long graceful leaps in the air and spinning around on the points of
the toes.
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Make a Dance
Sculpture
You will
need: garden wire; square of thick cardboard about 10 cm
by 10 cm; tissue paper; pva glue; ruler; pliers (to cut the wire);
scissors; bradawl. Paints and paintbrush.
Before you
start: think about how to use the equipment safely and
whether you need an adult to supervise. Check with your teacher if
you are not sure.
- Cut lengths of wire and twist them together to make
a simple wire figure, a bit like a traditional 'stick figure'
drawing. Make a loop in the wire for the head.
- Measure your figure carefully and cut off or add on
small pieces of wire to make sure the body is correctly
proportioned. (The length of the body is seven and a half times the
length of the head. The width of the shoulders is roughly twice the
length of the head. From the shoulder to the tip of the fingers is
approximately three head lengths. The legs are about three and a
half times the length of the head.)
- Use the bradawl to make a small hole in the centre
of the cardboard square. Push the end of one of the wire legs
through the whole and bend it over to make a stand for your
figure.
- Bend the arms, legs and back of your figure into a
dance move. Look again at the video, or check the links from this
site for ideas.
- Ask a friend to model the pose you want to make.
This helps you to position your figure accurately.
- When you are happy with the position of your figure,
tear strips of tissue paper and dip them in the pva glue. Wind the
paste and paper strips around legs of your figure, gradually
building up the shape of the limbs.
- Let the legs dry, then add paste and paper strips to
the upper body and head, moulding it into the shape of the dancing
figure.
- When the whole figure is dry, paint it. A single
bold colour will be most effective.
Make a Choreography
Design
You will
need: garden wire; squares of thick cardboard about 10 cm
by 10 cm; tissue paper; pva glue; ruler; pliers (to cut the wire);
scissors; bradawl. Paints and paintbrush. Recording of a favourite
piece of music.
- You could combine a set of dance sculptures all made
to the same scale.
- Look again at the video, or follow the links from
this site for some ideas.
- You could also try listening to a favourite song or
piece of music to help you visualise the arrangement of
figures.
- Ask a friend to model the different movements for
you, so you can try them out before making your figures.
- When you are happy with your arrangement, you could
glue all the cardboard squares to a larger sheet of cardboard
before painting the finished design.
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Ballet history and some games:
www.dance4it.com/ballethistory.htm
Galleries of pictures of famous ballet dancers:
www.dmu.ac.uk/~jafowler/balgal.html
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