Shadows: Costume

Shadows: Costume

Shadows: Choreographic Devices

• Use of motif development with movements and themes are adjusted and varied throughout the piece.
• Application of repetition to create a sense of familiarity and understanding.
• Fragmentation is used, dividing a larger movement sequence into smaller parts.

Shadows: Mood

• Conveys a melancholic and intense mood through its movement quality and music.
• Atmosphere of tension and unease created using staccato movement and anxious motifs.

Shadows: Meaning

• The dance explores the themes of fear, persecution and insecurity.
• The sense of dependency and comfort found in family relationships is explored.

Shadows: Ideas

• Deals with the concept of living under a dictatorial regime.
• Explores the idea of family dynamics under stress.

Shadows: Themes

• Dominant themes including family, persecution, and fear.
• The theme of resilience is represented by the family’s endurance.

Shadows: Style

• Choreographed in a contemporary dance style using Christopher Bruce’s unique movement language.
• The piece involves elements of mime and gesture: a common characteristic of Bruce’s work.

Shadows: Similarities to Other Dances

• Similar to other Christopher Bruce works, it explores serious and emotional themes.
• The themes of family and relationships are common in other works by Bruce.

Shadows: Differences to Other Dances

• Unique use of props (a suitcase and coats) distinguish it from other dances.
• Stands apart for the strong emphasis on narrative in its choreography.

Shadows: Audience Understanding

• Designed to make audiences empathize with the characters’ emotions.
• The distinct narrative makes it easy for audiences to understand the dance’s context.

Shadows: Purpose

• Created to highlight the human impact of a political situation.
• Demonstrates the power of dance to convey complex themes.

Shadows: Environment of Creation and Performance

• Created in a time of changing social attitudes and political turmoil.
• The stark set and contemporary style reflect the anxieties of the time.

Shadows: Staging and Set

• Simple staging used to focus attention on the dancers.
• A small hanging lightbulb provides the only source of light on stage.

Shadows: Lighting

• Low key light casts long and dramatic shadows of the dancers on wall.
• Lighting is mostly dim, creating a mournful and oppressive atmosphere.

Shadows: Properties

• The regular use and movement of the suitcase and coats symbolize displacement.
• These objects contribute significantly to the meaning of the dance.

Shadows: Costume

• Dancers dressed in simple, everyday clothes indicative of the 1930s.
• The relatively grey, neutral colours add to the overall feeling of oppressiveness.