Shadows: Staging and set

Shadows: Staging and Set

• This dance piece is set in a ‘home’ with a wooden, table and four chairs signifying a dining area.
• There’s an emphasis on the use of a domestic lamp which is an important prop within the performance.
• The staging is fairly minimalistic, allowing the audience to focus on the dancers and their movement.
• The set and props provide a context for the story.
• Strong, dramatic lighting is used to further emphasize the mood and setting.
• The dancers interact with the props to suggest different scenes within the narrative.

Overall Staging Impression

• The carefully considered staging and set provide an intimate atmosphere, encouraging the audience’s emotional engagement.
• The domestic setting is recognizable and relatable, enhancing audience empathy with the performers’ experience.
• Shadows become a key element, created by the calculated use of lighting. These contribute to the audience’s understanding of the dance’s implicit story and underlying themes.

Choreographer’s Intention with Staging and Set

• Choreographer’s intention was to create a realistic portrayal of a family’s life and struggles.
• The simple but effective use of props helps to convey a sense of realism and naturalism.
• Each prop is used to represent a different aspect of family life, assisting the audience in their interpretation of the dance’s narrative and meaning.
• The kitchen table, in particular, becomes a focal point for much of the action, symbolising the heart of the family home.

In summary, the staging and set in Shadows are instrumental in establishing the scene, reflecting the characters’ emotional journeys, and communicating the work’s underlying themes to the audience. Key elements to remember are the domestic lamp, the minimalistic staging, and the symbolic kitchen table.