ANIC Rehearsal 6

As mentioned in previous posting

“….I’m afraid
It’s too late to apologise”

We’ve been going all the way to the floor on “I’m afraid” (count = 7 & 8.) which is wrong

The actual choreo is the hit the floor on “too” (count = 1)
Hands shoot out on 3.
Hands come back on 5
Heads down on 7
Stand slowly on 1
Hands up on 3
Turn on 5,6,7,8
And so on….

Please take note. Thanks

ANIC Admin

3 things to mention

1) Next week is the last rehearsal we will have before the combined ANIC rehearsals in September. Everyone please try to be present next week so that we can finish up the entire item including blocking. We still have lots of work to do.

2) Please please please remember the steps. Those who were absent today, please arrange among yourselves to learn the choreograph that we taught today for “Money” (3rd song). I expect all to be familiar with the choreography next week so we only need to spend time on corrections. We really don’t have the time to reteach again.

3) Please send me (jaskoo80@gmail.com) your availability for the month of September. Same timing – 915pm to 11pm
e.g
6 Sep – Ok
13 Sep – Late 10pm
20 Sep – Ok
27 Sep – Not comin

PS: videos coming soon.

PPS: Want to mention this in case I forget later. I noticed for “Apologise” after “I’m afraid” we’ve been cutting short 1 step.
We are supposed to go down only on 1 (“too late…”) and hands shoot out on 3 (“…apologise”) but we’ve been going down on “I’m afraid” and hands shot out on 1 instead. That’s why it suddenly seems like we have to wait very long before standing up again. Please take note when doing self-practice.

ANIC – Transitioning from Dance to Signs

Hi folks,
As mentioned during rehearsal yesterday, during and after the transition between dance and sign, the signing does not stand out enough and is being too overshadowed by the dancers.

What I want instead is for the signer to standout sort of like the “main singer” while the dancers are doing “backup”. However the energy of the dance must still be maintained (or even higher), so what we need now is for a higher level of showmanship from the signers so that the moment you sign the first word, you are able to catch the audience’s attention immediately

I also need the transitions between dance-sign-dance to be cleaner

Nix and I came up with examples for Adelynn and Geeta’s sign parts that you can refer to… this was quite impromptu so not really the best effort but I hope it illustrates what I mean.

Adelynn:

Geeta:

So your homework for the week is to put some thought into choreographing:
a) How you are going to transit into your sign
b) How you are going to sign and
c) How you are going to transit out?

Some pointers are:
1) No need to be too stiff, try more body and facial to help you express the feelings
2) If the sign talks about “heaven”, maybe you can try looking up at heaven?
3) General feel of the item is negative so try to sign like you are damn sad, frustrated, lonely, crying etc
4) Try some actions like shaking of head or constricting your body (like you got stomachache) etc,
4) You can move around if you think the signing requires you to do so

PS: For the 3 girls at the start, I will be choreographing the beginning signs so no need to put so much thought into it at the moment.

ANIC – Rehearsal 5

Blocking for Big Bang:

Next week we begin at 9.30 pm.
Also please remember the steps very well so that next rehearsal we can move on.

Class Vids – 16/08/08

Song Title: Killa by Cherish

ANIC – Rehearsal filming

Hi ANIC dancers,

This coming rehearsal, Some people from the production team will be coming down to film our rehearsal session for their finale video. So come dressed in your hippest and coolest dance gear!

But don’t overdress hor unless you want them to film you pengsanz (fainting) from heatstroke… haha!

ANIC Rehearsal 4

My whole body is aching after today’s rehearsal but we did manage to complete a lot today so kudos to everyone for turning up!

Once the choreo is completed (I think in another 2 more practices), we will spend the rest of the time on cleaning the steps (which is when the magic happens…)

For those who were not in the old Arts Fest item, please visit this old post to understand what are some of the elements that a group performance needs to work on to look really really good on stage.

Videos will be up soon (plus commentary on the rest of the dancers I missed out last week.. oops hehe)

Apologise:

Big Bang (Group):

Big Bang (Instructor):

No Class on National Day

Dear members

There will be no class this coming Saturday 9 August 08
Because it is National Day! Wooohooooo! Nation turns 43!

Class will resume on 16 August 2008.

But nation still needs to rehearse for nation in concert.
Sorry ANIC people please come at 730pm or earlier.

Good news is we will end earlier at 1030pm

ANIC Rehearsal 3

Also just want to add some comments here which applies to everyone in general and go into specifics on individual dancers in the comments section.

Please try to read each other’s specific comments too to understand the corrections and see if it applies to you as well. Those with a lot of comments/corrections, please don’t be disheartened. It’s only because I’m starting to nitpick and scrutinize in finer details now. And most of the time it means that you actually remember the steps and you are doing it clearly enough for me to spot the mistakes – while the rest may be so unsure of the steps so that I can’t comment or make corrections =]

[General Comments - Mood/Feel]
@ The dance must express at the very least a strong sense of loss and disappointment (especially at the starting) which builds into anger and frustrations towards the end. I am only getting this feeling in parts at the moment. Good news is we still have time to work towards it.

@ At the beginning, the feeling of anger and frustration is supposed to be more controlled (sort of like a quiet resignation maybe?) – So I want the dance/signing to be more restrained at the beginning (e.g. Jocelynn is a little too bouncy when you start signing the first verse)

@ starting from “love you with the fire red”, the feel is starting to build up and the emotions are starting to burst forward in uncontrollably spurts – so the signs and acting have to portray that (make the signs big and full of feelings – can refer to Richmond’s previous performance for Xtomic)

@ I will expand on my idea/concept and explain more on the feel of the starting interaction between the guy and the 3 girls in a later post when I have time.

@ This is just my own interpretation of the song which I am trying to portray out into the dance/choreography. I have high expectations for this “Apologise” portion (because I think that musicality and lyrics-wise, this is really an excellent song, choke full of meaning and a stage choreographer’s dream) AND I am confident that we will be able to carry it through and wow the audience once again like we always do.

[General - Steps]
@ Many are still unsure of steps and it shows very clearly in the dance and on your faces.
@ Needs to be sharper and stronger at certain points (remember the 1,3,5,7 beats?)
@ Needs to have more energy
@ Must be more confident of the steps and formation changes and also during the transitions when people are changing from sign to dance or vice versa.
@ More awareness and control of the body needed – Don’t let limbs hang loosely or get thrown about casually (e.g. for “too late” – the control comes from the lower forearm and not just the bicep/tricep of the upper arm. Please remind me to explain and demo this point next rehearsal)
@ Steps need to be cleaner (clearer and more defined) – now it’s a bit not-here-not-there
@ Try to follow the 1,3,5,7 beats more closely instead of following the lyrics towards the end. Because when you follow the lyrics, sometimes you forget which movements is supposed to be emphasised (the movements that coincide with the 1,3,5,7 beats)

Now onto indivudals in the comments page.

PS: If there is anything I have said which you need me to explain better, please do let me know.

ANIC – Signs Allocation

Hi ladies,
For reference, these are your signing parts that I will assign later today during rehearsal.

[Fern]
I’m holding on your rope, got me ten feet off the ground

[Hina]
I’m hearin what you say but I just can’t make a sound

[Jocelynn]
Tell me that you need me then you go and cut me down, but wait

[Fern, Hina & Jocelynn]
Tell me that you’re sorry
Didn’t think I’d turn around, and say…
It’s too late to apologize, it’s too late
I said it’s too late to apologize, it’s too late

[Lily]
I’d take another chance, take a fall take a shot for you

[Diyana]
I need you like a heart needs a beat but it’s nothin new

[Adelynn]
I loved you with a fire red, now it’s turning blue, and you say…

[Geeta]
“Sorry” like the angel heaven let me think was you

[All]
But I’m afraid…

[Angeline]
It’s too late to apologize, it’s too late

[Lily]
I said it’s too late to apologize, yeah-
I’m holdin on your rope, got me ten feet off the ground…