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.
August 2, 2008 at 8:39 pm
[Huishan]
@ The walking backwards part after the first chorus – you forgot the hands. And the head is swinging too much. The feel is too airy. I want a more grounded and heavy loneliness
@ “take a shot from you” – at “you”, step out left leg and lean your weight on your left leg by bending at the knee instead of bending at the waist
@ “i need you like a heart” – bring the hand higher to 45 degrees and don’t let it hang loosely. Left leg should be behind right leg.
@ “needs a beat but it’s nothing new” – “nothing” consist of 2 movements. the first movement is only the turning of the head and not the the whole body leaning. the lean is only on the 2nd syllable of “nothing”
@ “love you with the fire” – the sudden dropping motion on “love” comes from the bending of the knees inwards and not bending forward the body
@ “love you with the fire red” – after “love” (count 3), there is supposed to be a step-step on counts n-5 (or lyrics = “the fi-”).
@ “with the fire red” – At “red” when you pull back, don’t hunch so low.
@ “turning blue” – the turn shouldn’t be low. don’t hunch
August 2, 2008 at 8:39 pm
[Geeta]
@ The very first movement where the hands shoot up – once you reach the final position of your hands, hold the pose strongly and don’t let the hands swing loosely back
@ The next 2 sets of movements are too jumpy – try to keep the same height (no height change). The energy of the move comes from the stop-and-go motion plus the forward movement of your chest towards your hands and not the hands towards the chest
@ first chorus “too late” – your hands need to form the downwards “L” shape. you are doing more upwards “L” instead
@ 1st walking transition – sharper movement of the hands. More confidence (now it’s obvious that you are trying to find your position). Note I’m going to change Diyana to use the outside window (outside of Fern) instead of sharing same window as you when changing formation.
@ “take another chance” – on “chance” body is still facing forward, not to the right
@”take a shot” – on “shot” remember to step out left leg (similar move as the beginning set)
@ the turn after “nothing new” – you are turning too close to diyana so take note when you turn, don’t go so far right
@ “fire red” – on “red” when you pull back the hands, don’t hunch you body. keep body straight (refer to previous instructor’s vid)
@ “and you say” – don’t hunch your body low
@ when changing positions with Adelynn after “and you say” – you forgot the hands scooping move
@”I’m afraid” remember to step-step backwards and hands shoot out strongly
August 2, 2008 at 8:40 pm
[Fern]
@ First walking transition – use the window between Geeta and Diyana instead of going on the outside window.
@ After “shot from you” when you bring your knees up on the heavy beat – when you hit that beat, your the hands are too high (too much bicep curl) so keep it lower a bit
@ the turn after “nothing new” – there is no need to hold your arms in that position when you turn.
@ “i love you with the fire” – on “love” (the count is 3) after making the sudden dropping action (more suddeness needed), try to hold that pose and wait until the next du-dump beat (which is the count and-5.. or lyrics “the fi-” ) before you recover and step-step out. now you are expressing too much feel on the silent 4 count which is also nice actually but it’s not the style I want (PS: I’m really really nitpicking this point here. Pls refer to instructor’s video to see what I mean by the sudden drop and recovery)
@ the sudden drop after “turning blue” – needs to be sharper and more sudden
@ the scooping motion after “and you say” – you timing is a little too slow
@ “sorry like an angel” wave – your wave starts out fine but after that you forget to drop your shoulders back down
August 2, 2008 at 8:41 pm
[more to come soon... i need to sleep
]
August 10, 2008 at 2:34 pm
opps, only read this now, thus din make e changes at practice ytd. will take note. also want to record e dance on my phone lei, then can play wherever to recap e steps.
August 11, 2008 at 5:43 am
urs phone can transfer from computer lo?
August 12, 2008 at 1:14 pm
heyo fern.. wat phone you using? can it playback MP4 format?
I will be posting a link to the latest rehearsal vids in MP4 format for iPod users later in the week.