In our last class, the four of us did movement activities in which we all had to work together and be in harmony by all following each others' movements as a whole. We did three activities that had all revolved around the idea of a group pulse. Firstly, we had March sur Place where we all had to rock back and forth in a square- looking forward into nothingness. After a few attempts, we got a good rhythm going and we were all in sync with each other. Next, we did an exercise called the Greek chorus, in which we all had to follow Berkoff's theatre practices where the chorus (or group) has to mimic the thoughts/words that the actors can't say. This requires a lot of emotion in ones movements- almost as if in a dance. And lastly, we practiced a base pulse, where the group follows the actions of one leader, who should be going at a slow pace to let the others follow easily. I realized that it's much easier to become in sync with your other ensemble members if you are not directly focused on their actions. It should just come naturally when you focus on something else, or have a soft focus on the leaders actions.
Here are a few prompt questions in our book:
1. What was your individual focus like?
I feel as if I was more focused and unconsciously aware after these exercises. For example, in my next class I had a very easy time concentrating
2. When, as a group, did you feel you were together with the pulse and when did you feel you lost it?
I could feel that our ensemble was more together when we were going very slowly. It takes a lot of focus to do things slowly, whereas when do something quickly, it feels more like instinct. This is the same in horseback riding, when the horse is going very slowly they are more conscious and respond to the riders' signals with ease. Likewise, I felt us lose our pulse when we sped up or goofed off.
3. When you were moving as one, did you feel more focused as a group?
Yes, I think everyone could tell when we had a rhythm/pulse going, and tried to support the other group members.
4. How would you describe the ensemble experience?
I think it was interesting how we gave the illusion of moving as one body, rather than four. It was very aesthetically pleasing when we could view ourselves in the mirror, but most importantly: we could all feel ourselves synchronizing and it was a very intense feeling at some points.
Here are a few prompt questions in our book:
1. What was your individual focus like?
I feel as if I was more focused and unconsciously aware after these exercises. For example, in my next class I had a very easy time concentrating
2. When, as a group, did you feel you were together with the pulse and when did you feel you lost it?
I could feel that our ensemble was more together when we were going very slowly. It takes a lot of focus to do things slowly, whereas when do something quickly, it feels more like instinct. This is the same in horseback riding, when the horse is going very slowly they are more conscious and respond to the riders' signals with ease. Likewise, I felt us lose our pulse when we sped up or goofed off.
3. When you were moving as one, did you feel more focused as a group?
Yes, I think everyone could tell when we had a rhythm/pulse going, and tried to support the other group members.
4. How would you describe the ensemble experience?
I think it was interesting how we gave the illusion of moving as one body, rather than four. It was very aesthetically pleasing when we could view ourselves in the mirror, but most importantly: we could all feel ourselves synchronizing and it was a very intense feeling at some points.