The Romantic Revolutionaries

2008-09-22T01:43:00.000-07:00

The Romantic Revolutionaries are very satisfied with our first performance of Songs of Sorrow at Newington Dance Space on Saturday 20th September.

We enjoyed performing and there were no major problems. We enjoyed some really positive feedback aswell as some useful suggestions.

We hope to see you at CLoud Dance Festival on Sunday!!!

2008-09-11T10:55:00.000-07:00

2008-09-11T08:40:00.000-07:00

Songs of Sorrow draws strongly upon the disciplines of mime, classical ballet, clowning, contemporary dance and drama whilst being none of these things entirely. The piece draws upon the choreographer's obsession with movement and the search for a place between movement and dance. There are sections of the piece which are dance, other sections purely functional movement and then there are other sections….

Songs of Sorrow allows for an experimental approach to a performance whilst still being entertaining and visually captivating and beautiful. The title of the piece comes from Gorecki's Symphony No. 3, 'Sorrowful Songs,' which had a profound effect on the development of the performance. Dvorak's Song to the Moon is also used to express the sorrow of Pierrot. The sense of sorrow in the piece is made more poignant by the contrasting opening of joy and energy, using music from Delibes' Coppelia.

The performers have varying degrees of physical ability with only one of the three members having had full time vocational dance training. The choreographer is interested in the way an actor takes on choreography and the interaction between performers of different disciplines. The three characters of the dancer, the actor and the pierrot clown in Songs of Sorrow emerged through playing to the strengths of the performers. We want to unify those different artistic disciplines. The aim is to create a sensuous experience for the spectator that engages more than just the intellect.

Choreographer: Rhiannon Brace.

Dancers: Nicola Higgins, Adam Speers Cukrowski and Rhiannon Brace.

2008-09-11T08:25:00.000-07:00

2008-09-11T08:07:00.000-07:00

This photo was taken in one of the first rehearsals of Songs of Sorrow, probably in early July.

We used photographs and films to help us with remembering positions within the choreography as sometimes we rehearsed with as much as two weeks between rehearsals.

Much of the choreography was constructed through linking together a series of poses or postures, however with the image on the left, this position came about through trying to link one position with another but soon became a position in itself. We always refer to it as forward bend position.

Cloud Dance Festival

2008-09-11T08:04:00.000-07:00