Expressionist Ceremony: Ensemble Work

 

 REVIEW

Watch the following video.

Analysis

Students discuss among themselves Mary Wigman's ideas about dance. Using the questions below as prompts, they write about them and post their reflections on Discussion Board.

 

Mary Wigman

Question 1

Write your response to Wigman's dance performance in this video.

IV

 

Harald Kreutzberg

Question 2

What qualities of Wigman's movement groups are shown in Harald Kreutzberg's dance?

 Choose from Wigman's technique, which is structured in five main groups:

1 - Striding and sliding

2 - Springs, vibrations and bouncing

3 - Momentum and oscillations

4 - Falling and dropping (floor technique)

5 - Tensions: relaxed, sustained and motor tensions

V

Movement, Sound, Word

Question 3

Why is the use movement, sound and word important aspects of expressionist dance?

VI

 

Interview with Kurt Jooss

Question 4

What does Jooss mean when he says that The Green Table is a ceremony of death?

VII

Ceremony:

the ritual observances and procedures performed at grand and formal occasions.

The Green Table

Question 5

After seeing the video clip of The Green Table, write your response to the piece as you describe why you think Kurt Jooss described it as a death ceremony.

 

Group Work 

Add to your group's piece the concept of ceremony through an 8 movement phrase.