Task One: SIX rehearsal log - progression/improvement

 Ex - Wives 

After looking back on the first videos of rehearsing this number I can confidently say I have made a huge improvement on this opening number. To start, the poses we strike on 'divorced, beheaded, died' etc., I feel that in the final rehearsals of this section my positions where much stronger and in time with the other dancers, same for the improvised poses we do after this section. The poses I did during the very first rehearsal looked weak and unfinished, I also heavily lacked facial expression (see first video on blog). Comparing them to my final rehearsals I can say that the poses are much sassier and overall stronger, reflecting the song as a whole. I also noticed that my overall energy has majorly improved during this number. After knowing the choreography perfectly, I now had to work on my timing, especially for the dance breaks. In the first rehearsals of this number, it is evident that I was unsure of the timing during the first and final dance break during this number. After taking some time and asking teachers and peers, I understood the timing by the dress rehearsal as it was something I was struggling with. After knowing the timing, I was able to fully immerse myself in these dance breaks and make my movements strong, incorporate my dynamics and to include a heavy amount of characterization during these fast and upbeat sections. Overall, I can see a huge difference in my performance of this number, focusing in on my characterization and overall, just finishing each movement, using my whole body/energy to complete this first dance. 

No Way 

From first videos of no way, I can say that there was a lot of room for improvement. My movements weren't as strong and as powerful as they needed to be, I was adding very little characterization and my timing was sloppy and off. Looking back on the dress run of this performance I can say the opposite. I felt I was fully reflecting the nature of the queen singing this song and using my characterization to portray this. During the first rehearsal of the first section, I can see that I was not in time during a lot of the sharp and quick gestures during the first group section of this number. I was letting go of movements and not finishing them fully, making it look unfinished and unpolished. After learning the full choreography and the lyrics to this song, it became much easier to make these movements stronger. For example, on the line 'If you think for a moment 'I'd grant you annulment, just hold up' where we flick our hands to the left in a writing manner then reach our right hand up on a diagonal. During the first rehearsal I was slightly out of time during the 'grant you annulment' lyric, however during the final rehearsals of this I can say I was fully elongating and stretching my arm to make a strong and finished gesture in time. 

During the tech run of this number I was given feedback to add more facial expressions although I felt I was, I knew I needed to add more characterization for this number, so I made sure I was fully embodying the sass and almost anger of this number and full expressed it through my face and body. I was then told during the dress run that my characterization and performance skills where 'perfect' which was nice to hear after working hard. 

Don't lose your head 

I felt from the initial rehearsals of this number that I was finding it simple to add a lot of character and facial expression because that is what this number is all about. Looking back on the first rehearsals, I can certainly say that I was bringing even more expression to this number, fully using my body and face to portray the lighthearted and humorous side of this song, and receiving feedback from my teachers that I was extremely 'watchable' throughout this number

Heart of stone 

Although I lack video evidence for this number, I can say that I felt and improvement during this number. I was finding it difficult to transition from such upbeat and fun numbers to a slow, hearty lyrical number however after practice I felt finally connected with the dance and number. I was able to show emotion through my facial expressions and soft movements which portrayed the overall feel of this choreography and song. I loved the choreography for this number and felt during the dress rehearsal of it, I was really able to fully perform it and use my characterization in a completely different way compared to the over numbers. My technique also improved significantly; I was using my entire body, concentrating on dynamic, stretching and elongating my legs and arms to create quality lines, and overall performing this number.

House of Holbein 

After looking back, I can confirm that my characterization was not fully there. I was focusing more on the fast-paced movement over the performance of it. I would forget changes made and was often getting the gestures wrong. After rehearsing over and over I can say that this changed. I understood the fast-paced timing and was now able to add my own flare and touches to this number, gaining positive feedback from this number after the later rehearsals. I was fully using my over exaugurated facial expressions and after time, over exaggerating my movements, using and upright strong posture and maintain it through out to really be able to portray the energy and humor of this dance.

Get down 

The first rehearsal of get down, I can say I was struggling with the timing of the section I come on stage. After a lot of rehearsal, I was confident with the section I was in. Being placed at the front of the number, I knew I needed to use my facial expressions to portray the sass of this song and choreography. This dance was personally one of my favorites because of the hip hop, less musical theatre style choreography. I was able to use different facial expressions for this number to portray and communicate the style of dance and also the nature of the queen we were all portraying, gaining feedback from teachers that my facial expressions had improved during this number. 

Six 

This number is the ending of the show, upbeat, fun and overall meant to leave the show on a high. I felt I was pushing this energy from the first rehearsals however it was improved and added to during the final rehearsals