Tap

Tap dancing is a style of American theatrical dance. It was developed in the 19^th century. It originally appeared in black minstrel shows but during the 1920’s it became popular with blacks and whites. Today Tap is a very popular style of dance. It is very easy to find a dance school that offers Tap dancing classes. The International Tap Association (ITA) was seen as what made tap like it is today. ITA was first started in 1987 at the Colorado Dance Festival by legendary tap performers, teachers, historians, presenters, students, and fans. They mission was “to serve the needs of the tap community and to promote the understanding, preservation, and development of tap as an art form”. The ITA did a lot of work and made tap to what it is today in the dance industry. They did programs and special projects to teach dancers and the public about tap.   

Tap dancers wear shoes with metal plates on the soles. As the dancer moves their feet the metal plates click against the floor making the tapping noise.

Tappers can create lots of different percussive rhythms with their feet by tapping, sliding, and clicking the metal plates. People watching can enjoy both the movements and the sound of the tapping. Tap dancers can dance with either music or unaccompanied.

The roots of Tap dancing are still a bit unclear. A number of different cultures have styles of dance very similar to Tap dance, such as clogging in the British Isles. The movements they do are very similar to Tap dancing movements. In Africa they have a style of dance called Juba this is a very quick and competitive dance using a lot of foot work. It also includes stomping, hand clapping and slapping and patting parts of the body. Early English tappers used to nail coins or pennies to the bottom of their shoes to create the clicking sound. This is what inspired the ‘three screw’ tap shoes sold in dance stores today. 

I once saw a hip hop dancer do a tap routine with a twist. He used wellington boots as tap shoes. Not only would he tap with them he also would slap and pat them. This links back to the Juba style of dance. I thought this piece was amazing and it really inspired me. Walking in wellington boots is hard enough but actually tap dancing in them must have taken a lot of energy.

When tap dancing you have to really think about your performance. If you’re just simply doing the steps nothing really comes out of it but if you’re performing it and putting your everything into it, it can look amazing. Tap was very popular in the 1930’s and 1940’s with the big Hollywood musicals. If you watched the dancers in the films they were always putting everything into it and making every move perfect.

Gene Kelly and Jerry Mouse in Anchors Aweigh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kaNiAQyxf4&feature=related

I watched this video of Gene Kelly and Jerry Mouse on youtube and I really enjoyed it. I like the contrast between cartoon and real life. I can be enjoyable for all ages. Some of the steps were really simple but still really effective.  The film was made in 1945 and the other main star was Frank Sinatra. They are two sailors on leave looking for a good time. They end up trying to impress and a lady with a young boy and put of the plan is dancing with Jerry. 

Gene Kelly was born in 1912 he was one of the major Hollywood stars of the 1940’s. Not only was he choreographer but he was also a dancer, actor, singer, film director and producer. Probably his most famous routine is Singin’ in the Rain in 1952.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmCpOKtN8ME

Gene Kelly developed his own style of dance from ballet, modern, tap and American Folk dance. At first he was an athlete and this certainly showed in his dance. Gene Kelly moved away from the more formal style of dance in the earlier movies where the dancers would often wear evening dresses and top hats and tails. His style of dress and style of dance were more informal and in touch with the people that would be viewing the movies. Having said all that Gene Kelly said that Fred Astaire was one of his major influences. 

Fred Astaire was born in 1899, he was originally a stage dancer and his film career lasted 76 years. His most famous dancing partner was Ginger Rogers.

Some of his most famous tap routines were with Eleanor Powell.

He started dancing as a children’s act with his sister. He refused to have dancing lessons he just copied his sisters moves. It soon became clear that he had a very natural talent. In the early 1930’s it was often said that he was the greatest tapper in the world. Fred Astaire shows the power of dance because he actually wasn’t a very good actor. Although he still got many film roles. When he first danced with Ginger Rogers she had never danced with a partner before and they developed their style but she wasn’t a very good tap dancer so Fred Astaire teamed up with Eleanor Powell who was also seen as the world’s greatest female tap dancer of their time.

Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire were brought together and tap danced together in a piece called The Babbitt and the Bromide. When you watch this you can see the different styles of the different men. Even though they are doing the exactly same moves you can see Gene Kelly is more informal than Fred Astaire. Gene Kelly’s legs are more lose and he relaxes more into it where as Fred Astaire is more up right and stiff. Both of these styles look right but it’s just the way each individual has interrupted it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMKbGRCbsaw

I chose these dancers because you don’t tend to get so many famous tappers around these days. When I think of tap dancing I think as it as old fashioned and in all the black and white movies. When I think of tap dancers these are the people that come into my head. I think they made tap dancing what it is today.  
 
A modern dance tap dancer is Adam Garcia who is a judge on Got to Dance. This shows that the genre of tap is still as popular as ever as many people arrive to audition to impress Adam and the other judges with their tap routines. Adam is Australian and learnt to dance in Sydney Australia but still then has appeared in London in the West End such as
Hot Shoe Shuffle
On The Town
Tap Dogs
Saturday Night Fever

Grease 

Tap Dogs is an Australian dance troupe and Adam was one of the founding members. Originally he wanted to be a scientist so he went to university but left after a year because his passion for dance was so strong.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFlO_3Zaz5M 

Now tap isn’t the most popular style of dance but you can still see its influences in other styles of dance. For instance George Sampson won Britain’s Got Talent with a hip hop dance but still he used Singing in the Rain which is the music to one of the most popular tap dances ever. If you watch the dance you can also tell that it is very influenced by Gene Kelly’s performance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyDnYeUnT7w

I’ve been tap dancing since I was about 4 now. I’ve found tap the hardest style to pick up and I still find it very difficult. Getting all the steps in and making the right noise with your tap shoes can be very difficult but I do believe practise makes perfect. 

Ballet

Ballet originated in France in the 16^th and 17^th century. The style was then developed in England, Italy and Russia. Originally it was performed in a room with the audience sitting on three sides of the room. The early ballet dancers are not as highly skilled as they are now. The style is now global and it is taught in dance schools around the world. Ballets are now choreographed and also include mime, acting and are set to music, usually orchestra but occasionally vocal.

Ballet has been performed for about 400 years. But it was performed professionally in Russia and France until early in the 1900’s. After the Russian revolution in 1917 many of the best dancers were able to come to Europe and America. The Russian dancers then opened excellent dance schools in the West and taught the students exceptionally well. This then lead the students to open their own dance schools and train other young dancers. So this meant the standard of ballet improved throughout the whole world.

Ballet is still used today but can be done in different styles such as classical, modern and contemporary. Classical ballet is the most formal style of ballet. It stays true to the traditional ballet technique. Although classical ballet is an established style each country has its own interpretation. Classical ballet is best known for its unique features and techniques, such as pointe work, turn-out of the legs, and high extensions and its graceful and flowing movements. Classical ballet normally tells a story through the dancers movements.

Different classical ballets include -
Cinderella
Coppelia
Don Quixote
Giselle
The Nutcracker
La Bayadere
La Sylphide
Romeo and Juliet

The style started in France and Italy. They both wanted to make their entertainment out do each other. They used to train their courtiers to dance, fence and entertain. The dance style ballet started by courtiers keeping their spines straight and turning their feet out to show off their calves. Their arms were rounded and they had delicate fingers. Their heads were held high so their heavy wigs and head dresses didn’t fall off. The performances were normally based on Ancient Greek myths so the performance told a story. King Louis XIV of France

loved the style so much he did it until he was 30. He set up an academy of dance and music. His dance teacher was called Beauchamp and it’s thought that he created the five feet positions and the basics for ballet started here.

The first costumes were normally based on the fashion in the court at the time. Often they were heavy and they had big wigs and head dresses. Now is the traditional costume is tutus, leotards and unitards. They are still very detailed and decorative but they are very light and easy to dance in. The costumes have changed a lot over time. By the Romantic period in the early 19^th century the ballet skirts changed and became shorter and lighter so the dancer could jump higher and the audience could see their movements more clearly. The classical era is when the tutus came in. It’s tight around the waist so the males can hold and lift the females easily. The skirts were short so the audience could see the technical leg movements. When you see a ballet nowadays depending on the story and style, any type of costume can be worn. 

Traditionally ballet is normally done to classical music. But these days ballet can be performed to any type of music. For example an American company used Elton John’s music to choreograph a ballet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA8ksXVksDo
Another ballet called Blue Suede Shoes was set to music by Elvis Presley. This shows ballet can be set to any type of music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQTvlOsS4jM
This shows that ballet can be performed to any type of music.

Ballet can be performed by men or woman. Originally the first ballet dancers were men and the women would sit and watch. Nowadays the females do more of the dancing and the men are sometimes used as more of a supporting role. But this isn’t always the case. Not as many boys take part in ballet classes these days because it’s not seen as being as masculine as sports like football and rugby. My brother does ballet and in the past he has had some problems with other boy’s not agreeing with boys doing ballet. I asked him about how he felt about it.

Have you ever been bullied about doing dance?
I wouldn’t call it bullying, more teasing. Many people have told I’m ‘gay’ because of my dancing but that is just stereotypical. I have learnt to take it on the chin and ignore the comments that are made. At one point it did cause me to stop for a while but my Mum and Sister convinced me to start up again. Being in Rock Challenge has also helped me a lot with my confidence.

I think it’s unfair that boys who do ballet have to put up with this. It’s their choice what they want to do so they should be allowed. I think the musical Billy Elliot a great musical to watch because the character of Billy is an amazing role model for boys who want to do ballet. It shows them that if they are determined they can achieve their dream.

Work Experience at Watford Palace Theatre

The main Function of Watford Palace Theatre is to provide entertainment through performances and films. It also does workshops for local schools and the community. Attached to the theatre is a cafe encouraging the public to come in and to bring the community together.

This is what Watford Palace Theatre say on their website as their mission.
“The creative hub at the heart of Watford, the Palace engages people through commissioning, creating and presenting high-quality theatre, and developing audiences, artists and communities through exciting opportunities to participate.”

The theatre puts on an annual pantomime which gives local young children the chance to audition and participate. This is the show is extremely popular and sales the most tickets in the year. Personally I really enjoy the pantomime and have been going with my family for many years. I can still remember being a very little girl and seeing my first pantomime there. Their pantomimes may not have stars in them but they are better than any other one I have seen. They believe in doing it the traditional way.

Throughout the year in puts on plays that are on tour around the country. They cover all themes to try and appeal to all the sections in the community. The theatre also gives the opportunity for the community to showcase their talents. They put on shows such as Platform One for this. This is a show that allows local dance schools, dance troupes and schools to perform pieces of dance they have put together. I have taken part in this performance and it’s been my favourite show to perform in. Every two years I look forward to taking part. In addition to this they run workshops, theatre arts programmes and offer work experience opportunity to local school children.

It’s not just a theatre that opens during the evening to put on performances, it has a lot more to it. It’s located right in the heart of Watford in the middle of the community they aim to bring together.  

You may not think there many jobs in the theatre but when you look into it there are a variety of jobs that need to be done to keep the theatre running. The mind-map attached lists all the jobs the theatre currently employs people to do. All the jobs split into five main categories but they still all link together. The jobs available are common to all theatres but the number of jobs depend on the size of the company and theatre. Different theatres do things differently though. For example some theatres may use the same designer the whole year through but others may hire on in for different performances.  

I have picked the job of being an actor because this is the job that most interested me and it’s something I’d like to do in the future. Doing this job meant I had to rehearse and perform a piece of drama at the end of our week of work experience. This allowed everyone to take a job and put together a performance for an audience. The piece we performed was called Alice by Laura Wade and I played the part of Tweedledum.    

On the Thursday morning of our work experience we did an acting workshop. This allowed us to experience how actors get to know each other and learn how to work well with each other. We need a number of different exercises to get used to our surrounds and the other actors. This helped us to decide whether we wanted to take an acting role in our performance at the end of the week.

One of the exercises we did was moulding each other into an emotion we were given. Not only did we have to think about the faces but the whole body language as well. This made us think about that acting isn’t just all about the lines being said but getting into the character and putting across emotions.

We also did some acting in our directing workshop on Wednesday afternoon. This made us think about how the director and actors worked together. We were told that some directors knew exactly what they wanted but others would want the actors to put in their input. Being an actor you have to adjust to the different directors and their views.

On Friday morning we all decided what roles to take and I chose acting. We were given the script and started going through the lines. Once we were familiar with the lines and what it was about we started to talk through acting it out with our director. We did it step by step giving the director our ideas as well. We followed stage directions and used props at the appropriate times. We had to let the stage manager know where we needed all our props and when we needed them. Earlier in the week we had a workshop introducing us to stage management so we understood the job and gave the stage manager all the information he needed to know. We then rehearsed our piece through stopping and starting if the director wanted anything changing or if the stage manager had a question.

We also ran it through with lighting and sound so they knew their cues. It is important this happens so the piece of drama can run smoothly without a lot of stopping and starting. Lighting and sound also had to work with the director because they needed to know what kind of affects they wanted and at what time. Rehearsal time is crucial so that everyone knows what they need to be doing.

We had a very successful drama piece that ran smoothly and our audience enjoyed. Our audience were surprised by the quality of the performance with only a few hours of rehearsal time going into it. Normally actors would have weeks and even months to rehearse their piece and get it right. They forgave us for still using the scripts but we didn’t have enough time to learn our lines. I really enjoyed the acting progress and would definitely like to have a future involving it.     

I’d like to focus on the job of the designer. I didn’t think I would be the slightest bit interested in this job but the workshop surprised me and I really enjoyed it. I am not the best drawer in the world but I learnt from the workshop that you didn’t have to be the best drawer to be able to do this job.

In our workshop on Wednesday morning we started learning about design in the theatre. Designing means designing the set and the costumes for the characters. The designer needs to be given the script so they know what the set needs to be like and what the characters are like. When they have the script research is done to help them come up with ideas. This helps them get more of an image in their head of what they want and what is needed. This can be different for different designers though.

The design work very closely with the directors as they have some input into what the set and costumes look like. Some directors have a clear idea and tell the designer exactly what they want but other may not be so sure and ask the designer to come up with some of the ideas.

They may also come into rehearsals and see how the actor is playing each character. This can give them more of an idea of how they want the character to look. Yet again the director does have say in this. It’s also important the characters know what they are wearing and are comfortable in it before performing in it. It’s the designer’s job to make sure they give the actors the costumes to rehearse in. For example if a woman has to wear 6 inch heels in the performance and she’s never worn heels before, she is going to need to practise in them.

The designers work closely with the costume constructors and set constructors to make sure all their designers are possible. Things like measurements all need to be taken into consideration. The designers job is not as easy as it sounds. They can’t just draw or create the first thing that pops into their mind, a lot of time and ideas have to go into it.

In our workshop we were shown set and costumes and asked what we thought the story was about and what the mood of the scene was. It was very easy to tell by looking at the set and costume. It immediately told us the era and the mood. It could also give us some clues on what the play was about or what the character was like.

After having some idea on set and costume design it was our turn to design our own. We were given a template of an empty room and given an emotion; mine was abandoned. We then had to make the room look like that emotion. For mine I made it look like no one had lived there for a while but I than found it made it look haunted. To change this I draw a normal street outside the window and door. This made it look like life still goes on outside the house and no one is bothered about it being there.

We then moved onto costume. We got given the script ‘Alice’ and were given to characters to focus on. We partner up and did the character Tweedledum and Tweedledee. We had to decide together have to interpret the character with the costume. I worked with Chloe and we decided to go for the naughty school boy look. We decided this after looking through the script. We made one of the boys look scruffier as we believed he was more of a bold character and took charge in the partnership.

I was really happy with both my designs and if we had time I would have developed them more. I have now learnt designing is not all about being good at drawing, you have to be creative. You may be able to draw but if you’re not creative you’re not going to get very far.