Sep 4 - Week 3 - Meeting 6 / Breath & Duncan Explorations

 

I

Unit: Breath

Theme: Duncan Explorations

 

Introduction

Today we will address breath. As said by Bradley (2016), at the most basic level, dancers should use inhalation to emphasize growing movements, and exhalation to extend shrinking movements. This use of breath provides a greater fluidity of movement, musicality, and often creates an enduring quality that fosters enjoyment of movement.

 

II

Learning Objectives

 

• Understand the way in which breath can enhance the quality of expressive movement 

• Explain how breath connectivity can be increased during performance
  

• Gain awareness of breath capacity and connectivity

• Experience breath connectivity through Duncan style moves

 

III

Warm Up

 

IV

Main Lesson

 

1

Breath Connectivity

Breath Connectivity

Question 1

After experiencing breath connectivity in the way it is explained in the video, describe what you felt during and after breathing?

2

Athletes breathing versus diaphragmatic breathing.

 

Question 2

Explain in your own words the way breathing works?

3

 Quotes

The dance of Isadora Duncan is a crafted study and artistic rendering of the human soul. The technique is based on the free flow and organic expression of emotions (Durham 2008). She introduced the use of breath in her dance, which changed the way it was perceived and the qualities the movements were showing, a unique dance. Allen (2018) used Duncan’s internally focused, solar plexus breathing technique as the impetus for creating movement for her company.

  Lessons from Isadora : Re-Examining a Century Old Creative Process to Create New Movement and Expression

 

Question 3

After reading the abstract from the link above, what does the author mean when writing:

"Isadora Duncan developed a process for creating movement consisting of breathing into an area of the body known as the solar plexus and waiting for internal inspiration, without force or affected design, to move her."

 

 

 4

 

Article

How to Use Breath to Enhance your Movement 

Use the prompts bellow to experience breathing. For explanations go the link.

• Don't hold your breath
• Breathe three-dimentionally
•  Coordinate your breath with Movement

 

Question 4

After moving using the prompts between parenthesis, what differences did they make in your movement experience?

 

V

A Note to Remember

 

Duncan used the breath as the nucleus of movement, letting action stem from the breath itself. Coordinating an inhale or exhale with certain gestures or movements can also help you to embody certain artistic qualities (Caldwell 2021).

VI

Case Studies

 

Isadora

 

Elena Kovaleva

Sergei Yesenin reads, Isadora Duncan dances

 Стихотворение  было написано поэтом в 1918:
     
Я покинул родимый дом,
Голубую оставил Русь.
В три звезды березняк над прудом
Теплит матери старой грусть.
          
Золотою лягушкой луна
Распласталась на тихой воде.
Словно яблонный цвет, седина
У отца пролилась в бороде.
      
Я не скоро, не скоро вернусь!
Долго петь и звенеть пурге.
Стережёт голубую Русь
Старый клен на одной ноге,
      
И я знаю, есть радость в нём
Тем, кто листьев целует дождь,
Оттого, что тот старый клён
Головой на меня похож.

The poem was written by the poet in 1918:
     
I left my home
Rus' left the blue one.
Three-star birch forest above the pond
The old mother feels sadness.
          
Golden frog moon
Spread out on the calm water.
Like apple blossom, gray hair
There was a spill in my father's beard.
      
I won't be back soon, not soon!
The blizzard will sing and ring for a long time.
Guards blue Rus'
Old maple on one leg
      
And I know there is joy in it
To those who kiss the leaves of the rain,
Because that old maple
The head looks like me.

 

Andrea Seidell

 Question 5

What is your impression of this dance style?

 

 

VII

Discussion Questions

1. Write a reflection on your experience with breath and movement.

2. In which way do you think breath can enhance the quality of your expressive movement? 

3. In your opinion, how can we increase our breath connectivity during performance?

4. What would you do from now on to develop your awareness about breath capacity and connectivity?

VIII

Activiy

1

Walk around the room (Use directions, levels and focus)

Now connect with your breath ass you walk.

Now move on the inhale and pause on the exhale.

Then, move on the exhale and pause on the exhale.

Combine the inhales and exhales as you move.

2

• Students explore some Duncan's moves in order to apply their knowledge of breath while moving ( runs, jumps, turns).
• Then they work in ensembles and create an 8 movements phrase with the moves learned in class.
• They share their work and then repeat it but this time with music.

Christina Perri - A Thousand Years (Piano/Cello Cover)

 https://youtu.be/QgaTQ5-XfMM

 

IX

Journaling

 

X

Glossary

solar plexus: a network of nerves in the abdomen behind the stomach that contains ganglia sending nerve fibers to the internal organs of the abdomen. It is the general area of the stomach below the sternum. It is the third primary chakra according to Vedic tradition.

XI

Sources

Allen, Rebecca (2018). “LESSONS FROM ISADORA: RE-EXAMINING A CENTURY OLD CREATIVE PROCESS TO CREATE NEW MOVEMENT AND EXPRESSION. https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/etd/209/

Bradley, Chelsey (2016). Teaching Students to Use Breath to Enhance their Dancing. https://www.danceadvantage.net/teaching-breath-coordination/

Caldwell, Rachel (2021). How to Use Breath to Enhance Your Movement. https://www.dancemagazine.com/use-breathe-enhance-movement/

Druham, Valerie (2008).  The Dance of Isadora Duncan by Valerie Durham. https://bourgeononline.com/2008/08/the-dance-of-isadora-duncan-by-valerie-durham/

XII

Students' Work