May 9 & 10 – putting it together
The performers started by their usual warm-ups, and then reviewed the dances. Lest rehearsal grind to a halt so early, Martha named Doreen as Dance Captain since Katharine was not here to lead them and my videos from last rehearsal weren’t working and certain areas were, um, spotty.
Martha combined the performers’ individual chair etudes into one, putting them all on the floor together, with Kay as teacher and the others as students in their chairs. This work continued throughout the weekend, with Martha introducing different dynamics and the performers working on their own material but sharing the space with the others and letting that information influence them. I do believe a scene is forming…
Doreen played on the swing but isn’t content with the rigging yet and her grip yet; Kay creeped us out wonderfully with her Big Bad Wolf/Mother material; Sian and Jennifer worked on combining Sian’s fan material with Jennifer’s striptease etude. I am finding us the right shoes.
The group did table work where we reviewed the structure of the piece and ideas for what text we are using where.
And finally, note to self: never send funny YouTube videos to Martha if you don’t want to see them in our play! Martha had them choose and learn a few steps from the groovy Gwen Verdon number “Mexican Breakfast” and from the contortionist trio The Ross Sisters (“Solid Potato Salad”). Genius, is the group consensus.
-Kara
