Focus

 

 

 

I

 

Unit: Elements of Movement

Theme: Focus

 

Introduction 

 

Focus is one of the most important elements of dance. It provides a sense of direction to the movement of the body beyond its own directionality. It anchors the movement choice to a specific point in space. Without a sense of focus the movement will always feel random.

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II

 

Warm Up 

 

The isolation's warm-up provides the body with the opportunity to connect itself to its flow of energy muscle group by muscle group, joint by joint, bringing the needed synovial fluid to lubricate every articulation. This, in turn, would avoid dancers from injuring themselves.

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III

 Learning Objectives

 

• Understand the importance of focus in dance
• Explain the different ways focus works
• Gain awareness of the role of focus in a well connected dance proposition
• Experience focus, first hand, by adding that element to today's solo phrase
  

IV

Main Lesson

 

1

What is focus? 

 

The word focus on its own is typically used to describe the act of concentrating and centering the mind, placing attention of a simple stimulus.

 

2

Focus

From the audience's point of view, focus refers to  where the viewer’s eye is drawn.

From the dancer/mover point of view, focus refers to:

•      Single focus: looking in the direction of movement
•      Multi-focus: changing head/eye focus during movements 
  

3

Gabrielle Wulf (2020) says the following things about focus in movement and dance:

• An external focus of attention is key to optimal performance and learning.
• Movement is the product of the events and process of the mind, the brain and body as well as a reflection of diverse influences that come into focus.
• An external focus facilitates balance.
• Attention and focus techniques harness the power of the breath and the management of energy in motion.
• Self-related focus refers to the control of a body part movement.
•  Over the past 15 years, research on focus of attention has consistently demonstrated that an external focus (i.e., on the movement effect) enhances motor performance and learning relative to an internal focus (i.e., on body movements).

 

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V

A Note to Remember

In theater, "focus" refers to the degree of attention paid by an actor to the given task at hand. An actor who is said to be “focused” is one who is fully present in the moment and is not distracted by outside stimuli. This term is often used in conjunction with “concentration” and the two are often used interchangeably. Focus in dance generally refers to the eye line. The focus often indicates the way in which the dancer and the movement will travel, or where the dancers want the audience to look.

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VI 

Case Study

 

Question 1

 After watching this video, what would you say gets in the way of us developing a sense of focus?

 

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VII

 

ACTIVITIES

 

 1

Students engage in an exercise that illustrates the use of focus from a mover's point of view.

Eyes

Head

Body

Locomotion

Locomotion using levels and directions

 

2

GROUP WORK

 

Students create a movement phrase in which they use levels, directions and focus.

First they share their work without music and then with music accompanied by Philip Glass - Metamorphosis (1988).

 

 "Metamorphosis One" – 00:00 "Metamorphosis Two" – 06:54 "Metamorphosis Three" – 13:59 "Metamorphosis Four" – 19:09 "Metamorphosis Five" – 26:29

 

3

SOLO WORK 

Students work individually and create their first solo phrase using levels, directions and focus.

 

 

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VIII

 

Journaling

REFLECTION

 Students reflect on their experience and post them on Discussion Board.

 

IX

Sources

 

Source: Dance Elements

The Importance of Focus in Theatre. Forum Theatre. https://forum-theatre.com/what-does-focus-mean-in-theatre/