Weight: Strong or Light


 Unit: Extra-daily Techniques
 
Theme: Weight
 

 I 


 Introduction

Weight is about sensing one’s body mass in relation to the pull of gravity.  Using this experience to explore its expressive potential within a dance or movement proposition allows the dance/movement artist to diversify the choreographic frame. Using Rudolf Laban’s Effort concepts as a springboard, we will explore three weight qualities: Resiliency, Strength, and Lightness.


II

 Learning Objectives

 

Understand the fundamental principles of weight

Explain the necessity of weight to move

Gain an awareness of the role that weight plays in dance making

 

III

 Main Lesson

 

 1


Warm Up/ Stretching
 
Relenti / Philip Glass Music
 

2

Concepts
 
 Resiliency
 
Sensing one's weight in relation to the vertical point of gravity. It is releasing the center of weight into gravity, registering it at the bottom of your demi-plie and slightly rebounding it upward; its orientation is in the vertical dimension.

Weight Transfer

A weight transfer or weight change is dancer's movement so that their weight is moved from one supporting foot (or supporting limb/body part) to another one fully or partially.

Partial Weight Transfer

 In partial weight transfer the center of gravity is shifted to project between the old and new support body part.

Strength

Strength is pushing and driving through gravity. There is a certain amount of resistance employed. It is following through with the horizontal plane.  Engaging the center of weight through gravity. The center of weight forcefully pushes through gravity, thus achieving an outward directionality.

Lightness

Lightness is withholding one's weight. It is being sensitive to the pull upward. It is resisting gravity.  It is exaggerating the body’s relationship with levity to the upward space. The weight lingers at the apex before it carefully and gradually descends and releases into gravity.


LINK:

LINK:  
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IV
 
A Note to Remember
 
Jean Newlove, the author of “Laban for Actors and Dancers,” says that observing how other people walk—considering weight placement begins the bodily narrative through movement—is a useful place to begin. Notice, for example, if the person leads with their chest or their knees when walking, or if they’re heavy- or light-footed; decide what that means for the “character” this person is. 
 
 In choreographic work, weight qualities are one aesthetic consideration among many rather than being the main focus of the work. Resiliency means releasing the center of weight into gravity, registering it at the bottom of your demi-plie and slightly rebounding it upward; its orientation is in the vertical dimension. 
 
All these movement elements studied by Rudolph Laban, are what Eugenio Barba defined as extra-daily techniques, which he emphasized as the basis of the scenic presence. The relenti excercise practiced today comes from Cristina Castrillo, director of Teatro della Radici.
 
V
 
Case Study
VIDEOS

Weight


Strong


 Light

Question 1

Based on the two videos, compare and contrast strong and light weight.



VI
 

Activities


After exploring the weight qualities (resiliency, strong and light), create an 8 movement phrase  in which you combine the three. Record it and post it on Discussion Board.
 


VII
 
Glossary  
 
Resiliency: Sensing one's weight in relation to the vertical point of gravity. It is releasing the center of weight into gravity, registering it at the bottom of your demi-plie and slightly rebounding it upward; its orientation is in the vertical dimension.

Weight Transfer: A weight transfer or weight change is dancer's movement so that their weight is moved from one supporting foot (or supporting limb/body part) to another one fully or partially.

Partial Weight Transfer: In partial weight transfer the center of gravity is shifted to project between the old and new support body part.

Strength: It is pushing and driving through gravity. There is a certain amount of resistance employed. It is following through with the horizontal plane.  Engaging the center of weight through gravity. The center of weight forcefully pushes through gravity, thus achieving an outward directionality.

Lightness: It is withholding one's weight. It is being sensitive to the pull upward. It is resisting gravity.  It is exaggerating the body’s relationship with levity to the upward space. The weight lingers at the apex before it carefully and gradually descends and releases into gravity.
 
 VIII
 
Sources
 
Weight Qualities. https://dance.osu.edu/research/vjb/weight-qualities
 
Woltmann, Suzy. Laban Movement Analysis: An Introduction for Actors. https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/laban-movement-analysis-guide-50428/
 
 IX
 
Journaling


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