Interpretation is very important when it comes to understanding a dance ‘Work’. It is your job as the dancer to perform movements that can be easily interpreted and are identifiable by an audience.

' Interpretation

• application of technique to dance performance
• performance quality in relation to dance performance.'

The Major Study work is considered to be a coherent organisation of technical phrases and sections driven by thematic considerations that create a unified whole. Interpretation refers to the application of technique and performance quality to your particular work.

In Major Study Performance, it is important to develop dance technique, using the body to portray meaning to the dance idea. The choreographer wants the idea of the work to be communicated to an audience through the dancer (you). The dancer needs to have the capacity to interpret the choreographer’s intention and portray that within the work.

Performance quality involves sustaining control and manipulation of space, time and dynamics in relation to the work performed. It also involves the demonstration of the quality of line, projection, commitment and kinaesthetic awareness which lead to a clear interpretation of a work.

Individual audience members will interpret movement and will relate to a work in a different way based on their religion, life experiences and personal views, however it is the dancer’s ability to perform movement with a clear sense of interpretation, that will allow the choreographer’s intent to be seen.

Interpretation

'...the application of dance technique and individual performance quality to realise the concept/intent of a piece of choreography'

Three

1. How have you been able to provide your own interpretation for Major Study Performance work? (300 words)

2. Select an example from your work of 5 of the body skills from the syllabus. Identify each body skill and discuss how this body skill and correct technique has been used to assist in the interpretation of the thematic intent.

For example: In my dance I have used a balance on the right leg with the leg left extended in an arabesque position, the balance represents the idea of support and stability. This assists in communicating the idea of control over a situation that’s creating turmoil. I control the supporting leg in the balance by distributing the weight evenly over the phalanges and the ball of the foot. Ensuring that my pelvis is square, the pelvis is in line with the patella and the phalanges on the supporting leg. Projection into the active space, direct focus and the balance are used to create a sense of control, after a percussive and fast locomotor sequence has been performed to show turmoil. Coming out of the locomotor phrase, I rise onto the ball of the right foot and lower slowly, lifting the working leg into an arabesque position in a sustained dynamic. I collapse out of the balance and roll on a diagonal upstage to further show turmoil. Therefore the body skill of a balance further communicates my intent in this phrase.

Examples of body skills

• body awareness
• principles of alignment/body placement
• body articulation
• axial movement
• locomotor movement
• turns
• falls
• balance
• control
• elevation
• kinaesthetic awareness.