Embedded Files
Goals
Goals
- Experience a piece of dance
- Deepen the experience through reflection, movement, and art-making
- Explore the themes of motifs and patterns
Scroll down for a video and corresponding activities. You can replay the link for reference as you experience the activities below.
Scroll down for a video and corresponding activities. You can replay the link for reference as you experience the activities below.
Performance Video
Performance Video
As part of Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart Festival, Mark Morris Dance Group performed “Mozart Dances”. Mark Morris is a New York City based modern dance company. The dancers moved to Mozart’s Sonata in D major for Two Pianos, K. 448. This was accompanied by conductor Louis Langrée, the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, and pianists Emanuel Ax and Yoko Nazaki. This performance was part of Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart Festival.
Activity Video
Activity Video
This video will take you through the activities with a facilitator. You can choose to watch the video and do the activities along with it. Or, you can read the activities and participate by scrolling down.
Warm Up
Warm Up
Photo Credit: Kevin Yatarola
Listen to the music. Take a deep breath in for two counts and out for two counts. Take a deep breath in for four counts and out for four counts.
Continue breathing as you stretch your arms above your head, bring them back down. Bring your arms out to your side, bring your arms back down. Repeat. By making a repeatable set of movements, you have created a movement pattern or motif.
Stretch your hands. Open your fingers wide, then bunch them into fists. Raise each finger individually. Give your fingers a wiggle. Repeat this twice. Finally, gently massage each finger, then the palm of your hand.
Continue to breathe and stretch as you listen to the music.
Reflection / Discussion
Reflection / Discussion
What do you notice about the dancers?
How do the dancers move in sync or differently from each other?
What are they wearing?
What do you notice about the space they are in?
2. Watch the dancer's movement.
How would you describe the movement?
What shapes do you see the dancers repeating with as they move their bodies ?
How does the movement make you feel?
3. Listen to the music.
How would you describe the music?
How does the music make you feel?
Do you think that Mozart’s music matches Morris’s movement? Why or why not?
Movement
Movement
Choreographer Mark Morris made bold choices in his use of repeated gesture. Let’s honor and celebrate those choices, by creating a Movement Motif with our hands. A Movement Motif is a movement pattern. Listen to the music as you create your Movement Motif.
Choreographer Mark Morris made bold choices in his use of repeated gesture. Let’s honor and celebrate those choices, by creating a Movement Motif with our hands. A Movement Motif is a movement pattern. Listen to the music as you create your Movement Motif.
- Create one repeatable gesture that uses your fingers.
Example: I closed my hands and made a fist and then opened them and stretched my fingers.
Example: I closed my hands and made a fist and then opened them and stretched my fingers.
2. Create one repeatable gesture that uses the palm of your hands.
2. Create one repeatable gesture that uses the palm of your hands.
Example: I held one palm out flat and used the other hand to punch my palm.
Example: I held one palm out flat and used the other hand to punch my palm.
3. Create one repeatable gesture that uses your arms.
3. Create one repeatable gesture that uses your arms.
Example: I used my whole arm to create waves.
Example: I used my whole arm to create waves.
4. Put all three gestures together to create your Movement Motif.
4. Put all three gestures together to create your Movement Motif.
Art-Making
Art-Making
Supplies: Paper and Writing Utensil
Supplies: Paper and Writing Utensil
In “Double”, Morris’s dancers perform in front of backdrops, painted by Howard Hodgkin. The artist’s brush strokes evoke a repeated pattern of feathers. Let’s create a backdrop for your Movement Motif.
In “Double”, Morris’s dancers perform in front of backdrops, painted by Howard Hodgkin. The artist’s brush strokes evoke a repeated pattern of feathers. Let’s create a backdrop for your Movement Motif.
- Choose a repeatable shape or image. You can use the shapes your hands created in the Movement Motif for inspiration.
Example: I chose two of my movements. The movement with my fingers where I closed my hands in a fist and then opened my hands and stretched my fingers. And the movement where I made a wave with my arm.
Example: I chose two of my movements. The movement with my fingers where I closed my hands in a fist and then opened my hands and stretched my fingers. And the movement where I made a wave with my arm.
2. Using your chosen art making materials, draw this repeatable shape, or pattern, on a blank piece of paper.
2. Using your chosen art making materials, draw this repeatable shape, or pattern, on a blank piece of paper.
Example: I drew a circle to represent my fist in the center of my paper and straight lines coming out of it like my fingers when they stretched out. I drew waves likes my arms surrounding the circle.
Example: I drew a circle to represent my fist in the center of my paper and straight lines coming out of it like my fingers when they stretched out. I drew waves likes my arms surrounding the circle.
3. Perform your Movement Motif again. This time, in front of your backdrop.
3. Perform your Movement Motif again. This time, in front of your backdrop.
Explore More
Explore More
Extension Questions:
Extension Questions:
Do you have a favorite choreographer? Why?
Do you have a favorite composer? Why?
How do you feel when you make shapes and move your body?
If you could paint another backdrop for “Double”, what would it look like? Why?
Additional Links:
Additional Links:
To learn more about Mark Morris, click here.
To learn more about the Mostly Mozart Festival, click here.
To watch more videos from Lincoln Center at Home clips, click here.
Share:
Share:
Tell us what you think! Email us at access@lincolncenter.org to share your thoughts on the activities and website. Post photos of your art projects using the hashtag #LincolnCenterAtHome.
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