NYCB Presents:
This Bitter Earth
Goals
Goals
- Experience a piece of music and dance performance
- Deepen the experience through reflection, movement, and art-making
- Explore the theme of making an emotional impact by blending art forms (dance, music, poetry, and art).
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.
Video
Video
This video is an excerpt from a pas de deux (ballet term for “step for two”) by the New York City Ballet. It is a single continuous shot of Sara Mearns and Adrian Danchig-Waring performing an excerpt from Christopher Wheeldon’s This Bitter Earth.
This video is an excerpt from a pas de deux (ballet term for “step for two”) by the New York City Ballet. It is a single continuous shot of Sara Mearns and Adrian Danchig-Waring performing an excerpt from Christopher Wheeldon’s This Bitter Earth.
Associate Artistic Director, Wendy Whelan, said, "It honors where we have come from and the challenges we face moving forward into the unknown. The choreography inspires reflection from both its performers and audience and I hope, for you, conveys a peaceful sense of hope for the future."
Associate Artistic Director, Wendy Whelan, said, "It honors where we have come from and the challenges we face moving forward into the unknown. The choreography inspires reflection from both its performers and audience and I hope, for you, conveys a peaceful sense of hope for the future."
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 listen to the music, bring your arms out to form a circle in front. You can do this either standing or sitting down.
- Take in another breath and bring your arms up to form a circle above your head.
- Keep the soft arm movement and move to the music.
Reflection / Discussion
Reflection / Discussion
Let’s watch the video again but without the sound.
Let’s watch the video again but without the sound.
1. What do you notice about the dancers?
1. What do you notice about the dancers?
- What are they wearing? How does that impact the performance?
- What do you notice about the background?
- What do you notice about the movements? What shapes do they create with their bodies?
- What do you notice about the interplay between the dancers?
- How do you feel watching the dance without the music?
- What message do you think the dancers are trying to convey?
Let’s watch the video again. This time with the music but try not to pay attention to the words yet.
Let’s watch the video again. This time with the music but try not to pay attention to the words yet.
2. What do you notice about the music?
2. What do you notice about the music?
- How have your feelings changed when watching the dance with music?
- What does the music add to the dance?
- What do you think the music is trying to convey?
- What are three words you can use to describe the performance?
Let’s watch the video once more. This time, listen to the words in the song.
Let’s watch the video once more. This time, listen to the words in the song.
3. What do you notice about the song lyrics?
3. What do you notice about the song lyrics?
- How do the words change your experience of the dance?
- What feelings are elicited by the words?
- Is there any part of the lyrics that stands out to you? Why?
Activity Video
Activity Video
This video will take you through the extension activity below with a facilitator. You can choose to watch the video and do the activity along with it. Or, you can read the activity and participate by scrolling down.
Movement
Movement
Inspired by the movement and music in this performance, we will rehearse our own dance of hope.
Inspired by the movement and music in this performance, we will rehearse our own dance of hope.
1. Pick three favorite movements from the performance
1. Pick three favorite movements from the performance
- What shapes inspire you?
- What do those movements mean to you?
2. Create your own lyrics: Pick a short sentence or phrase to pair with each movement
2. Create your own lyrics: Pick a short sentence or phrase to pair with each movement
- Why did you match these lyrics with the movements?
- Do your lyrics inspire hope? Why or why not?
- What do these lyrics mean to you?
Example
I chose these sentences because I was inspired by the stretching and arm movements of the dancers.
Example
I chose these sentences because I was inspired by the stretching and arm movements of the dancers.
These words also represent “hope” for me...
These words also represent “hope” for me...
- “Hope is the thing with feathers”
- “Love conquers all”
- “Reach for the stars”
3. Complete your performance
3. Complete your performance
- Try your moves in sequence
- Pair your moves with the lyrics
- Try your performance with a partner
Art-Making
Art-Making
Supplies: Paper and Writing Utensil
Supplies: Paper and Writing Utensil
1. Pick a pose in the performance that moves you.
1. Pick a pose in the performance that moves you.
2. In the center of the paper, you can choose to either sketch the shape of the dancers form.
2. In the center of the paper, you can choose to either sketch the shape of the dancers form.
OR draw a word that is inspired by the performance,
OR draw a word that is inspired by the performance,
as if the letters are dancers.
as if the letters are dancers.
3. Add to the images anything inspired by the pose you chose.
3. Add to the images anything inspired by the pose you chose.
4. Play the music.
4. Play the music.
5. As you listen to the music, add more words or images elicited by the song.
5. As you listen to the music, add more words or images elicited by the song.
EXAMPLE:
EXAMPLE:
I sketched a pose and added a star at first. Then, as I listened to the music, I added the flowers and falling petals. In the corners I also added some words inspired by the words sung.
I sketched a pose and added a star at first. Then, as I listened to the music, I added the flowers and falling petals. In the corners I also added some words inspired by the words sung.
EXAMPLE USING WORDS:
EXAMPLE USING WORDS:
This pose inspired the word “love” as the dancers’ arms form a shape of an upside down heart. I drew each letter as if they are dancing.
This pose inspired the word “love” as the dancers’ arms form a shape of an upside down heart. I drew each letter as if they are dancing.
As I listened to the music, I added tears forming into a river and hands holding together.
As I listened to the music, I added tears forming into a river and hands holding together.
Inspired by the lyrics, I also added the words “not bitter after all” in the corner.
Inspired by the lyrics, I also added the words “not bitter after all” in the corner.
Explore More
Explore More
Extension Questions:
Extension Questions:
- Do you agree with Wendy Whelan's statement that this performance "conveys a peaceful sense of hope for the future? Why or Why not?
- Would you change anything about the performance or it's title? Why or Why not?
Additional Links:
Additional Links:
- To learn more about New York City Ballet, click here.
- To learn more about This Bitter Earth, 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.
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.
