Emancipation of Expressionism

Question 1

Choreographer

Answer 1

Kenrick H20 Sandy

Question 2

Company

Answer 2

Boy Blue Entertainment

Question 3

Composer

Answer 3

Mikey J Asante

Question 4

first performance

Answer 4

May 2013

Question 5

Dance Style

Answer 5

Hip hop, including krumping, popping, locking, animation, breaking and
waacking techniques.

Question 6

Choreographic approach

Answer 6

Hip hop, including krumping, popping, locking, animation, breaking and
waacking techniques.

Question 7

Stimulus

Answer 7

The music Til Enda by Olafur Arnalds was a starting point for the piece.
This final section of the work was created prior to earlier sections.
The idea of emancipating expressionism (hence the tile) was another starting point for the work. The importance of being free to express
ourselves both as individuals and through the use of hip hop movement
vocabulary are central to Kenrick’s initial ideas for the work.

Question 8

Choreographic Intention

Answer 8

Kenrick seeks to express himself by using hip hop as a tool to create art that affects an audience in a theatrical setting. He wants the audience to feel that they are witnessing and sharing an emotional journey through the piece and appreciating hip hop dance as an art
form. Each section is a scene, a moment in life, and the whole work is a journey. The theme of order and chaos highlights the restrictions of an individual style of hip hop dance. Kenrick seeks to create variations
within these parameters in order to create a sense of chaos in contrast with the potential limitations of set styles. Often individual dancers split
from the ensemble and at other times the ensemble are all in unison. Kenrick uses these contrasts to show different relationships between order and chaos

Question 9

Dancers

Answer 9

17 dancers (8 female / 9 male)
Kenrick is one of the dancers in the performance and several of the dancers feature in key solos and have leading roles.

Question 10

Duration

Answer 10

11 minutes

Question 11

Structure

Answer 11

The dance is in 4 sections and although not titles, Kenrick describes them as being based around the following ideas:
1. Genesis (start - 2min 12sec) - the start of life and a feeling starts to grow and create from the womb of expressionism. There is a sense of
an electrical current affecting the dancers. He explores ideas of struggling to be free, find individual expression, conformity and order.
2. Growth and struggle (2min 12sec - 3min 21sec) - starting with an individual dancer’s expression contrasted by others entering from stage
right. What may appear aggressive suggests the struggle for the recognition of individual passion and expression. It ends in a rugby
scrum inspired formation with an ensemble supporting the individual dancer.
3. The connection and flow between people (3min 21sec - 6min 30sec)
- developing from a duet to a full ensemble. There are aspects of memory, manipulation, flow, merge and play between individuals in a relationship. An energy flows through the dancers, sometimes
controlled by an individual and sometimes in group unison.
4. Empowerment (6min 30sec - 10min 39 sec) - The energy is captured
and released with a new found raw, super human power. The release of individual energy (now more chaotic) continues to contrast with the
powerful order of group unison. Within the idea of empowerment, this section also showcases the individual skills and expressionism of the
core dancers. The contrasting lyrical qualities and frenetic percussive elements of the accompaniment are echoed in the contrasting actions
and dynamics. There is an incessant quality as the section builds to a crescendo where the dancers are fully empowered. The section finishes with the dancers huddling together in unity before a final blackout and bow

Question 12

Aural Setting

Answer 12

Til Ender by Olafur Arnulds
November by Max Richter
he music shifts from two urban pieces utilising powerful drum beats and electronic sounds, to a modern classical composition (November), to a fusion piece of music (Til Enda) that incorporates urban percussive elements and classical string instrumentation

Question 13

Costumes

Answer 13

he costume was designed to represent the company – casual, enhance the shape of the dancers and create a ‘clean’ look. The dancers wear short-sleeved pastel blue t-shirts, blue denim jeans and grey trainers with a white sole. Kenrick wanted the dancers’ hair
tied back where necessary to ensure facial expressions were clearly visible. Some dancers wear everyday jewellery to enhance both the individuality and everyday qualities of the piece.

Question 14

Lighting

Answer 14

blue wash cross stage, corners are not lit, spotlight on dancers.