Play With Fire

Question 1

Actions in play with fire

Answer 1

Rubbing muscles, Adjusting sleeves, Naturalistic gestures, Rooster strut, Body and torso ripples, Thumb points, Flexing muscles, Tilted arabesque, Slow turns followed by leg ,lifts usually tilted, link of arms, wiggling gesture, slapping of hand, jazz and social dance movement, fast footwork, grooming gestures, formal ballroom hold,

Question 2

Space in play with fire

Answer 2

.Back and forth travelling - linking to the flirting between them
Female ends at low level when the male dancer takes her feather bower, perhaps sad as that was her power (he tries to assert dominance)but she snatches it back at a high level, demonstrating her power
Travel towards the stage right together, lots of contact.
Doesn’t use the whole space a lot- stay quite close to one another

Question 3

Dynamics in play with fire

Answer 3

Plain dynamics
Consistently slow
Slight increase in speed during partnering phrases
Fast turns

Question 4

Relationships in play with fire

Answer 4

Unison
Contact work (ballroom hold, holding shoulder, linking arms)
development of the minuet step, rooster strut, grooming gestures
repetition of muscle gesture
mirroring in the minuet step
action reaction, showing off to each other
remain on the same level the whole time

Question 5

Set , costume , props and lighting in play with fire

Answer 5

Female costume - thigh length black dress with no sleeves and red box pleats (her usual costume) however she now has a red feather boa which she uses a prop throughout.
Male costume : Original suit costume , Blue jacket ,Lime Green shirt , Pink tie ,Black trousers
Red sidelight centre stage on the side of the female’s face
Minimal setting

Question 6

Aural setting in play with fire

Answer 6

Don’t play with me ‘cause you’re playing with fire’ - he performs a series of rhythmical gestures which echos the chorus

But you’d better watch your step girl, or start living with your mother’ : Lyrics associating the female dancer with wealth - ‘Well you’ve got your diamonds, and you’ve got your pretty clothes, and the chauffeur drives your car’, ‘your mother she’s an heiress’ Flirtatious but still showing that he is the dominant person in the relationship

Question 7

Dance and choreographic style in play with fire

Answer 7

Gestures (e.g flexing muscles)
Looser Ballet movements
partner work between male and female dancer (ballroom hold)
contemporary
Minimal setting (costume, staging, props) Aural setting is the starting point
Tasks set for the dancers
Collaborative approach
Focuses on social and historical events

Question 8

Themes in play with fire

Answer 8

Flirtatious relationships,
Exploring new ways in the relationship from As Tears Go By,
Possible struggle in a fresh relationship, Connecting with others,
Aggression,
More equality although male mocks female
Egotistical male

Question 9

Key motifs in play with fire

Answer 9

Female dancer is trying to seduce him by using the feather bower. She puts it under her bum and rubs it side to side to try and seduce him and draw attention to that part of her body. She does this staring at him with direct eye contact to strengthen the relationship. After that she flaps the feather boa like a matador to suggest a bull fight and her red feather boa is signalling him to run towards her.
he male and female dancer stand opposite each other and the male dancer drags her while holding the boa which is around her neck. They travel towards stage left taking 4 deep steps, where she then spins and falls onto the floor while the male dancer unwraps the boa from her and onto his neck. He performs the rooster strut stage right and then repeats the female’s previous movement of rubbing the boa under his bum in a mocking way.