CB - Swan Song.

Question 1

How many Dancers are there in Swansong?

Answer 1

3.

Question 2

What is the Style of Dance used?

Answer 2

Contemporary Ballet.
Ballroom.
Tap.

Question 3

How many Sections are in Swansong?

Answer 3

7.

Question 4

List the Sections in Swansong.

Answer 4

1. Questions and Answers.
2. Tea for Two.
3. First Solo for the Victim.
4. Slow Trio.
5. Second Solo.
6. Cane Dance.
7. Final Solo.

Question 5

Describe Section 1: Questions and Answers.

Answer 5

Introduction of Interrogation theme.
Movements of pushing, pulling, balancing and lifting between interrogators and victim.
Question and answer sequences with foot tapping.

Question 6

Describe Section 2: Tea for Two.

Answer 6

Interrogators put on hats, red nose is fastened on victim - humiliation.
Movements drawn from ballroom dance with a syncopated rhythm echoes in the music.
Victim is forced to imitate interrogators’ movements.

Question 7

Describe Section 3: First Solo for the Victim.

Answer 7

Slow and lyrical movements and music.
Extended body lines, arabesques, leaps.
Victim moves along diagonal line within the shaft of light from the source, upstage left.

Question 8

Describe Section 4: Slow Trio.

Answer 8

Interaction between all three dancers with use of body weight transference and flow.
Use of body contact to maneuverer and lift.
Chair used as Prop throughout the sequence.

Question 9

Describe Section 5: Second Solo.

Answer 9

Solo for the victim, performed without accompaniment.
Movements are slow, long and sustained.
Chair is used in a variety of ways.

Question 10

Describe Section 6: Cane Dance.

Answer 10

Interrogators re-enter with canes.
Tap dance style is used again, Jazz dance style movements for hips and legs.
Victim uses chair to defend himself from the interrogators’ canes.
Victim finally collapses, apparently dead.

Question 11

Describe Section 7: Final Solo.

Answer 11

Victim rises from the chair and dances a solo, with controlled movements, arms resembling wings.
Interrogators stay frozen in position, either side of the chair, throughout this section.
Victim exits towards the shaft of light.

Question 12

Describe the Accompaniment.

Answer 12

Silence in one of the Solos.
Cries and Crashing Sounds.
Tango Style Accompaniment.
A change in Accompaniment signifies a change of section.

Question 13

Describe the Costume of the Prisoner.

Answer 13

Pink/Faded Red T-Shirt and Jeans.
Red Nose.
Jazz Shoes.

Question 14

Describe the Costume of the Interrogators.

Answer 14

Khaki Coloured Shirt and Trousers.
Peaked Caps.
Canes.
Jazz Shoes.

Question 15

Explain how the Red Nose is used.

Answer 15

Used to Humiliate the Prisoner.

Question 16

Explain how the Canes are used.

Answer 16

Used as Props.
Used to attack the Prisoner.

Question 17

Describe the Physical Setting.

Answer 17

Black Bo.
One Wooden Chair.
Lighting becomes a feature of the Set.

Question 18

Describe the Lighting.

Answer 18

Mostly White lighting used to focus on centre stage.
Some blue and red is used.
When the prisoner performs his solos, a single white shaft appears from upstage left.

Question 19

What is the Context of the Work, and it’s Significance?

Answer 19

Concerned with Political Oppression.
A deliberately disturbing dance showing a victim being tortured y a variety of means.
Shows both the aggressive and sadistic of interrogation.