Creative Movement Workshop
Setting the Scene
Encourage the pupils to look around the exhibition then ask them to point out the things they noticed. Explain the idea of creating a different environment where things can happen that don't happen in our world. Read short part of the Fellowship of the Ring referring to the old Forest and the trees that can move, talk and see (or other excerpt which might inspire movement).
Warm up - using different levels
Teaching Point:
Emphasise finding enough space for the moves and avoiding touching anyone else.
Direction:
Imagine you can see invisible vines/ropes above your head and you have to reach them to swing yourself across the room.
Teaching Point:
Emphasise looking up to see the vines to encourage stretching the upper body and to make each move specific.
Creative Movement Workshop
Direction:
Now imagine you must crawl through a long dark tunnel.
Teaching Point:
Emphasise moving slowly and carefully on all fours.
Direction:
Now imagine the floor has changed into a cliff and you must cling on with your whole body and crawl up the cliff.
Teaching Point:
Encourage pupils to use their feet to dig in and push their bodies along as well as using their arms to pull them along.
Direction:
Change from one position to the next as fast as you can.
Partnerwork - Tunnels
Directions:
In pairs, one person make a tunnel with their body and the other crawl through without touching. Swap over.
Create as many different tunnels as you can.
Pupil demonstration - show some of your tunnel examples
Direction:
With music, practice repeating two/three of your tunnels, moving smoothly from one shape to the other and without having to tell each other what comes next.
Creative Movement Workshop
Partnerwork - Flying
Directions:
As partner A crawls through 'tunnel' B person, A pause to press up and take the weight of the B, helping B change into 'a flying person/dragon/eagle'.
A gently lower B to the floor and change over.
Experiment with different ways of lowering. (e.g. tuck heads in and rolling off, B rolling off length wise etc. Could use gym mats to practise rolling off).
Direction:
With music, practice making smooth changes without any stops in between or talking to prompt partner.
Pupil demonstration: show your short sequence
Groupwork - Creating
Direction:
A and B team up with two others. Think of some unusual ideas inspired by the exhibition and try them out with your group.
Teaching Point:
Emphasise the strange and magical, e.g. things can change into something else, landscape or animals can be created by bodies, the book excerpt can be used as inspiration.
Emphasise trying ideas out before selecting and editing.
Pupil demonstration: show your group's ideas
Cool Down - Goodbye!
Teaching Point:
Explain the idea of different customs in stories. E.g. show waving 'bye.
Direction:
The whole class makes a circle. With the person beside you, think of an unusual way of saying goodbye with your body instead of your voice.
Pupil demonstration: show your goodbyes!
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Autumn 2002
Written and devised by Dawn Hartley,
Dance Artist, Arts Service,
East Lothian Council.