Solo Critique

For my own solo, I feel that the concept was aptly developed and displayed in utilizing the text in a way that fit the choreography. I also felt that the movement was sophisticated and creative as well as specific to the concept that I developed. The style of movement drastically changes, as most obviously signified by the dynamic change in music, from a slower, struggling, desperate, reaching movement to the slower song specifically in the frantic arm movements in the down stage left corner. These, when juxtaposed to a defiant, determined movement, signified by diverse coverage of the stage and the “stomping section”, helped to further diversify the style of movement used in the solo as well as the theme. I feel that my use of dynamically changing music and the initiation and ending of the piece with the quotes was especially effective. The actual editing of the music helped to further create the environment that I wanted to create as well as helped me to further connect to the piece on a personal level as it was my mother and father speaking the quotes in the music, however I feel that there could have been a little less of a time period without silence. The solo itself does have a distinct beginning, the slower music with the desperate reaching, middle, defiant, determined, large movement and end, when my arms closed and I walked back. The solo has its climax during the stomping section. The choreography utilized many different levels, styles, dynamics, and patterns to create its ambience, however the technical presentation, as always, could have been better and my transitions could have been cleaner. I felt that my costume fit very well, although the booty shorts could have been done without; however I feel that I used my space well, and truly emoted the piece and danced full out.

For Brittney’s solo, I think that her concept was clearly displayed, especially with her theatricals. The use of the text could have been more imbedded within the solo, however, the gist of the text and theme behind it were clearly displayed. The movement was very sophisticated; it was very well choreographed and utilized many creative patterns. Specifically the movement in the middle section of the piece where she held her face, was in a lunge, and her supporting leg turned in side and out again, I thought that this movent was very creative and helped to display her theme of struggle and confusion through a difficult decision. The piece assigned specific areas of the stage to specific feelings, like stage left, where the ring was left, reminded the audience every time she went back there of her character’s impending decision. The style and quality of the movement developed from an almost regal ambience, to the struggling, reaching movement that symbolized Brittney’s struggle, to finally making a decision. The movement was absolutely insightful and intriguing, and the edited version of the music fit right in. The piece had a very distinct beginning, the regal walking onto the stage, middle, the struggle, and ending, the putting back on of the ring. There were climatic moments within the struggling, decision making middle section which finally ended with Brittney putting the ring back on her finger. The piece had a versatile use of floor patterns, levels, and interactions however could have possibly utilized different facings across the stage. The transitions utilized were smooth, but the connecting of each movement to each other, never stopping and having one continuous movement could be improved. The costume of the piece, I felt, really fit well with the theme and the movements, and did not distract from the dancer at all, but rather enhanced the piece. The space was used well and the piece was done full out.