We had a lovely warm-up stretching our heads and necks then our whole bodies- the warm-ups Rachel does are like beautiful mini dances. It left me feeling relaxed and ready to get creative.
We were in a smaller studio today so it was time to get cosy and comfortable with each other. We walked around the space and then when Rachel said “freeze”, we had to find a partner and explore weight counterbalance with each other, either pulling or pushing using each others’ bodies. We did this for a while then got into pairs. We did an exercise where one person was the monkey and the other was the tree. The tree had to stay firm and sturdy whilst the monkey had to use their body weight to try to unbalance them (or maybe we were meant to be counterbalancing again?). A lot of us were being polite, not wanting to put our weight on the other person. It was a bit hard as we were getting into quite close contact so this was explored with some hesitation.
We found new partners and did some more. It was here where we found out how much our bodies could do and what our limits were; ‘Yeah, no worries, I can easily bend over backwards as you take my weight on your back and go down to the floor’. Oh! No! No, actually, I can’t. Ow!
Rachel talked about a film she had watched and how to use the movements of the characters to create a piece. Rachel had choreographed a section and taught it to us. Everyday movements were exaggerated and crafted into moves more akin to dance. Eg. putting on a glove brought the whole body up and through as we stretched to put the glove on from the fingers all the way to the shoulder. We learnt each part and then kept putting it all together until we had learnt the whole phrase (I think that is the term to use. Look at us, dancers in the making!). We practiced this a few times and then had a break.
After the break, Rachel got us into groups of 4 or 5 and we were asked to think of someone at work, any kind of work, and how we could show this visually as a group. We chose someone typing on an old style typewriter, with the paper that gets fed into it. Two of us were the paper, two were the keys and one was the person typing. We had a show of all the groups’ pieces. They were all very different and interesting and lovely.
It was then back into the bird/arrow movement where we are the extended head and arms of the leader at the front. Rachel guided the leader on how to move and how we should move with her. It was filmed and then we saw how it looked. Everything seems so fluid! It is going to be a beautiful piece.
We then recapped the journeys where people met along the way and what the actions people had created were. 3 of us had not had any meetings so we practiced the sequence Rachel had taught us earlier.
New partners again and Rachel showed us a single partner move with a little hop around as we hold hands with each other like when doing the Tango perhaps. Time had flown by again and it was time to go. Rachel discussed rehearsals to come and the weekend rehearsals coming up. It had been another lovely rehearsal and the only trace of anything contrary to this was the few specs of blood from someone who had got cut by something sharp sticking out of the floor. First Aid! (Do not worry. He was ok and all it needed was a plaster).
Photos: Gigi Giannella
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