As fleas are usually found in very dirty, filthy places and also cause some animals to itch. The flea suits her character as a flea because movements such as hops, skips and jumps are used, showing that the flea is an insect that travels a lot. The flea comes across as a very humorous character. She uses movements such as mimetic gestures and Pointé work, this helps us to understand that the insects is quite an energetic, strong and sharp character.
The flea rarely uses low level, this also helps us to understand her movements in depth her movements include many jumps as though she is flying from place to place or victim to victim.
The main technique used by the flea is ballet this dancer shows little gracefulness as is usual. Her ballet style is ungainly and humorous. The use of Morris dancing by the men helps the flea to portray her movements through to the audience.
The zebra starts his movements off as a centre soloist on stage. He starts off poised when he looks out at the audience. His head is tilted to the right with both he’s arms by his side with switches angled out. This helps him to look as elegant as a real zebra. He carries out slow, smooth transfers into new positions, directions and levels.
He kneels with he’s arms stretched out to the left side framing he’s head, which is turned to the right. The zebra stands facing down stage right. He stands flexed at the hips to make a flat back, legs straight and arms reaching towards the floor. This resembles a four-legged zebra. The sequential movements ripple unexpectedly down the spine.
The zebra uses small shuffling hops or shunts that stay close to the ground as a way to travel to the downstage centre. This helps to illustrate the African influence. He uses contrast in level as he travels from shape to shape. An example of this is when he bends over to hold his supporting ankle, flexing at the hip joint and balancing on a straight leg while all the other bends are vertically behind him.
The zebra expresses himself as a serious character this is done by the movements he uses. African ‘trance’ elements are used quite often this may be done because this particular zebra may originate from Africa and using movements from the same country may help to express the character better. The arms are also used along with many 3600 turns. The use of space is divided into downstage and upstage.
The main technique used by the zebra is contemporary with Afro-Caribbean features such as flexible body waves.
The zebra is an animal found in the wildlife, the movements used by this character helps us to understand easily as this zebra uses large space to move in and animals in wildlife life in wide spaced areas.
The flea and zebra both represent themselves through their movements this is done very well as the movements the dancers use fit the description of the animals. The costumes also help to show the characters.
Task 2:
Costumes play a big part in ‘still life at the penguin café’ because the designs reflect the characters play in the sections. They are very important because they help the audience to identify the characters easily.
The kangaroo rat dress in dark blue baggy dungarees that are stitched with silver coloured buckle fastenings. To draw more attention to the dancers feet, the trouser legs are rolled up to the knees. He’s legs are bare with pale, fresh coloured soft shoes. Under the dungarees there is a tighter fitted, short-sleeved tee shirt that is tie-dyed in patterns of white and dark grey. The outfit look faded or slightly dirty which may suggest that the rat is not a clean animal. It is also in a style of what a farm labourer wears which may suggest that he is from a Texas farm. The baggy fitted dungarees can also suggest poverty. A realistic head mask of a rat is also worn.
The Ram wears a head mask, with curled horns, woolly head of a realistic portrayed sheep. The neck is uncovered. She wears a long apricot silk coloured dress that becomes darker in shade down the body. The sleeveless, tight fitted top has a boat neckline. From the right shoulder a frill fins its way down across the body and winds itself around and down the layered and heavily flounced skirt. She wears high-heeled shoes in a matching apricot tone of the dress to show that she is quite an elegant character and flesh coloured tights. Later on the skirt is removed to show her legs. She is left with bare legs and a loose train at the back. Her dress sense shows a sign of elegance. He movements and rich fabric can suggest her wealth. She comes across as stylish and glamorous.
