Introduction
Cry- Alvin Ailey (1971)
The information below has been extracted from info sheet on: http://pressroom.alvinailey.org/alvin-ailey-american-dance-theater/repertory/cry
In 1971, Alvin Ailey choreographed the ballet, Cry, as a birthday present for his mother; it went on to become an enduring work of American art. This 16-minute solo, which was first danced by the legendary Judith Jamison, is dedicated to “all black women everywhere – especially our mothers.”
The solo is made up of three parts – the first set to Alice Coltrane’s “Something about John Coltrane,” the second to Laura Nyro’s “Been on a Train” and the last has the Voices of East Harlem singing “Right On, Be Free.” The female soloist represents all black women, depicting their African origins, the trials and tribulations they have endured and their joyful triumph over those hardships.
Glossary
Ballet: A dance form started in the royal courts of Europe. The body is held mostly upright and the legs are turned out from the hip. Ballet uses five basic positions of the feet. Ballet terms are always spoken in French.
Arabesque: A ballet position where a dancer balances on one leg, raises and extends the other leg behind them, and stretches their arms forward.
Artistic director: A person who has artistic control of a company’s work. They will often choose a company’s season and direct several works.
Call and Response: A style of singing in which the melody sung by one singer is responded to or echoed.
Choreographer: A person who composes dance works. Duet: Any performance by two people.
Dynamics: Variation and gradation in the intensity of a movement or musical sound.
Ensemble: The united performance of an entire group.
Folk Dance: A style of dance that originates among the common people of a particular nation or region.
Movement Vocabulary: Dance movements that commonly appear in a choreographer’s works.
Repertoire/Repertory: The list of works that a company is prepared to perform. Repertory
Company: A dance company that performs many types of works by many different choreographers.
Salsa: A lively, vigorous type of contemporary Latin American popular music that blends predominantly Cuban rhythms with elements of jazz, rock, and soul music.
Solo: Any performance by one person.
Spirituals: Religious songs created by African American slaves, the lyrics are often based on stories from the Bible.
Symmetry: An exact matching of form and arrangement of parts on opposite sides of a central point or axis.
Tribute: A gift, payment, declaration, or other acknowledgment of gratitude, respect, or admiration.
Trio: A group of three.
Vignette: A short scene or moment, as from a play.
Work: A word that dancers use to refer to a dance; other words that are used in this manner are “piece” and “ballet.
Task
Task 1: Watch the 16 minute solo by Judith Jamison by clicking on this link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuTJSbWm2QY
(There is a word bank and glossary in the introduction link)
Answer the following questions into your books:
- What were your first impressions on this dance?
-In time period that 'Cry' was created, what issues do you think were occurring? What was going on in the world at that time?
-What do you think the intent of the Dance work is?
-Describe the movement qualities that you saw throughout.
Process
Task 2: This is information on Alvin Ailey and his legacy. It is quite a long attachment but a very interesting and informative read. Please read and answer the comprehension questions below.
- When Ailey started up his company in 1958 what was his intentions/goal?
-How long has the Alvin Ailey company been running for now?
-Where did Ailey began his Dance career and training? Along side who?
-Who is Lester Horton?
-How many Dance works in total did Ailey create?
-What is modern dance and what are the characteristics that make up modern dance?
Task 3: https://www.alvinailey.org/about/history
Create a timeline on Alvin Ailey's career from start to end using the site above!
Task 4: Create your own sequence
Choreograph your own 16 count modern dance sequence that communicates something you are passionate about or it could be issues going on in the world right now.
Film it and submit it to me so I can see :)
Evaluation
|
Task |
Beginning 1 |
Developing 2 |
Accomplished 3 |
Total =3 |
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First impressions and movement qualities |
Incomplete or missing information.
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Completed with some minor inconsistencies with describing movement. |
Completed with a clear understanding on the context and describing the movement |
|
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Comprehension questions |
Incomplete and missing valuable information.
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Completed but lacking information using correct dance terminology.
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Complete with necessary valuable information using detailed dance terminology to show understanding on the text.
|
|
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Timeline using Prezi, word or power point |
Students attempted to use Prezi, Microsoft word or Power Point. Lacking Imaginative elements.
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Students created a timeline using either Prezi, power point Word document with pictures, with some mistakes.
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Students created a timeline using either Prezi, power point Word document with pictures, with minimal mistakes.
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|
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Creating a sequence
Choreographing and filming |
Students did not try to choreograph, reflecting their chosen style of dance. Unimaginative and lacking creativity.
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Students choreographed a clear beginning, middle, and end but not polished and rehearsed. Missing level changes. Good use of space.
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Students choreographed a clear beginning, middle, and end. Two level changes, and good use of space. Well-polished and rehearsed.
|
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Conclusion
Thank you for taking the time to read and complete the tasks. I know this is not the ideal way to be learning and starting our term off but I hope we can get back to face to face learning in no time. I hope that you have found Alvin Ailey's Dance works as interesting as I have and I look forward to going into more detail. For additional study and readings please refer to the 'Credits' page, I have put in lots of links and study guides to assist your learning.
Exit ticket: Please write one sentence on what you have learned this lesson and one sentence on what you would like to learn more of.
Once you have completed your work, please email it through to me so I can mark it off :)
Stay safe!
Credits
https://www.alvinailey.org/sites/default/files/Resource%20Guide%20for%20Educators%202019.pdf
https://calperformances.org/learn/k-12/pdf/2008/Alvin_Ailey_Study_Guide_0809.pdf
Photos:
https://npg.si.edu/object/npg_NPG.2002.395
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/after-30-years-of-dancing-renee-robinson-takes-a-bow
https://www.indiewire.com/2021/01/alvin-ailey-documentary-review-dance-1234613129/
https://www.europeana.eu/en/blog/the-alvin-ailey-dance-theatre-an-african-american-legacy