Dance Showcase Logs

  Macy’s Jazz – Rehearsal Log Session Summary: We spent the majority of this session finishing the choreography. Two new dance sections were added, and we finally linked in the chair unison section at the end, which really helped pull everything together. I also had another opportunity to explore and improvise how the Emcee character might move and carry himself during the second verse and chorus. I'm really enjoying discovering how he expresses his confidence and charisma. The studio space was a bit cramped today, which made spacing quite difficult. As a result, there was a lot of stop-and-start work, especially when rehearsing with the chairs. We needed to ensure all the transitions felt smooth, safe, and well-coordinated. Personal Observations: I really enjoyed developing the storyline further. It’s beginning to feel more complete and layered.  I found the circular section of the choreography challenging to time correctly. It involves multiple layers of movement that requir...

Show Performance Review:  Robyn’s Jazz – “Big Time”: Because this number opened the show, and it required high energy, slick execution, and performance precision this had the pressure of starting off well. I found the tight formations and group unison sections especially challenging in earlier rehearsals, but during the show I managed to stay connected to the group while still performing with projection. One thing I noticed was how easy it is to let facial tension or over-concentration show when you’re trying to hit sharp movements and I'll continue t keep working on this. That said, the routine felt tight, and Robyn’s feedback about dancing “bigger” in space finally clicked for me on stage. I pushed further with performance energy and really tried to fill the space especially as the stage was larger than I'd anticipated. Because hadn't been able to settle nerves yet properly, I found some sections became more wobbly than they are usually are, such as the turns and unison d...

Dress Run’s Rehearsal Log~ Session Summary: Over the last few weeks, we’ve completed several full runs of the show. These rehearsals were essential for ironing out technical issues, building stamina, and most importantly, refining characterisation and performance across each number. Robyn’s main message throughout our classes, full runs and dress runs in the last week was that without using our proper technique and strength, we cannot use dynamics, performance and musicality in the correct way. The repeated runs allowed us to focus more on intention, consistency, and adapting under pressure and especially when adding costumes, props, and quick changes into the mix. Personal Observation: Spacing was one of the most challenging aspects throughout the dress run period. Much of our early rehearsal took place in studios that didn’t match the actual stage dimensions, which made it difficult to set reliable physical markers. That said, this is often the reality in the industry, so I took it a...

Rehearsal log 11~ Robyn’s Jazz Session Summary: The primary focus of this rehearsal was refining choreography with an emphasis on  spatial awareness, transitions , and achieving precision in  unison . Robyn directed our attention toward the “ intentionality  of movement”, highlighting the importance of technical proficiency to fully realise the musicality and dynamics of the piece. We began by working through  body positions and placements , whilst making sure our formations were consistent and accurate. Robyn offered feedback to help us physically understand the arm lines required, which became especially important for more intricate movements involving the arms and head. Emma was also present for this rehearsal and was there for extra notes. It was particularly useful when they both made us hold positions to make sure we were all understanding the physicality of the movements the same and therefore practicing the right muscle memory.  A large part of the rehea...

Rehearsal log  9~ Emma’s Lyrical Session Summary: This rehearsal focused primarily on developing character through dynamics and breath. Halfway through, we watched a video of our performance to self-correct any visible mistakes or irregularities, which proved to be a helpful time-saving tool during the cleaning process. Emma made some adjustments to the timing of the final cannon, making it more manageable and allowing the ending to flow better. She also changed the direction of our exits to add a sense of spontaneity to the piece. Personal Observation: I struggled during this session with executing turns, spins, and sliding motions, as the floor felt rough on my bare feet and aggravated my blisters. Emma advised me and others dealing with the same issue to wear socks to prevent further damage to the soles of our feet. This experience made me realise that I need to incorporate better foot care into my weekly routine to avoid these issues in the future. Research: As a dancer, I’ve c...

  Rehearsal Log  8~ Robyn’s Opening Session Summary: This week’s rehearsal focused heavily on spacing, learning new choreography, and cleaning up the number. I’m becoming quite comfortable with the choreography, though there are still a few new sections that I'm struggling to count accurately. As third-year dancers, we’ve been given sections to improvise and showcase our individuality, which is a great opportunity for self-expression. Robyn gave us specific notes regarding footwork, head, and arm lines. With so many of us on stage during the larger dance breaks, it's essential that I remain precise and fulfill my role in maintaining the visual cohesion of the piece. The choreography is high-intensity and demands a lot of agility and stamina. Personal Observation: So far, I’ve been experimenting with my individual sections, but I need to solidify my choices to avoid confusion, both for myself and for others who might be using my movements as a visual cue. There were a few momen...

  Rehearsal log  7- Emma’s Lyrical Session Summary: In this rehearsal, we focused on resolving spacing and entrances due to the absence of a company member. Emma also took time to explain the deeper meaning behind each section of the piece, providing more context for the storytelling involved. As an ensemble member, my role isn’t to portray the central story but rather to amplify the atmosphere by supporting the main characters through facial expressions and dynamic movement. While I’m beginning to understand the timing better, my entrance has changed due to the new spacing. This means I need to anticipate the timing more carefully, so practicing it throughout the week will be important to get it right. Personal Observation: Emma encouraged us to draw upon personal experiences to enhance the authenticity of the storytelling. Once I did so, I felt much more expressive and connected to the piece. However, I did struggle with some of the jumps, particularly with elevation. I beli...

 Rehearsal log  6.  Macy’s Jazz Session Summary: Today’s lesson was focused on addressing the opening section of the routine, particularly as we’re now missing a member of our company. The choreography is intricate, with many interwoven and complex patterns, so a large portion of the session was dedicated to refining these details. As much of the patterning doesn't involve me directly, I was either given time to work on my solo moments at the side or asked to observe the group and identify any inconsistencies in the execution of the patterns. Personal Observation: While observing from the side, I had the opportunity to apply some of the acting methods I had researched earlier in the week. Additionally, I took time to familiarize myself with the next wordy section of the song, which was helpful in physically embodying the lyrics and connecting them to my movement. Practicing this section allowed me to solidify my understanding of its rhythm and intention, as well as improv...

Rehearsal log 5:  Emma’s Lyrical Session Summary: In this session, we spent a lot of time cleaning the choreography and adding transitions, which made it a long and tiring rehearsal. We managed to finish the routine, with a particular focus on refining the final section. The work on transitions was crucial for making the flow of the piece more seamless and ensuring everything was crisp by the end. Personal Observation: I found it difficult to hear my entrance, so I’ve had to adjust by walking on stage first in character and then waiting for the lyrical cue of “I’m glad” before continuing. There’s one particular turn that starts high in a releve and then lowers into a roll on the floor, which is especially challenging for me. Timing it with the other dancers is tough, and I’ve realized that my balance and ankle strength need improvement. To execute this move more confidently, I need to focus on building more stability and control in my ankles. Research: As a dancer, I know how cruci...

 Rehearsal Log 4 “Money” Session Summary: This session was focused on further developing my character as the Emcee, specifically through acting-based movements and interactions with other characters to convey the idea of me walking down a street in the scene. The groups I interacted with included nuns, prostitutes, drunkards, robbers, and corrupt police officers. For each of these groups, I had to adapt my character’s reaction, making sure everything was timed perfectly and fit the flow of the scene. Additionally, we introduced a prop a handkerchief that I must conceal, only to have it stolen halfway through the walking section. The challenge was not just to act in a way that suited each group, but to remain in character while timing my reactions to the choreography and the interaction with props. The character’s journey through these encounters is essential in shaping the Emcee’s complexity. My goal is to maintain his unpredictability between being charming, sinister, and flamboya...

Reflection Log : Robyn’s Jazz number  Session Summary: In this lesson, we focused on catching up with other year groups by learning the high-energy choreography for Robyn’s opening jazz number to “Big Time,” an orchestral jazz track. Robyn did a great job breaking down the movements into sections, which helped us absorb the choreography more easily. I really appreciated that we started by learning the piece with lyrics rather than counts. Even though I rushed in some parts, I was able to match the moves with the lyrics. For example, the double turn into a pointed finger and lunge finish happened on the lyric "make them wait," and the next lunge with the left arm out and right arm low was on "always late." This approach helped me follow along better. From the beginning, we were encouraged to focus on performance, and Robyn was excellent at drawing that out, even when I started feeling fatigued toward the end. Personal Reflection: One of my biggest challenges during t...

Emma’s Jazz Summary of Session: Today was our first rehearsal for this piece, which is a lyrical number set to a mashup of Burt Bacharach’s songs. The first section is to “This Guy’s in Love,” the second to “The Look of Love,” and the third to “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again.” The storyline focuses on new love and a girl finding maturity through heartbreak. The choreography is both technical and requires a lot of contraction and release. Even though the storyline changes between songs, the choreography remains the same, which I found difficult to distinguish between at times. Emma was very specific about our lines and postural positions. As this is a long piece, it’s easy to let technique slip during the more “floaty” moments. One motif that’s repeated throughout involves two shoulder/arm throws in opposite directions in a jazz fourth position. For this move, Emma emphasized that I should draw power from the back and shoulders, rather than the arms, to conserve energy. A lot of the sess...

 Rehearsal Log 1: Macy’s ‘Money’ – 22nd April Summary of Session: Today, we resumed our rehearsals for Macy’s jazz piece to "Money" from Eddie Redmayne’s live recording of  Cabaret . We spent most of the session working on new choreography and adjusting to the change in pace of the music. Since I’m playing the role of the  Emcee , the rehearsal required intense character work. This role involves intricate movements and precise musicality, as I’m miming the lyrics while dancing. It’s been a fascinating process not only learning the lyrics but also being challenged by Macy to sing while dancing. This, she said, would help with the authenticity of the miming. We also addressed some spacing issues I was facing with the chair and the steps, particularly when traveling through the crowd of people and chairs. Given the large rehearsal studio compared to the actual stage size, I had to adjust my movement to avoid overextending. Additionally, we began the chair hand-clapping secti...