Analysis of Two Dance Works

A detailed Summary of Analysis of Two Dance Works

I am going to compare and contrast 2 professional dance works: 'Never Again' and 'Waterless Method Of Swimming Instruction.'

'Never Again' was choreographed by Lloyd Newson and performed by the DV8 Physical Theatre in 1989.

Lloyd Newson first entered the dance profession when he joined the NEW Zealand Ballet in 1979. He then came to Britain in 1980 and studied with the 'London Contemporary Dance School' (LDCS) for 1 year. He then joined 'Extemporary Dance Theatre' (EDT) where he danced for 5 years. After EDT he began to develop his own style and wanted to follow his 'personal politics'. He formed DV8 Physical Theatre in 1986 to brake down the barriers between "dance, theatre and personal politics". He wanted a wider range of audiences so they performed in smaller venues, which also decreased the ticket prices allowing anyone to afford tickets.

The stimulus point for 'Never Again' was section 28. It was choreographed as a response to section 28:

"Authorities shall not promote the teaching in any

Maintained schools of the acceptability of homosexuality

As a pretended family relationship."

Channel 4 commissioned Lloyd Newson to create 'Never Again' for 'Signals'. It is a narrative piec

Newson also uses a lot of contact work in 'Never Again'. Here are some of the contact movement content:

Section 4 - reversed quartet, the dynamics are again the same but the movement works mainly in the high and mid levels. There are many arabesque turns and body rolls. There is a particular lift,

Robert Cohan is from America and began his dance career studying with Martha Graham in her company from 1946-47 (then later 1962-69). In 1966 he was the director of the company. In 1967 he was asked to come over to England and direct the Contemporary Dance Trust by Robin Howard. He agreed and spent part of his time in London and part in America. He began to teach Graham technique and eventually set up the first school for contemporary dance. This later became LCDT and was very much Graham based since that is what he was trained in. he then moved to London permanently. He stayed director of the LCDT until 1981 by this time he had made it into a modern dance company with an international reputation. He produced many dances, which are based on an idea or nature or life. This dance was based on a book which was called 'The Waterless Method Of Swimming Instruction' it was instructions of how to learn to swim without water. This book was the stimulus point for this dance. There is !

I am now going to look at each section (except prologue) and discuss the movement content.

v Twist hips and torso around other person's body parts.

In section 3- the quartet, the dynamics are again smooth and fluid and move through all levels. They also travel in all different directions. There are many high leg and arm extensions. Roll turns, extended to dive arabesque, isolated foot circles. The link with the theme is the isolated foot circles/rotations, which give the image of paddling.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Swimming Instruction', Anne Dewey, Lloyd Newson, Physical Theatre, Rolling Twist, Again' Houston, LCDT Graham, Theatre' EDT, Martha Graham, Samantha Kenny, 'never again', link theme, contemporary dance, movement content, swimming instruction', method swimming instruction', method swimming, 'waterless method swimming, lloyd newson, 'waterless method, dynamics section, swimming pool, dv8 physical theatre, 9 duets unison, 4 reversed quartet,

Approximate Word count = 1481
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Arts