Research :
Q1. Explore various performance styles and techniques.
Acting techniques :
- Naturalism
This method was created by the Emilie and Zola who lived in France. But also Stanislavski is well. However he was mainly connected to the realism side of his method but still very involved with it. A play to use a example of this method is “Ghosts” by Henrik Ibsen he used a lot of powerful symbols within this play. In the play the characters are destroyed by syphilis which is a disease, this is a symbolic link to how their father behaved around them.
Link to the website I used for the information on naturalism.
Naturalism and realism – Naturalism and Stanislavski – GCSE Drama Revision – WJEC – BBC Bitesize
2. Musical Theatre
Musical theatre is a show combined of songs, acting and dancing. This shows a story of what happened but in a musical. Musical theatre has different Genre’s, which mean its one step type. This can be used with physical theatre. In musical theatre their are three different type of directors first it is the main director is the acting one and the next one is a dance director and finally there is a singing director. However the designer is a very important role and it will show how the play is and its main plot of the story. Although the sound and lighting is really important so it can be helpful for the main characters and ensemble for when to come on.
Website I used for musical theatre
Roles in Musical theatre – Musical theatre – GCSE Drama Revision – WJEC – BBC Bitesize
3. Pantomime
Pantomime is very popular when it comes to Christmas time especially for the family’s. Pantomime has been around for 500 years. A very famous quote from pantomime’s are “It’s behind you!”. When it comes to watching pantomimes the actors love it when the audience join in because it makes it more enjoyable for the families. Some main pantomimes is “Jack and the bean stalk” and also ” Cinderella” .
The website I used for this
Why is the pantomime still so popular? – BBC Bitesize
4. Screen acting
Screen acting is mainly used on modern acting. Screen acting is used by popular film cameras. The actors get give a script for audition from parts of the film so the director is to know who is perfect for the film or series. Once the actor got their role they only get given three days to prepare for the day of filming. The actors have to concentrate because, the cameras are used in so many different type of angles.
Website for the screen acting information :
Screen Acting | Everything you Need to Know for Screen Acting (stagemilk.com)
Dance techniques :
- Ballet
Ballet is a type of movement created from the human body. Ballet dance can be used as the story can be design by the facial expressions on what the story is. Ballet dance can either be magical and beautiful or disturbing. A great story that ballet dancers use is “the Nutcracker” and “The sleeping beauty”. Classical ballet is graceful movements, pointe work, balance and symmetry. Classical ballet was created in the 19th century. However Neo -classical ballet was introduced in the 20th century this type of ballet includes of, increased speed, energy, manipulation of the classical form, pared down aesthetic with simple sets and costumes.
Website I used for ballet information
What is Ballet? – Photos & Examples from Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (pbt.org)
2. Jazz
Jazz dance is a vibrant energy type of dance. With syncopated rhythms and expressive movements within the type of dance style. This type of dance style was created in African – American cultural style, it is a very type of rich style. This was created in the 20th century.
Website I used for this
Jazz Dance: Definition, History, and More (rockstaracademy.com)
3. Contemporary
Contemporary dance is a blend of elements of multiple dance styles. Ballet is also included a lot in contemporary and modern dance. This type of work is mainly based on floor work. However it is characterized a lot on improvisation is well, this is freedom of movement and fluidity. This lets the dancer express the mind of what the dancers are thinking inside of their emotions.
Website I used for contemporary
What Is Contemporary Dance? A History of Contemporary Dance – 2024 – Masterclass
4. Commercial
Commercial is a wide range of dance styles but also techniques. Commercial dance can often been used for to promote brands, popular music. Commercial is normally performed on theatre, stage or on camera. Mainly also uses props and costumes.
website I used for commercial dance :
What is Commercial Dancing: Origins + features + types + videos! – (newtypeofclass.com)
Q2. Compare the strengths and weaknesses of a variety of warm – up tasks.
Acting warm ups :
- Bang
Firstly you get everyone one in a circle, then one person in the middle has to be a sheriff. The sheriff has to point to someone in the circle and say “Bang” to the person you point to. Then the people on the right and left of the person who got pointed have to fire at each other obviously just pretend finger guns a bit like splat really. The slowest student to react to the person who just got pointed at would be out. They play this game for a long time and then they wait for only two people left. Finally once their is two people left you have to have the two finally people back to back and then, a person who lost comes in and says a fruit until if the person says a vegetable the person to react the quickest wins.
Strengths = This game is quite easy but also have to have great concentration, movement and vocal projection.
Weaknesses = This game could make people nervous on how long the sheriff will take to point at them so they wont know when to focus .
2. Freeze circle
First you get everyone in a circle, one person has to be in the middle and do some improvisation the group has to help the person in the middle so they know what type of scenario they have to do. You have to let the improvisation happen until the person in the middle is in a interesting person and a person in the circle has to say “freeze” then tap them on the shoulder and have to do a improvised scene from what your position from the person’s original pose.
Strength = It is a very easy game because it can be hard if the person in the middle does not know what they are doing. You have to be able to have vocal projection, movement and confidence.
Weaknesses = One of the people can not remember what to do when they freeze in the circle and do not know what to do.
3. Why are you late ?
Firstly you have to pick four people in the group to be a “Big boss”,2 “coworkers” and the driver. Next you have to set the scene, then the coworkers and the drivers are late for work. The “Big boss” is seated on the stage and waiting for them to show up. When the 2 coworkers are back on stage the “Big boss” asks “Why are you late?” the coworkers have to think of three reasons but they have to be funny reasons and not serious reasons. Finally the “Driver” comes in, and the “Big boss” asks the driver asks the same questions he asked the coworkers. They have to mime out their reason behind the “Big boss” back. However if the “Big boss” have to figure out the reasons and if they do their not fired but if they cant then they wont be having their job anymore.
Strength = It makes the students learn the outcomes of how to be better at acting, movement , vocal projection, team – building and finally focus.
Weaknesses = It can be hard to explain if the students is not focused, if people are not focused but they have to not know what is going on and when to help the people around them.
4. Four lines and a story
Firstly you have to, write the main three sentences the people in the game have to say ” What do you mean ? “, “I love you”, “You cant be serious” and finally ” I’m sorry”, on a whiteboard. These sentences have to be on a whiteboard have to be able to see for the actors in the game. Only two people have to be on stage, they have to make a scene with only those phrases in a dialog. The two actors in the middle have to ask the audiences what the characters relationships, environment and what happened when they last saw each other. The audience have to really encourage the actors, to really focus on their story they have to been suggested by the audience.
Strengths = It makes the actors focus and be put on the stage quickly with the limited words they have to say. The outcomes the actors have to learn from this is, acting , writing and team – building.
Weaknesses = A weaknesses that is about this game is awkwardness between the two actors and have to say “I love you” and it can be weird for the audience to watch.
Website I used for the acting warm ups :
Acting Games | Drama Exercises and Games for Kids and Adults (stagemilk.com)
Dance warm ups :
- “Do all the moves”
Your dancers have to create a circle, one person has to come in the middle of the circle and then does a 30 second dance and then stop until someone comes in the middle and have to create any sort of dance style for a dance from the previous persons ending poison.
Strength = This creates a great confidence for the dancers because it can help improvisation is well for other dancers if they are put on the spot.
Weaknesses = If a dancer is not very confident with themselves as a dancer and is put on the spot they could be very nervus with themselves.
2. “Dance as I say not dance!”
One main dancer is at the front of the class where the teacher normally is. They can say a thing like “Run in a place like me” and the dancers would immediately join in. The leader has the power to change it every two seconds from running into jogging on a spot.
Strength = It helps the dancers make them warm easy but in a fun way, but also keeps the dancers on their toes for the amount of time they have to do it.
Weaknesses = The dancer at the front could not think of a move the dancers warming up could be doing a move for a very long time.
Website I used for the first two warm ups
61 Dance Games For Kids, Adults, And Anyone, Really | Bored Panda
3. Lunge stretch
This is a very important part of warming up before dancing you have to do both legs so when you dance you can not injure one or another. As you do this stretch you have to play it with Jazz music. If you do not have the balance to do this then you have to balance your hand and do the lunges from their.
Strengths = A lunge stretch is a helpful one for dancers because it can help their dancing in the class.
Weaknesses = One bad thing about this is, if the teacher does it quicker then the dancer the dancer can possibly hurt themselves.
4. Heel raises
Heel raises are very important for dancers because when you are doing ballet or point it can be very helpful because if the dancers ankles are not strong then it could cause a ankle injury.
Strength = It can make the dancers class more helpful and relax hoping their is not going to be any injuries.
Weaknesses = They have to do the ankle timing on the same amount of time so it can be better for the risk of injuries.
Website I used for stretches :
Feeling Nauseous? These Tips May Help Alleviate the Symptoms (fitday.com)
Singing warm ups :
- Tongue twisters
This singing warm up exercise is very fun but very hard as the phrases can go quicker and quicker each time. It is a very wonderful warm up. The main tongue twister singing teachers use is ” Sally selling seashells on the sea Shaw”.
Strength = This will make the singer have more confidence in there singing after there warm up.
Weaknesses = If the singer does not know the tongue twister then it wont help the singer be confident in themselves.
2. Rounds
Rounds is the best way for a vocal warm up and it is helpful for the singers. “Rounds” for a singer is to teach them how important it is to have a good range of vocal skills, and also like harmonizing. A good way to lead a rehearsal like this is to have a song the singers know the best like “row, row ,row your boat”. To do this you go from low to high notes for the singer to have a wide range of singing notes.
Strength = The strength about this warm up it teaches the singers how to do harmonizing on the spot to help when the singer is asked to do different type of vocal range.
Weaknesses = The weaknesses about this warm up can affect the way how quick the speed of the warm up goes so it can lose the singers concentration on how quick it goes through the warm ups.
3. Sing the alphabet
This warm up exercise is very common that singing teachers do. This is because they start at A and get a high note and then the last note is the lowest note you can say. You could probably split your singers into three and start group one first with the first three letters then next the group 2 starts after group one said the first three letters and so on to create a harmony.
Strength = This helps the singers keep focus on what you have the next letter to sing.
Weaknesses = If you do not go through the alphabet before you start the warm up then if it the singer wont be able to know what letter to go next.
4. Come up with silly word combinations
Warming up in a group can be very hard because the singers could be very excited about if they have a show that day and do not focus on warm up because they are very excited. So to keep it fun but have the singers focused you can do “Watermelon applause ” and “Double bubble bubble gum”. You have to do high and low very quick to make it better and more fun for the singers before the show.
Strength = It keeps the singers focused but feel excited about the show coming ahead of them.
Weaknesses = A weakness of this can be that if you do not have a focus singers then it can affect the group on what to sing at that time
Website I used for this :
9 Best Vocal Warm Ups For Kids That Are Fun, Visual And Interactive (improvesingingonline.com)
Q3. Reflect on your own use of different techniques and evaluate their success.
Acting techniques :