EA136-4-FY-SO:
Movement I
2024/25
East 15 Acting School
Southend Campus
Full Year
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Thursday 03 October 2024
Friday 27 June 2025
15
06 March 2023
Requisites for this module
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(none)
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(none)
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BA W496 Acting and Community Engagement
This is a first year module for students on the BA Community Theatre course. The course focuses on the investigation and exploration of "the self" to allow access to the body and to achieve progressively a developed physical awareness.
The course content introduces the student to the study and practice of clear guided movement principals. The mutually dependent and reflective relationship between mind, body and space forms the foundation for a process that develops the students' understanding of physical self and of the environment.
Students will learn how to identify and eliminate muscular tension, poor alignment and ineffective body patterns to develop a physically free and energised body. The concepts of inner and outer resistance, individual and ensemble space and "action and recover" are introduced – concepts that are fundamental to the actor's technique.
The practical study of the Laban method of movement theory and analysis will enable students to incorporate these techniques within the acting syllabus. Throughout the course students will continue the development of physical precision and the study and practice of the movement principals that will lay the foundations for a methodology of physical technique continued into second and final year.
Module Content
- Basic understanding of movement vocabulary:
- A knowledge of the structure and anatomy of the body
- Physical warm-ups and maintenance of the physical instrument
- Understanding of the expressive qualities of the body
- Dynamic alignment, body connection, rhythm and flow
- Use of space, co-ordination and the relationship with the environment
- Demonstrating a basic understanding of inner and outer resistance, individual and ensemble work and action and recovery
- Observation of self and others in individual and ensemble work
- Introduction to basic vocabulary of Laban method
- Introduction to the discipline and vocabulary of dance
- Execution of simple choreographic patterns and musical structures
- Animal study
- Foundation Stage Fighting Certificate
Term One will investigate the students own movement preferences and identify blocks and postural issues allowing the student to create their own understanding of their bodies and how they move, encouraging them to find the neutral body. Term Two will explore applying the newly found neutral body into a more vigorous training and more detailed exploration of movement technique and Term Three will see them finding a more creative process using the skills learnt, constantly keeping focused on the previous terms findings.
The aim of the module is to encourage students to acquire progressively a secure understanding of physical and mental resources for a dynamic and expressive presentation of body within a methodology of movement techniques.
Students will be able to demonstrate awareness of and ability to put into practice :
1. Class Etiquette: Attends and arrives for class in a timely manner with the body and mind in a state of readiness to work. (This includes dress code.)
2. Ensemble: Works well with peers by contributing both physical and creative ideas to group work and discussions. In collaboration is able to lead and follow.
3. Alignment: Working towards a physicality that is free of excess muscular tensions and imbalances. Centred with core stability and ease in alignment.
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4. Dynamics: Able to adapt and take on other forms and qualities of movement, styles, rhythms, efforts, use of space etc. Shows variety in personal qualitative range.
5. Body Confidence: Brave and willing to take the space with a full-energized presence. Has confidence in the use of one’s own body.
6. Creativity: Uses the body as an extension of one’s imagination and is rigorous, inventive, and original in the development of an idea.
7. Inner Life: Connects the physical to the emotional, is able to reveal their own and or characters interior life through body language.
8. Physical Memory: Able to repeat both choreography, set physical actions, and mentally scored sequences with both precession and connection.
9. Self-Assessment: Understands where personal growth is needed, and demonstrates a willingness to take risk in class to overcome personal blocks.
10. Integration of Skills: Takes personal ownership of their work, demonstrates the ability to integrate movement/physicality into performed tasks and assessments. The student has begun to develop their own intelligent movement-based process that enables them to create what is physically required in any given creative process.
No additional information available.
Students work with movement tutors in group practical classes
- Learning also takes place through presentations within the class environment
- Panel feedback interviews at the end of Terms One and Three
- Students receive a written formative assessment from tutors at the end of the second term
- Students are expected to work on movement in independent study.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Practical |
Continuous Assessment |
|
|
Additional coursework information
- Continuous assessment through observation of contribution to class work. The module is summatively assessed and a final mark given at the end of Term Three.
- Students are expected to show evidence of consistent work in class and to execute periodically set exercises to an appropriate standard.
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Ms Steffany George, email: sgeorge@essex.ac.uk.
Steffany George
East 15 Acting School
Gateway Building
Elmer Approach
Southend-on-Sea
SS1 1LW
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No
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No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
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