EA405-7-FY-LO:
Movement

The details
2023/24
East 15 Acting School
East15 (Loughton) Campus
Full Year
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 28 June 2024
15
31 March 2021

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

MA W41012 Acting,
MFA W41020 Acting

Module description

The first term of this module focuses on the investigation and exploration of the body in space and self as a starting point for characterisation. The term is about opening up physically and emotionally, finding a centred, dynamically aligned and energised body, identifying and inhibiting muscular tensions and poor postural patterns. Various movement theories and techniques are introduced with the aim that the students expand their movement vocabulary in relation to self, then in relation to character.

The second term of the Movement course is about deepening movement vocabulary and potential and expanding individual range of physical choices for characterisation in a variety of theatrical styles. Various techniques are learned including animal study.

By the third term, the Movement course increasingly focuses on the practice of applying the movement techniques learnt in the studio towards performance situations and production challenges. Preparation for the profession and the investigation and exploration of artistic creativity and independence is also encouraged.

Module aims

By the end of the module you should have:
1. A dynamically aligned and energised body that is physically and emotionally fit enough to meet the challenges of any production or audition
2. Identified a working technique or method of physical characterisation based on learnt vocabulary
3. the ability to move economically and expressively.
4. the ability to apply movement characterisation principles to performance.
5. the ability to communicate physically in performance with confidence and assurance.

Module learning outcomes

Students will be able to demonstrate advanced 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.
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 ones 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 assessments, acting, and performance. The student has developed their own intelligent movement-based process that enables them to create what is physically required by any director, choreographer, and in any given creative process.

Module information

Term One
You will understand the structure of a centered, balanced, energised body and be encouraged to create a positive mind/body connection and body confidence. You will learn to identify and develop physical presence of self in the space through a variety of physical warm-ups and explorations. As the term progresses you will develop rhythm, co-ordination, strength, suppleness and a very basic dance/step vocabulary. You will learn to respond honestly to impulses, executing simple, uninhibited physical action and begin to explore thse impulses as a tool for improvisation. You will be introduced to a range of movement techniques and terminology.

Term Two
You will learn how to move economically and expressively with energised, balanced and aligned movement patterns. You will learn to use acquired movement vocabulary (e.g. Laban) to extend the physical and emotional range of the self in improvisation work and performance and to expand movement vocabulary in relation to character choices and discoveries. Animal study will play a key role in character creation techniques this term.

Term Three
In this final term you will learn to select and practise personal warm-up exercises in order to avoid personal injury and to facilitate the fullest use of physical skills in performance. You will acquire the ability to use a dynamically aligned and energised body as a starting point for a character and apply movement characterisation principles to production challenges. In this intensive postgraduate training you will be expected to move rapidly towards taking big physical risks with a bold selection of physical actions as required by the style of theatre performance. By the end of the module you will be able to communicate physically in performance with confidence and assurance. You will have an understanding of your own dominant movement characteristics and those that present problems for the expression of self and problems of proficiency for the stage and you will have developed strategies to address with these shortcomings.

Learning and teaching methods

Practical Classes, Workshops, Presentations, Tutorials, Independent Study

Bibliography

This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Feedback Exchange Term 1     

Additional coursework information

Students must demonstrate a physical understanding of the work explored through formal and improvised execution of tasks and an academic understanding of the vocabulary used through journal entries and/or verbal discussions. They must demonstrate precision in all areas of their work and develop the foundations of a method of application. This is assessed through exercises, discussion, rehearsal observation and performance.

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

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Miss Tracy Collier, email: tcollier@essex.ac.uk.
Tracy Collier, Movement Tutors
For further details please eamil tcollier

 

Availability
No
No
No

External examiner

Prof Anthony Dean
University of Winchester
Emeritus Professor
Resources
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.

 

Further information
East 15 Acting School

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