Rooster Ruby Tuesday

Analyse the movement: Action/Space/Dynamics/Relationship. How do they support the theme and intention of the work?

The dance is performed by a women, soloist. Having a women do a solo shows the sexism. There is already a man on stage but as soon as the women comes on, he exits stage right using the movement of the rooster which is cocky and arrogant. In the first phrase of Ruby Tuesday the women comes on back wing stage left then walks forward with her hands behind her back and her focus lowered. She lifts her leg forward, collapses back as she steps behind, lifts her leg again with her arm extended and again collapses back as she curls her torso forward and falls backwards wrapping her arms around her. She appears slightly fragile, with her focus down and her backwards steps. This may show that she is quite shy and cautious, just by walking on shows the audience the gender difference. Movement theme and motifs are introduced in the first phrase, then developed and manipulated throughout subsequent phrases through the use of choreographic devices.

 

The lyrics take a big part in the story. The song is called ‘Ruby Tuesday’, by The Rolling Stones. She doesn’t dance to the song it’s self she dances along to the lyrics of the song. “Don’t question why she needs to be so free. She’ll tell you it’s the only way to be. She just can’t be chained to a life where nothings gained and nothings lost, at such a cost”, this shows that life should be lived in the moment. Reality of war and nuclear arms means your life could end at any moment, by someone else’s choice. The Rolling Stones were around in the 60’s and there wasn’t very many equal rights, therefore women didn’t have much choice or say in anything.

 

There are lots of sustained movements, times of suspension using moments of reaching to demonstrate the idea of reaching for hope. There are movement which use the choreographic devices, abstraction was used to transform original gestures of twirling the hair or flicking it upside down which indicates the idea of thoughtfulness. The use of addition, she swings her leg then repeats but adding a hop forward, wrapping her arms round herself. There is use of tempo as well, some places is fast then other slow then there is moments of stillness when she goes to pick up something from the floor, maybe flowers.

 

Her pathways are direct, she knew where she was going. This may give the idea of determination and independence. She knows what she is aiming for and how she is going to get there. Using diagonal or straight lines, she travels there quickly of various part, meaning the quick she gets want she wants to do done, it’s over.

 

His intention is to focus on the political and personal issues. He using usual starting points to create up movement: poetry, literature, music, newspaper articles and world events. Through choreography he voices his concerns. The story line is based on relationship between men and women. His intention is to celebrate the music of “The rolling Stones”, using qualities ans stories behind the song to reflect ‘sexual tension’ (witnessed when growing up in 1960s).

Rooster has 8 sections,each with a different song. Each piece could easily be a solo but it’s done together to create atmosphere and contemporary attitudes. There are 5 dancer, 1 solo female, joined by 4 men.