VORTEX
DIGITAL RESOURCES
These film clips are designed to be used with our VORTEX digital resource pack,
which contains further information about the choreographic process and artistic
collaborators who made the piece, as well as a variety of teaching and learning tasks suitable for students at KS3 and above.
Click here for a link to the pack.
You can find fragments of the teaching clips below, to access the full films please use this link and a password which we will send you after purchasing the resource pack.
Students may wish to learn and perform one, two, three or all four phrases and
join them together with their own transitions.
The films may also be used as a standalone resource for those simply
wishing to learn sections of repertory.
All the music can be played directly from Spotify,
read about the creation of the music here.
REPERTOIRE A
This sequence comes from the first section of VORTEX, in which the movements that are performed against the wooden wall seem to have a luminous outline. It is a part of a solo danced facing the back, with arm gestures on the vertical plane; the arms arc, curve, and ripple out to the fingertips.
Performance tip: The phrase was created to throw shadows on the wall, so dancers should be be clear and defined throughout.
Developments: This phrase uses arm gestures on the vertical plane. Select several of these movements that you enjoy and explore using a different plane - perhaps go into and along the floor.
Fragment from ful clip ‘Vortex Repertoire A, Glow’
REPERTOIRE B
This sequence comes from section six of VORTEX, in which the lighting creates shadows of the dancers’ bodies from of the wall. There are slow fluid movements, with turning and dropping actions in unison, with the hands and other body parts kept in sustained contact with the wall and floor.
Performance tip: When rehearsing and perfecting this phrase focus on the interpretative skills of the smooth, ongoing quality of the movements and how effortlessly they transition from one into the other.
Developments: Dancers could explore performing this phrase against a wall of the dance studio.
Working with a partner, dancers can play with the use of unison and canon in performance.
Fragment from ful clip ‘Vortex Repertoire B, Wall’
REPERTOIRE C
This sequence comes from section thirteen of VOTREX referred to as SAND DROP in the educational resource as sand drops from above catching a warm orange light as it falls. This sequence is from a duet with Charlie and Alex performing spirals, turns, gestures and floor actions in both unison and canon.
Performance tip: Emphasis on making marks on the floor in the sand, think about the traces the movements will leave behind.
Developments: In pairs explore moving around one another using these actions but adding your own travelling steps.
When one dancer is performing in the spot the other could circle around them, using the same actions but covering space.
Fragment from ful clip ‘Vortex Repertoire C, Duet’
REPERTOIRE D
This sequence comes from the final section of VOTREX, section sixteen, referred to as SAND SLINGS in the educational resource as the dancers are using chiffon slings containing sand which is released as they swing them. The emphasis is on a rhythmic stepping pattern on a straight pathway and the swinging action of the arms.
Performance Tip: When rehearsing explore and perfect the dynamic emphasis of the use of weight used to swing and drop, alongside the moments of suspension happening with the arms.
Developments: On your own you could explore traveling in a pathway designed by you, this could be a square or even a star shape.
If you are rehearsing in a group explore using canons that also create moments of stillness where you pick dancers up and drop them off. So, dancers join in but also, they can stop.
Fragment from ful clip ‘Vortex Repertoire D, Sand Swing’
