For several years I have been inspired by the work of American dancer, Kate Jablonski. I am fascinated by the way she connects with the lyrics within the musical accompaniment she selects. It is clear that music is important to her. It effects and inspires the development of her choreography greatly. Her dances focus on relatable topics. Rather than taking large overly dramatic subject matter, she often concentrates on smaller everyday topics. I have enjoyed a lot of Jablonski’s work and find her use of characterisation both interesting and entertaining. ‘Falling’ (Kate Jablonski), is a piece which I find particularly inspiring. For me ‘Falling’, is a piece about fear. It’s the fear of failure that affects us all at some point. This fear is greater when attempting something that really matters to us, something we really care about. The ambiguity within the piece about what this fear is allows audience member to construct individual connections with the meaning. The fear for me surrounds my own desire to choreograph. Opening myself up to judgment and expressing deeply personal emotion and feelings. To be successful we must open ourselves up and jump in wholeheartedly holding nothing back. We must accept that whilst we may fail and ‘fall’, we might also succeed. This possibility of success is what keeps us motivated to move forward whilst the fear keeps us alive. Each movement within Jablonski’s work seems to have an extra quality which makes her choreography more interesting. Each movement seems to constantly grow and the dancers constantly retain a presence within the space. Even in stillness they are able to retain the audience’s attention. Jablonski pays careful attention to the lyrics within the musical accompany she selects. The words become a part of the dancers’ ‘voice’. This is done without being too literal. For example, ‘fallen on my face’; whilst the dancers do fall on their face it is done in a more imaginative way which, whilst making it clear what is happening, does leave room for imagination amongst the audience. Jablonski’s incorporation of face is what makes her work stand out in what is a very competitive industry. Through this, she adds an element of comedy and in my opinion, more importantly, breaks the fourth wall. Her dancers interact with the audience humanising themselves. Dancers are often too distant and ‘too perfect’ making it difficult for an audience to relate to certain pieces. Jablonski on the other hand, creates something which is both entertaining and relatable. Her pieces exude both positive and negative emotion. Each emotion is believable. What is presented often seems real rather than a theatrical performance. Everything the dancers are expressing can be felt by the audience. Much of the movement within the choreography adds to the dancers’ persona. Rather than focusing too heavily on technique she encourages her dancers to enhance each movement by adding individual flare to create a sense of character. Slight alterations in position of heads and use of gate enable a sense of individuality to be expressed. This again adds to the feeling of reality. In addition, her incorporation of individual character enhances the audiences’ ability to connect with and relate to the ‘alien’ world of dance. As well as creating an excellent sense of performance, Jablonski also ensures that the technical ability of her dancers is showcased. She incorporates technically demanding work and intricate combinations neatly with excellent characterisation. Individual dancers are highlighted seamlessly. One dancer rises as the ensemble falls and vice versa before virtually unnoticeably slipping back in with the rest of the group. Basically, for me dance is about expression. It takes both its audience and dancers on an emotional journey which can often be cleansing and therapeutic. It should also entertain and give an opportunity to take a breath and put one’s life into prospective. Kate Jablonski allows for all of this within her pieces. She poses questions and allows individuals to query their beliefs whilst also creating an enjoyable and entertaining environment. Bibliography: Jablonski, K. (2012). Falling. [video] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G4kH30f7no [Accessed 24 Oct. 2014].
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