by
12. May 2009 07:58
Tags : Dance, Movement, Marching Band, Choreography, marching basics, visual, ballet terms
Title: Movement and Marching… Today’s “M&M”
Today’s modern marching bands are utilizing dance to expand their movement vocabulary. Choreographic efforts can help musicians understand musical phrasing… the relation of body and mind working together to produce a unified phrase, visual to music. Just like marching basics or musical exercises, dance requires attention to basic technical skills. For the development of your “basics” movement program, these common five dance techniques can be taught and utilized in many combinations to create a larger vocabulary for winds and percussion.
Tendu (tahn-DEW) not just reaching out with a pointed foot, but extending the leg from the center core, engaging the leg muscle groups to lengthen to the extended, pointed position. The “action” of the tendu is what makes it dance.
Demi Plie (duh-MEE plee-AY) release the knees over the toes, slide the tailbone toward the heels without tilting the pelvis, keeping both feet fully on the floor. This basic lends itself to Jazz run technique, as well as adding levels to choreography.
Degage (day-ga-ZHAY) – through the tendu – emphasize the “brush” action to extend the leg beyond the tendu – to about 6” off the ground. The extension from the core through the leg goes beyond the tendu to “Disengage” from the floor.
Passe (pah-SAY) – in marching circles this is very similar to “high mark time” leaving the floor pointed, the foot trails along the leg to the top of the knee, without tilting the pelvis or over shifting the weight to the supporting leg, The student should feel the line on the inside of the supporting leg.
Rond de jambe (rawn-duh-ZHAHNB) – Begin with the tendu, create a circular motion on the ground with the pointed foot, again without tilting or rotating the pelvis. Students should be aware of the rotation within the hip, always working to extend the line of the working leg.
Daily training regiments are essential for even the simplest of moves. Too many groups throw in a lunge or a kneel, without giving the student the proper training to fully understand the mechanics of the move. A strong movement program, taught by an experienced dance teacher, is a good investment for today’s marching bands.
First position turned out lends itself easily to extending movement phrases. Full range of motion through the foot (point and flex) incorporated in the marching style, is not only better for the working joints, but also keeps the student’s approach consistent from marching to dance.
Daily training requirements are essential for even the simplest of moves.
where the lunge comes from, what muscles are involved, how to move to, and out of such positions are more important than the “shape” itself. Where is the weight? What muscle groups are engaged, how is the “core” involved? These are just a few questions that need to be answered by the students to fully understand the choreography, and execute properly with ease.
Daily work on flexibility, coordination, and core building, provides the tools to understanding movement better.
. A dance oriented marching style can give consistency to your approach to all movement training
Besides the obvious benefits of Dance training, like gaining points for variety of techniques and simultaneous responsibilities, Students will gain coordination skills, and learn to feel more comfortable moving their body’s with greater understanding, Marching from point to point becomes an “easy” task when there is a larger vocabulary of skills. Moving the body through time, space, and line, makes for a better understanding of musicality, ultimately producing better musicians.
Moving the body makes the mind more alert, lending to better rehearsal and learning… a well rounded performer sets the spirit free… building a better understanding of performance.
Robbie Billings
Artistic Director
Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps