States, Qualities and Intentions

Let's start at the beginning...

The lessons I learnt at the very beginning of the course are becoming a key part of my artistic process whether I am creating for myself, with an ensemble or even teaching children. If I am creating work that doesn't seem to be going anywhere I now know it's probably lacking a state, quality or intention. So I look back to these lists and work on incorporating a specific state, quality or intention (or perhaps a mixture of them all if I am feeling adventurous!) onto the choreography or character I am working on in the simplest and clearest way possible which is usually to start with the basics and layer more up after. ​

​1. MENTAL STATE
scared, confused, in love, sad, happy, excited, guilty, anxious, jealous, depressed, surprised, manipulated, confident, calm
2. PHYSICAL STATE
ticklish, twitchy, need the toilet, shivering, horny, hungry, hot, tired, nauseous, in pain, numb, itchy
3. 'AS IF' QUALITY
melting, on fire, helium balloon, glass, under water, flying, stone, old person, no weight, tight, dead, heavy, wood, made from string
4. INTENTION
walk forward, protection, seduce, patronise, bully, take off clothes, to amuse, to scare, be silent, grab attention, hide, to be liked, to lift

When I am adding these instructions, whether for myself or someone else, it's good to remember the clearer the better. For example 'playful' isn't very clear, but 'childish' is clearer. Also 'caught in the rain' doesn't work so well because it's an outside entity so doesn't directly influence your movement like 'out of breath' does.

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