LAMENTATION WCED GRADE 12 REVISION 2012 CHOREOGRAPHED BY MARTHA GRAHAM FIRST PERFORMED IN 1930 NEARLY 82 YEARS AGO

INTENTION - REASON FOR CREATING THIS WORK Lamentation is an abstract solo piece originally performed by Martha Graham Graham was concerned with the sufferings of the human mind Her reason for creating this piece was to explore emotion through movement To show that a person should not be ashamed to grieve

In her own words: “Lamentation, my dance of 1930, is a solo piece in which I wear a long tube of material to indicate the tragedy that obsesses the body, the ability to stretch inside your own skin, to witness and test the perimeters and boundaries of grief, which is honorable and universal.” (Martha Graham, Blood Memory)

SYNOPSIS/ intent ‘LAMENT’ means to grieve The theme is grief and how grief can affect one’s mind, body and soul We all experience grief a deep feeling of loss at some point of our life The dance is divided into the three stages of grief

1.A period of disbelief cannot believe it has happened – denial 2. A period of reality emotions of anger and sadness – this has really happened – acceptance 3.A period of consolation turning to others for help – realising that one must endure grief on your own and work through it - make meaning of it

PRODUTION ELEMENTS USED AND THEIR SYMBOLIC MEANINGS Note the bench, the lighting and the empty stage

COSTUME The dancer is costumed in a tube of purple stretch fabric symbolic of her own body trapped within her grief

Only her face, hands and feet are visible This symbolises how we express ourselves mostly in every day movements and gestures

Every sharp angular movement that the dancer makes Is symbolic of the terrible war being fought within her - Of her fight to come to terms with reality – That this has really happened

Rocking stiffly from side to side she tugs, pulls and pushes at the confining fabric with her hands, elbows, knees and shoulders to express her emotions Symbolic of the despair she feels inside of her emotions

SET DESIGN / PROPS The only prop is a wooden bench This is central to the whole dance as the dancer does not leave the bench once This symbolises her grief, how she cannot put it behind her – she is tied to it The stage is empty This symbolises how one must ultimately deal with grief and its emotions alone

LIGHTING The stage is dark except for a single white spot-light above the dancer Symbolic of how the grieving woman is alone and suffering The white light creates a feeling of reality as it is harsh and unforgiving

MUSIC This is a classical solo piano piece The music plays an important role in setting the atmosphere for this dance work It follows the three stages of grief performed by the dancer Composer - Zoltan Kodaly

1. As the dancer begins the chords are gentle – symbolic of disbelief 2. They become more dissonant (harsh) as the dancer fights against reality It builds up to the climax in which the dancer has to face reality 3. The music eventually subsides (becomes softer) as she realises she has to deal with her grief on her own

MOVEMENT VOCABULARY Graham was experimenting with a new dance vocabulary The dancer would reflect her inner thoughts through movements of the body The movements were harsh and angular showing grief and despair - which are never pretty

The three stages of grief are portrayed through movement Her use of contraction and release are evident throughout the work Graham used angular, explosive and stylised gestures She took risks in breaking with tradition and gave contemporary dance a new and different direction

Her dance language was intended to express shared human emotions and experiences