Practitioner Study 2

 Using the theories and practices of Russell Maliphant throughout this project has provided me with the inspiration needed to make informed decisions and bring purpose to my creative process. Since observing the impact of Maliphant's methodoloigies in AfterLight (Part One), I have returned to study another of his works 'Second Breath', which was commissioned by Tamara Rojo for English National Ballet as part of their Lest We Forget program. Split into four sections, Russell Maliphant explains in an interview how Second Breath commemorates WW1 through the themes of 'remembrance' and 'loss', 'impending fear', 'risk and trust', and 'partnership, relationship and love' (Maliphant, 2018). Varying from Russell Maliphant's usually quite abstract and theory based work, this piece required a consideration the depth of emotion and meaning behind the movement, leading Maliphant to seek influence from books and poetry as a way to form a connection with people he was telling such a poignant story about. Similarly to the purpose of my own piece, in which I have relied on poetry and vivid description in Where the Crawdads sing to express the emotive journey of Kya, feeling a duty to tell it truthfully and respectfully for the people whom it relates to, as Russell Maliphant intended to do in this sincere commemoration. Recognising the value of other art forms for creating movement has been vital in my choreographic process and so it is powerful to see how a reputable choreographer such as Russell Maliphant has also turned to literature to 'take him along' in his process, as well as in AfterLight with his use of Nijinsky's drawings (English National Ballet, 2018). 

(Fouras, 2018)

Interview with Russell Maliphant discussing Second Breath: https://youtu.be/gYIpN5oDoQU

Moulding the 'abstraction' within his technique to align with the classical dancers of ENB, Russell Maliphant incorporated Body-Mind-Centering to encourage the use of breath, which I feel becomes a prominent feature of the piece as the dancers extend and unfold with each inhalation and exhalation, carrying them across the stage in moving and sensitive harmony. 'Heartbeats as one', the use of breath becomes an intimate connection between the dancers, unifying them as they 'continue relentlessly in fluid flow' (Liber, 2015). Considering how breath may be used in my own work, I think that it may be a significant tool for expressing the varying emotions throughout, such as quickened breath for anxiety and fear, or a slower rate for a more pensive and reflective state. Again Maliphant's attention to the opening and closing of the fascia and use of posture from his influence of Rolfing can be seen in 'Second Breath' as it was in AfterLight, as each change in alignment and longing reach across the stage is accompanied by the fluid contortion of the spine, elongating each transition as the dancers effortlessly fall in and out of the floor.  

In this particular extract, the movement itself is technically simplistic, however it is the profound emotion with which it is executed, that makes it so 'heart wrenching' for the audience. Contrasting to the everlasting spirals of AfterLight, Second Breath is engaging in its moments of stillness, providing time for reflection and consideration for the touching theme that is being acknowledged through this dance. The depth of emotion expressed for the audience is intensified by the 'recorded voices in Andy Cowton's score that recite the terrible numbers of death' with accompanies the motion of the dancers 'united in a keening, spiralling chorus of loss' (Mackrell, 2014). Using spoken words within my own work is now something that interests me, as I feel as though aligning my choreography directly with the words from 'Where the Crawdads Sing' could be even more striking and allow my audience to see where my movement has derived from. 

Remaining true to his abstract inspirations, I feel as though Maliphant has been effective in his intention to provide a profound emotional response within Second Breath, as his focus on anatomical practice allows his movements to be executed with captivating commitment and sincerity from each dancer. Compared to the potentially repetitive swirling motion of AfterLight, the varying themes throughout this piece create more intrigue, as different dynamics are explored through the moments of sorrowful reflection and distressing fear, making Second Breath alluring in both its technique and emotion conveyed.

View the extract of Second Breath here: https://youtu.be/sXlMrrXNrYs

References:

English National Ballet, 2018. Lest We Forget: Russell Maliphant on Second Breath | English National Ballet. [video] Available at: <https://youtu.be/gYIpN5oDoQU> [Accessed 15 January 2022].

Russell Maliphant Dance Company, 2018. Second Breath. [image] Available at: <https://www.russellmaliphantdancecompany.com/performances/blog-post-title-one-e8t37-67dmr-fe4h5-dsl4d-ycdg4-8k352-73reb-wlkp2-xfbz5-peg63-b2hg3-r9yrz-5zxpr-we9x7> [Accessed 15 January 2022].

Liber, V., 2015. Lest We Forget: No Man’s Land / Second Breath / Dust. [online] British Theatre Guide. Available at: <https://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/lest-we-forget-sadlers-well-12015> [Accessed 15 January 2022].

Mackrell, J., 2014. English National Ballet: Lest We Forget review – Compelling quartet on war. [online] the Guardian. Available at: <https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/apr/03/enb-lest-we-forget-review> [Accessed 15 January 2022].

English National Ballet, 2018. Lest We Forget: Russell Maliphant's Second Breath (extract) | English National Ballet. [video] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXlMrrXNrYs> [Accessed 15 January 2022].

Bibliography:

Russell Maliphant Dance Company. n.d. Second Breath — Russell Maliphant Dance Company. [online] Available at: <https://www.russellmaliphantdancecompany.com/performances/blog-post-title-one-e8t37-67dmr-fe4h5-dsl4d-ycdg4-8k352-73reb-wlkp2-xfbz5-peg63-b2hg3-r9yrz-5zxpr-we9x7> [Accessed 15 January 2022].

Owens, D., 2019. Where the Crawdads Sing. London: Corsair.

RMDC Digital Archive, 2020. AfterLight (Part One) by Russell Maliphant. [video] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D1tnuJbF3g&t=541s> [Accessed 28 October 2021].