Teacher: Movement

Unit One - Introduction to Drama
Module 2: Actor's Tools
Lesson 4 - Movement

Introduction:
Movement is one of the key methods of communication on the stage. Actors use movement to reveal their characters, establish relationships, objectives and conflict, and to create visual beautiful theatre. Movement creates drama and excitement on the stage.

Objectives:
- to become confident at communicating character through movement and gesture.
- to concentrate during drama experiences.
- to articulate the meaning of three or more movements.

Resources:
a large space for stretching, two hours on-line access, Warm-up Evaluation (pdf), flexible clothing

CELs:
C, TL, IL

Components:
Cultural/Historical, Creative/Productive, Critical/Responsive

Activities:

Activity 1 - Warming Up

Start by viewing video on stretching and doing the activities.

Posture
Students must be aware of their natural body posture
and be able to change it at will.

Watch Alignment Video. In order to breath correctly and move well,
students need to have good physical alignment.

Students should find a partner and designate themselves A and B. They stand facing each other. A imitates B's natural stance as completely as possible. As B tries to align him or herself to match the correct posture demonstrated in the photograph on the right, A continues imitating, so that B has a "mirror". When B's posture is correct, A and B switch jobs and repeat the process. (3 minutes)

Posture is overly
erect - bluff

Posture is too slumped - caved

Activity 2 - Mirroring
Students should stand and sit opposite a partner, and designate themselves A and B. A leads a series of arm movements which B mimics as if he or she is a mirror. When the movements flow naturally in a dance-like pattern, A and B should switch who is leading the movement. As they progress, A and B can choose no leader and just allow impulse to dominate. (1o minutes)

Stretching Out
The athletic stretches should be used as a warm up for all physical drama. They prevent some strain injuries and make the body a more malleable tool. Any stretches may be chosen provided that the following conditions are met:

• stretches are suited to the fitness level of the students
• all major groups of muscles are worked
• stretches are held for at least the count of 20

Yoga
Yoga stretches and breathing are ideally suited to physical warm-up for drama. Yoga uses a variety of poses in conjunction with breath pattern to lengthen body movement and create warm, flexible muscle groups. You may choose to have your students view several of the yoga sites each choose a pose to teach the class. No two students may choose the pose. Everyday for a week, have several students teach their poses to the class. Assign a small participation mark to the yoga periods.

Good Yoga and stretching links are available through the links page.

Introductory Movement

Activity 3 - Leading off
All of us naturally have a section or part of our bodies that moves first or leads our movement. We must determine where we lead from and change this as it is appropriate to the character. As a group, start moving around the room. Each actor must determine how he or she is leading. Partners who observe each other may be used. As the group keeps moving, individuals shout out ways to lead and the group tries the walk using the lead suggested. For example, someone might shout knees, and everyone might wind up walking like the scarecrow in "Wizard of Oz". Continue this exercise until most options for leading have been tried. (5 minutes)

Activity 4 - Breaking down a movement
There are seven basic principles of stage movement:

1. Movement must have a reason.
2. Movement should be simplified to its most basic elements.
3. Movement must be consistent with a character's age and body type.
4. Movement should be heightened or bigger than life.
5. Movement must be visible to the audience ("open" to the audience)
6. Movement should reveal character traits or beliefs including status and relationship.
7. Movement must create pleasing stage pictures.

Each actor should choose a simple movement such as sitting down, crossing the stage or opening a door. Students should then group themselves with one or two other actors who are not doing the same movement, and create a scene. No conversation may be used, and each actor must satisfy all seven principles of movement. The groups should rehearse and analyze each others movement for about 10 minutes. The scenes are then presented to the class and discussed.

Activity 5 - Warm-up Assignment:
Using the Internet, conduct a search for elements of a good physical warm-up.

Include the following items:
• stretching for face
• stretching for arms and legs
• stretching for back and neck
• energizing activities
• exercises to develop correct posture and/or center the actor

Create a written version of the warm-up using some form of word processing software such as Word. Cut and paste in warm-up material that you find, including photos, and list each web site under the material that you find. The warm-up should take 10-15 minutes when completed by an actor. Finished versions should be printed and saved by the student, then e-mailed to the teacher for evaluation. (1-2 hours)

Instructional Strategies:
computer assisted instruction, peer practice, games, research project

Evaluation:
Teachers observe most of the movement exercises and formally evaluate the warm-up document based on variety, requirements, layout, mechanics, and length.

Warm-up evaluation (pdf)

On-line Activity Alternatives:
Pairs at home schools can do the warm-up and leading activities. The written warm-up should be created in a word processor and e-mailed or faxed to the teacher.

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