Chapter 9: Dance

Description: The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet that is performed by Southern Ballet Theatre (now Orlando Ballet) in Orlando every year prior to Christmas. The story is broken up into scenes that revolve around Clara and her nutcracker. The Party Scene: Clara is at her Christmas Eve party where she is given a nutcracker as gift that gets broken. The Fight Scene: Clara shrinks to the size of toys around the tree that have come to life where the Nutcracker and toys fight the Mouse King and his army. Land of Snow: Nutcracker becomes a prince and takes Clara on a journey. Land of Sweets: Prince takes Clara to meet the Sugar Plum Fairy and tells of their battle where Clara is rewarded with celebration dances. Dream Ends: Clara awakes under the Christmas tree by herself and her beloved Nutcracker.

Technical Elements: This is a formal ballet that is very classical in its interpretation. It is theatrical that has solo dances, duets, and those with choruses. The choreography is of a romantic ballet that is sought to include magic and to escape into fantasy and legend.

Stimulation of Senses: The Nutcracker comes with the time of year. Children seem more innocent and joyful and this personifies that. I used to dance ballet and remember older girls auditioning to play various roles that were considered prestigious. It also reminds me of the innocence of the imagination. 

Clip from a performance by Orlando Ballet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d5UYrSnI9Y

Chapter 8: Cinema

Clips from the movie: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULY436FJOAw “Lord, if you could”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH59aZIOIdg You said IF

Description: Baseball player Billy Chapel must decide between the woman he loves, who is moving to London, or the game he lives for. He is pitching the last game of season, when he finds out she’s leaving for a job in London and the Detroit Tigers’ new owners plan to trade him (although he has only ever played for that team). As the night progresses he must decide to accept the trade or quit the game. Throughout the game Billy has flash backs of his life meeting and progressing with Jane. Throughout the game Yankee player are failing to get on base and it becomes a question if he can pitch the perfect game and does it matter.

Technical Elements: For Love of the Game is a narrative cinema that is telling the story of Billy Chapel throughout his final game. It is directed by Sam Raimi. Throughout the movie there are many jump cuts that jump from past to present. That includes his flash backs of his parents and memories of Jane. Lighting changes throughout the movie, especially as the time change of day to night and need for changes of lighting on the field.

Stimulation of Senses: I love this movie in its entirety. The story it tells is of love, determination, and overcoming obstacles along the way. My favorite scene of the movie is when he says a small prayer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULY436FJOAw). He is talks about how he said he would never involve the Lord in a ball game because it just didn’t seem right. I love that line. I watch sporting events and how players say that is because of God to why they won; which always frustrates me because what makes the persons that win any more deserving than those that don’t. He isn’t asking for a win but for the pain to go away so he can finish what he started. 

Chapter 7: Theatre

Description: Wicked is the untold story of the witches of Oz. It starts prior to Dorothy (Wizard of Oz) dropping in, two others meet in the land of Oz. Alphba is born emerald-green and is smart, fiery, and misunderstood. Glinda is beautiful, ambitious, and very popular. Telling their odyssey, how two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. It starts prior to Dorothy dropping in and goes past when Dorothy kills the Wicked Witch.

Technical Elements: This is a musical with an orchestra out in-front of the stage. The script is broken up into Acts and Scenes that include an intermission. Different characters have monologues both speaking and singing to give an idea of thoughts they are having. There are several different complications the occur creating a conflict. Foreshadowing is done with previous knowledge from the story The Wizard of Oz.

Stimulation of Senses: I love the music throughout this musical. The story itself grabbed my attention for taking something that was known to little kids and changing it. It was interesting to me how they took a story (The Wizard of Oz) and add to the story and give it another perspective. It gives another idea and perspective of The Wicked Witch of the West and tells another story of who she is and how she became that way.

These are a couple youtube videos that are from the performance in New York City: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fR4JotwwWo For Good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dDmcsbIeBY Defying Gravity (creating the wicked witch of the west)

Chapter 6: Literature

Description: Masks is a short poem written by Shel Silverstein and printed in the book Where the Sidewalk Ends. Describing how two people have hidden themselves from society but also each other in the process.

Technical Elements: This poem is classified as a poetry in literature. This type of poem is a narrative. The narrative tells a story. Although this poem is short it also uses symbolism.

Stimulation of Senses: I really liked this poem. Although it is short and to the point, it also seems to have a good lesson to tell. Often times we are afraid to let people see certain parts or sides of ourselves. By hiding ourselves then you never know who is hiding the same thing thus losing a connection.