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THE ALLEYNIAN 709
DRAMA & DANCE
A theme close to the students’ hearts led to a fabulous first Lower School House Dance competition, says Catherine Ibbotson
The Year 7 and 8 boys went above and beyond, embodying video game characters and incorporating character moves into their choreography, as well as sharing the emotional thrills experienced when playing video games. A highlight for me was seeing their use of isolated movements, or ‘popping’, to replicate the pixelated movement you experience with video games. Music played a big role in many of the boys’ pieces, with many of the dancers responding to difficult and intricate rhythms, resulting in high-calibre performances. The performances reflected the digital media that have become such a focus in our lives. Controlling and being controlled were key themes, with references to handheld devices and virtual reality. There was thoughtful use of costumes, and some pieces even included changes of lighting. The integration of props required another level of planning; I hope that no homes were damaged in the devising and performance of these pieces! I would like to say both a huge well done and a thank you to the boys who took part. Your dedication to the production of high-calibre work was most impressive. All aspects of your performances, from choreography and music choices to filming and editing, were of a high level. External adjudicator, freelance dance artist Caroline Capon , was impressed by the variety and inventiveness of Lower School pupils’ video entries to the Lower School Dance competition DANCES ON A DIGITAL THEME
LOWER SCHOOL HOUSE DANCE
During the Lent term, whilst we were all working remotely, 22 Lower School boys submitted a solo video entry for the first ever Lower School House Dance competition. The theme of the competition was ‘video games’, which seemed apt given the amount of time some of them had been spending on games consoles and computers during the various lockdowns. I was very impressed with all the entries, and an external adjudicator watched each video alongside me, before deciding on the winners. Zachy Fleming’s wonderfully fun and creative choreography earned him ‘best choreographer’, and Dylan Zaraspe’s excellent musicality and editing skills, alongside his intricate and funky moves, resulted in him winning ‘best dancer’. Both are in Drake. The prize for the best performance was given to Tom de Marsillac from Jonson, for his all-round performance skills, including his facial expressions and musicality, as well as for his props and costume. Other notable performances included Ashton Ferdinand’s Mario Kart -inspired dance, which came in a close second for Raleigh; Mattia Greco’s ninja-style dance, garnering him third place for Drake; and Reuben Gokah’s cool lighting and moves, which gave him and Sidney fourth place. Finally, the extra award went to Jeremy Tapia Varas for ‘best video editing’ in recognition of his amazing and brilliantly edited Mario Kart dance video.
The theme of the competition was ‘video games’
Thank you so much for sharing your dances with me.
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