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Page 8 InCider Press December 2006 |
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Some of you have expressed some concern about the difficulty of the choreography for the show (actually only two of you). If two have expressed some concern, more of you may have concerns that you have not expressed (to me anyway). I thought I would write a few comments about the choreography for our Spring Show. First, choreography is what Barbershop choruses do. People come to hear us sing, and watch us have fun doing it. We are not to be confused with a Glee Club, a Chorale, or a Madrigal Group. Those folks sing well, and have fun doing it, but it is a completely different style of music both in sound and visual effect. I want everyone to know that I understand that we have some people with physical limitations. Every chorus does. We are not unique in this regard. I do my best to try to position those people in places where they can participate in the visual effect without danger of pulling a muscle or falling off the risers, or otherwise hurt themselves. When the standing chart is published and you find that you are being asked to do something that you feel you cannot do, I hope that you will tell me so that we can reposition you. You shouldn’t feel shy or embarrassed. We do not want anyone to feel that they cannot perform on the risers, or sing in the chorus because of physical limitations. We can work around these! (Vocal limitations are another matter J) To put the choreography in perspective, we are singing 883 measures of music (not counting repeats); and the whole chorus is only being asked to perform physical choreography (more than hand and arm gestures) for only 10 of those measures…or only 1.1% of the music! That is not very much. However, we will probably spend a little more than 1% of our time on the risers rehearsing the physical choreography, and some of it is demanding enough that some of you will not be able to what others can. So, again, if you are in a location where you are being asked to do something that is too difficult, please let me know so that we can make some adjustments for you. We can and we will make the adjustments necessary to accommodate you. Now, having said all that, it may be that as we must exercise our voices, perhaps some of us can exercise some of the muscles we don’t other wise use. Obviously we cannot exercise our arthritic knees, but we might be able to stretch some muscles to allow us to shift our weight from right to left so that when we are asked to do it on the risers that we will not go home every Thursday evening with sore legs. It may work for some of you and not for others. You might, however, give it a try. The visual effects that we place in the show are very important to our presentation…whether it is the whole chorus moving together, coordinated facial expressions, a couple dancing as we sing a love song, or if we have a cameo presentation. One member said to me at the board meeting…”I hate choreography, but I know that is what Barbershoppers do and I am willing to try my best”. I hope that is the attitude that everyone will take. I can assure you that Ken and I will be sensitive to the limitations of our chapter members…but you must help us by first trying, then telling us if you need more consideration. Thank you for doing your best to be a good chapter member and a good Barbershopper! Don Thomson Associate Director ♪ |
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Choreography explained |
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The “new” Charades entertain guests and members at the installation banquet. |
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The Unnamed ( as yet) quartet show off their great sound at the installation banquet. |