Swansong 1987Christopher Bruce

COSTUME

You will know the costumes worn by the dancers in Swansong

You will understand the contributions costumes can make to a performance piece

Objectives

The victim wears a faded red t-shirt, blue denim jeans and black jazz shoes. His hair is loose and scruffy.

The guards wear identical ‘uniforms’, khaki shirt and trousers and black

jazz shoes with a rubber toe tap (No military badges). Their hair is gelled back and slick.

Costumes - Description

In Swansong, the costumes make a contribution, they allow us to... The costume design suggests the PRESENT DAY. The victim is dressed in blue jeans and a red t shirt, while the interrogators wear khaki coloured trousers and shirts.

Identify GENDER – Both the victim and the guards are wearing costumes that identify them as men. Trousers/jeans for example. Women have played both roles however.

Identify a CHARACTER – It is easy to pick out the guards with their military inspired ‘uniform’ and the victim with his scruffy faded jeans and t-shirt. Each character has a distinctly different costume.

Supports the THEME – The scruffy clothing worn by the victim supports the theme of a prisoner of conscience.

Costume Contributions – Christopher Bruce

COMPLEMENTS OTHER COMPONENTS – The simple costumes complement the simple set design and lighting to create a dull, uninviting atmosphere.

Show STATUS – The fact the interrogators are dressed alike, in ‘uniform’ implies they may be guards or soldiers but they do not have any military badges. This suggests authority and status.

Allows EASE OF MOVEMENT – The victims t shirt is loose fitting allowing him to move his arms free from restriction.

Identifies GROUPS – The guards are dressed identically thus allowing us to see them as one group.

Costume Contributions – Christopher Bruce

SOCIAL CONTEXT – The prison appears to be particularly repressive due to the use of colour. The costumes suggest a sense of interrogation.

Show BODYLINE – All characters wear tight-fitting trousers to emphasise line and sculpt the body.

Suggests a DANCE STYLE – The black dance shoes worn by all dancers suggest the dance styles of ballet, jazz and contemporary. The rubber taps worn on the shoes of the guards suggests tap dancing.

Costume Contributions – Christopher Bruce

Describing a costume...

As the costumes in Swansong are so simple make sure you include as much detail about them as you can.

If you are asked to describe a costume it is important to be clear on which one you are describing... the victim or the guards.

This is simply about saying what you see –

colour – style – shape – material – type of clothing...

Here they want you to use the features already discussed, e.g. gender, status, body line.

You must say how the costume contributes to the dance work.

Interpreting a costume...

Costume task...

Draw and label the dancers costumes and then complete all the questions below.