Question

Format of choreography script

Answer 1

Choreography basically is a dance form through which the performer / performers bring out certain themes. As a performance art it shares some of the features of a drama but is distinct from it as there will not be dialogues and props. We are using choreography as a pedagogical tool for facilitating language acquisition and also to help the learners develop deeper understanding of the poem. At the higher level we use it also for critical appreciation of the poem.

As a written discourse, the choreography script will have the following features:

identification of the main theme and stanza wise themes.identifying manifestation of the theme as instances / events taken from real lifeidentifying the characters involved in the events and their actionscreating the setting through the actions of the chorussequencing the actionsmaintaining proper layout of the scriptusing appropriate expressions for capturing the actions and movements of the characters and the chorus.

See the choreography script of the first stanza of the poem, Änother Woman” taken from Class 10 TB.

Name of the poem: Another WomanThe theme/ themes of the first stanza

(This morning she bought green ‘methi’ in the market … and cooked the whole thing in the pot over the stove, shielding her face from the heat) The hardships of a woman as a homemaker. The uncordial relationship between the woman and her mother-in-law

Instances of the theme

A woman does all household work, goes to market and buys vegetables, returns home, starts cooking Her mother – in law scolds her for no obvious reasons

Locationsthe interior of a housethe marketthe kitchenCharacters involvedThe woman ( the protagonist)Her mother – in lawThe chorus for setting the locationThe vegetable vendorsTwo or three people6 to 8 performers to set the different locationsSequence of actions

Scene 1

The chorus enters the stage and pose themselves in such a way that a visual effect of a house is created.The woman mops the floorThe mother-in law comes from indoors and scolds the womanThe mother –in law commands the woman to go outThe woman goes outAll performers exit the stage

Scene 2

The chorus enters and creates the setting of a marketTwo vegetable vendors sit on the ground and selling vegetablesOne person buy vegetablesTwo or three people enter the market and exitThe woman entersShe chooses vegetables and bargains with the vendorShe collects vegetables and exitAll performers exit

Scene 3

The chorus enters the stage and pose themselves in such a way that a visual effect of a house is created.The woman enters from outsideThe mother-in law comes from indoors and scolds the woman for being lateThe mother –in law commands the woman to cook fastShe keeps the pot on the stoveThe woman cuts vegetablesThe mother-in law comes near and scolds the womanAll performers exit the stage