Lemongirl Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 My dd and her friend are looking for some ideas for a new character duet. They are both 14 and have danced together before. They are looking for something original, a bit different and not old fashioned. Something with good dramatic quality. One idea they have had is the Hunger Games, any other ideas please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieW Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 Sorry I'm hopeless at ideas but as someone who helps at festivals in a variety of roles I have a plea to do something uplifting - all those depressing, serious character dances get a bit wearing imho (and I've heard many an adjudicator say similar backstage - not that they're disadvantaged by it - just that they'd rather see something "happy"!) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swanprincess Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 The Hunger Games could work well- my instinctive thought was that they could do the scene where they are preparing to go into the arena, or the scene where Rue dies? I helped to adjudicate at a festival a few months ago; one piece that stood out for me was an African tribal style character solo entitled 'Famine', something like that could work well? Or what about a completely abstract piece- Kandinsky's paintings might be a good stimulus? Does your DD know what music she wants to use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loulabelle Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 Hunger Games themed characters are quite common, saw a fair few on the All England circuit in the last two years. Some good, done not so....... Also saw a lot of more 'contemporary' style characters to spoken word, they always did well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loulabelle Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 Grrr! Predictive text! 'Some' not 'done' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewinelake Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 You know you can edit posts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loulabelle Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 Yes, but couldn't work put how to so it on my phone! Plus was cooking roast dinner at the same time???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loulabelle Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 See, it's done it again!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemongirl Posted October 19, 2015 Author Share Posted October 19, 2015 It looks like Hunger Games is quite common then. Dd was thinking of using the original film music. She's not keen on abstract ideas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katymac Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 What about the music from the new Disney Cinderella, it was lovely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balletqs Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 Hunger Games and Lord of the rings done a lot! Saw some great comedic pieces at All England Finals that did well and audience loved them too! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewinelake Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Disney music can have problems with copyright. Not sure if it applies to ballet, but not allowed with gymnastics routines. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Ah, yes, both Disney and Warner Bros are pretty notorious for clamping down on anything which appears to be an unauthorised use of their intellectual property. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewinelake Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 (edited) Andrew Lloyd Webber also on the banned list. I once saw a routine done to the electric parade music, but didn't mention it! Edited October 20, 2015 by thewinelake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katymac Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Jean Michel Jarre has released a new album - so his older stuff is being replayed, but it's quite unusual Of course I have no idea as I've never been to a festival - sorry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I think it is only right that copyright owners should decide how and when their works are used. Having said that i saw a dubious advert for M&S this evening which had Uptown Funk as the backing music - except it wasn't. They had used the riffs, chord sequence and drum track but not the melody. You can't copyright a groove so no licence required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewinelake Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 I thought there had been some recent cases where groove copying resulted in an infringement, notably the "blurred lines" one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 I thought there had been some recent cases where groove copying resulted in an infringement, notably the "blurred lines" one Yes maybe - I don't know the ins and outs of that one. What I was intending to suggest was that there could be ways around. But then I thought a bit more about it - perhaps if you are doing a Lion King theme inspired dance using the groove from Hakuna Matata it could be back to being infringing again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 I have no experienced with competitive festivals but what happens with theatres, dance schools and other places of performance is that they pay annual fees to the PRS & PPL organisations. One covers the use of recorded music, the other covers live performances. Theatres then send a list of tracks that have been used so the relevant royalties are paid. This does not cover 'Grand Rights' which is where pieces from for example musical theatre songs are performed in context (eg. in a costume or with dialogue suggesting the original). However there are a few companies that have decided to withdraw from these schemes, notable the copyright holders of Grease. A couple of years ago they began to aggresively issue "cease & desist" notices" to musicians who performed songs as part of a general set in clubs etc. Dh is in the Musicians Union and several of their members were affected. They have also stated that songs from Grease are NOT to be performed by by anyone or the music used for dance routines etc unless the performer has applied for permission direct from them. I don't know whether Disney are part of PPL/PRS. I thought they were, but they are well known for pursuing anyone who does not have the relevant licences/permissions in place. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 I think it is only right that copyright owners should decide how and when their works are used. Having said that i saw a dubious advert for M&S this evening which had Uptown Funk as the backing music - except it wasn't. They had used the riffs, chord sequence and drum track but not the melody. You can't copyright a groove so no licence required. You can copyright a 'riff' Several years ago a local musical instrument shop was threatened with prosecution for not having PRS/PPL licences because customers were coming in to try out the instruments and were playing copyrighted excerpts. (I always stuck to scales and a few chords in piano shops!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balletqs Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 back to the question. Just a tip to look at situations/relationships and not just well known characters. The ill mother/daughter gets done a lot too but that sort of thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewinelake Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 (edited) What is s character duet/dance anyway? Always seems to involve dressing up as an Eastern European with ribbons and long skirts - but is that just one possible interpretation? One definition my phone suggests: a style of ballet deriving inspiration from national or folk dances, or interpreting and representing a particular profession, mode of living, or personality. That "or" is a new one on me, and presumably forms the basis of the OP? For some strange reason, the tune "typewriter" comes to mind. Ha! This is quite fun Edited October 25, 2015 by thewinelake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swanprincess Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 Thewinelake, "Character" in the RAD syllabus means national dances- Hungarian, Polish, Russian etc, which is probably what your phone's suggestion refers to. In festivals, however, "Character" refers to dances that have a character, such as a fairy, witch or doll, to tell some kind of story- I think that's the kind of character dance the OP was referring to hope that helps! (Correct me if im wrong with any of that!) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewinelake Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 So I guess there's a large element of non-technical crowd-pleasing. I must try and go to such a festival sometime. Are they advertised here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieW Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 It's a good idea to visit a dance festival if you can (for those interested in what others are talking about when discussing festivals). If you visit the All England Dance website you'll find links to what's happening. And let us know roughly where you live and I'm sure someone can suggest good local festivals :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewinelake Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 North London! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemongirl Posted October 25, 2015 Author Share Posted October 25, 2015 Yes, sorry for the confusion, I was referring to the character section in festivals rather than character in graded exams! Thewinelake - Welwyn Festival is coming up in January, that should be fairly local to you. And Watford in May. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewinelake Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 (edited) We'll look out for those, cheers. (And I think the only one that was confused was me!!!) Edited October 25, 2015 by thewinelake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzpaws Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 DD and her friend did a duet to 'When I'm 64' a few years ago - lots of scope there, it was fun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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