Waltzingmatilda Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 Please could anyone give me suggestions for DD age 13 solo character dance as we don't seem to be getting very far. She will be doing the dance for festival solo. We are supposed to come up with a 'character' and a story line?!. I am stalling with her dance teacher at the moment saying 'the right character hasn't quite come to mind yet' - rather than 'I have no idea whatsoever'! We see a lot of 'Alice', 'Dorothy', Disney Princess type characters at festivals so am hoping for something other than those - can anyone help this poor dance mum whose imagination seems to have departed poor overloaded brain....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 The Little Match Girl or any of the Hans Anderson stories. Some of the LAMDA dramatic monologues might be helpful too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waltzingmatilda Posted January 21, 2016 Author Share Posted January 21, 2016 ooh thankyou Fiz. what lovely ideas! I shall google LAMDA! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huddsballetmum Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 I've seen my DD and her friends with a few winners. Dependent on whether your DD is looking for dramatic or comedy here are ,my suggestions Comedy - babysitter with baby who won't stop crying Dramatic - Girl dreaming of spiders (always a winner) - Spirit of the titanic - girl on titanic who then realises she is a ghost ( always a winner) - passenger on the titanic (any class) trying to escape - matador fighting a bull Pretty - girl dreaming of dancing with the boy of her dreams ( very 50's style) All have been done at age 13/14 and are a little different from the norm Hope that helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waltzingmatilda Posted January 21, 2016 Author Share Posted January 21, 2016 thank you huddsballetmum. Marvellous ideas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 Try Monologue Archive, WM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lema Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 What about one along the theme of Jekyll and Hyde..... mad professor costume, dramatic music and a very theatrical performance?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munchkin16 Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 Can you have props? How about a nightmare before an exam where she turned up with a giant pencil and can't write? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahw Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 Some other ideas: Juliet when realises Romeo is dead, trainspotter comedy, evacuee,dog walker comedy. Poor you having to choose - our teachers do that.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waltzingmatilda Posted January 21, 2016 Author Share Posted January 21, 2016 thank you so so much for all above fantastic ideas and she can have props munchkin and maybe a prop or two might help with the acting.....I have seen all sorts at these festivals including beach towels, tables, boxes, chairs, mice?! yes mice, toto's, swords....i shall try not to go into meltdown and see this as another 'learning curve in strange dance world' and I will hopefully be able to pick idea, buy costume on ebay and that will be that - dance teacher and dd do the rest and I can watch and remember to breathe! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annaliesey Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 I think it must be hard to think of character and then find music. What about listening to music first and see what characters and story jump out at you? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pups_mum Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 If you can think of a character from a film that is of interest, film scores are often a good source of music for character dances, as the music is written to deliberately suggest the characters or action. The main themes of well known films are a bit cliched maybe, but if you listen to full scores there is often really good music in there, that tells a story really well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 Also what sort of character does your dd want to portray? cheeky, sassy, soulful, a heroine? Something that's suits her personality will help her to bring it to life. Have a synopsis if that helps (just a couple of sentences to set the scene). Where props are concerned I would definitely say that less is more. Small items are apt to get dropped or lost and if they are big its a lot of hassle to haul them around the theatre from one festival to the next. Have fun and good luck to your dd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebird22 Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 What about a villain, they are always more interesting than the goodies! Maleficient Cruella Ursula Queen of hearts Any Bond villain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahw Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 I agree that too many props can detract so only 1 or 2. My impression is that adjudicators think the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waltzingmatilda Posted January 22, 2016 Author Share Posted January 22, 2016 thank you all for more fantastic thoughts. I like the thought of villains, film characters and music and less props really appeals as the thought of lugging a table or chair onto the stage and then tripping over my feet and falling off the edge could give me nightmares. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahw Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 Prop positioning - another dance mum responsibility we get no training for.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midwifemel Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 My girls are 12 & 14, a few of their recent character solos have been a girl lost in the desert, Nikiya from La Bayadere, a girl at a grape harvest, a girl waiting up for Santa (this one was a nightmare for me with a Christmas tree & presents plus a table & chair etc for props). All of these solos have placed in eisteddfods. I'm also lucky that our teacher chooses the theme. Good luck choosing something that your DD & her teacher are happy with Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waltzingmatilda Posted January 23, 2016 Author Share Posted January 23, 2016 made me chuckle sarahw and fantastic ideas midwifemel. i like the thought of dd crawling round parched from lack of water and she loves a bit of drama so could always do her last dying breath etc! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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