Grey Skies Blue: Performed by Shapeshift Theatrical

CUESHEET PERFORMANCE GUIDE

Performed by SHAPESHIFT Theatrical

Presenting Sponsor of Performances for Young Audiences

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A Change in the Weather Grey. Dreary. Sad. Kind of empty-like. That feeling when you look out your window and see, ugh, it’s another

As the show’s title hints, dancers will express the stories

gloomy day.

of characters in troubled relationships. For example:

But what if you could turn that grey sky blue? Through dance, no less!

Say, “Hello, sunny day!” as SHAPESHIFT and its 15 young dancers tell powerful, personal stories about friendship, family, love, and race. Let the sun shine in as this dance company transforms “understanding”

But First, Those Grey Skies n A mother and daughter try to repair a relationship ravaged by addiction. n Two friends find what they’ve always been looking for in each other, answering questions about their own identities. n A promising romantic relationship is destroyed by a friend’s betrayal.

through a combination of Hip Hop dance and

SHAPESHIFT includes both self-taught and formallytrained dancers performing a range of dance styles including ballet, Latin, African, tap, and modern.

The company began under Creative Director Ashley Selmer, who brings her expertise in jazz, contemporary, ballet, Hip Hop, and African dance into play. By using popular songs and their easily-relatable lyrics, Selmer creates vignettes, or small stories, about life and its many challenges for young people.

As Selmer explains, the dance collective finds that “it’s really important to highlight what is relevant today, what people are really feeling on a day-to-day basis, and so we focus a lot on discrimination and sexual identity and the issues that are important to society today.”

RULES lost PREJUDICE

ALONE

About the Company

WORDS

HEARTBREAK

WAKE UP

promises

contemporary movement.

Shaping and Shifting the Show Step two: Work together to choreograph, or come up with, moves for the performance. Here’s how the process works: or provides a storyline idea.

2. A cast member takes responsibility for the song or storyline.

3. The company uses improvisational dance exercises to form the development of the piece. For example, with “flocking,” members attempt to match each other’s movements, observing the shapes their bodies create.

4. Cast members complete each segment. Then, the company collectively weaves the dance into the finished show.

Just Move It Hip Hop dance may have started in the streets, but it is a cultural phenomenon that has spread far beyond the Bronx where American kids first began rockin’ and breakin.’ Here are just a few terms every B-boy and B-girl should know about Hip Hop moves: n Popping: Fluid movements of the limbs, such as

moving arms like an ocean wave, that emphasize contractions of isolated muscles.

n Locking: Snapping arms or legs into held positions, often at sharp angles, to accent a musical rhythm.

n Power Moves: Moves that are more acrobatic and require momentum, speed, strength, and control.

Often the breaker is supported by his or her upper body, while the lower body spins or turns, as seen in the windmill or the swipe. Some power moves are borrowed from gymnastics or martial arts. n Freezes: Poses that the breaker holds, requiring a great deal of control. Often freezes are performed

with the upper body or arms supporting the inverted breaker with legs held upward. Freezes often emphasize important beats in the music. n Voguing: Using hard angles, rigid movements or joint “clicks,” and straight formation walking, voguing

creates a fashion pose-like move. Hands are often used to “throw shade.”

TOGETHER

DREAMS

LET GO

Desires

1. The company’s creative team selects a piece of music

TRUTH

Step one: Focus on current, socially relevant topics.

FRIENDSHIP

POWER

What to Look and Listen for…

SHAPESHIFT leaves much to the imagination of audience members, but the group does use a few distinctive elements, such as costumes, props, and lighting, to set the tone for their scenes. For example: n Watch for large floating stained glass windows. Where do you think we are? n Listen for weather-related sounds. What might thunder

GLORY

hint to us about the upcoming scene? What about the sounds of birds? n What specific lighting, costume, or set cues does SHAPESHIFT use to transmit information to audience members?

JUSTICE

LOVE

FREEDOM

ONE DAY

What to Think About… n Why is the performance called Grey Skies Blue? What does the title mean to you? n If you could collaborate with peers to create a dance performance, what personal or current event storylines would you want to highlight? n What makes you want to move? To sing? To create? n In mythology and folklore, a “shapeshifter” is someone who can completely transform their physical form and change their identity at will. Why do you think Selmer decided to name her company SHAPESHIFT?

What You Can Do… Choose a song whose topic or lyrics you especially like or personally relate to. Create four simple movements or “gestures” to bring the song’s story to life. Then…keep adding steps. You’ve just SHAPESHIFTED!

And remember… being a good audience member is important—just stay seated and quiet, don’t eat or drink during the performance, and watch, listen, and clap.

Additional support for Grey Skies Blue is provided by A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation; the Kimsey Endowment; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; and the U.S. Department of Education.

Funding for Access and Accommodation Programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

David M. Rubenstein Chairman Deborah F. Rutter President Mario R. Rossero Senior Vice President Education

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Major support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by David and Alice Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.

Kennedy Center education and related artistic programming is made possible through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts and the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts.

The contents of this Cuesheet have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education and do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. © 2017 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

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