Emotional Outcomes
Welcome to week 6! As we continue growing each week, we can sometimes get so caught up in what the performers are doing with their hands and lower body but we forget at times what is the message or feeling the performers should be emoting to the audience.
The evolution of your show through emotion is point valued through the General Effect caption the most. Although the work you choreograph might create the emotional value, the upstairs caption will be focusing on not only your intriguing and creative design but the performance and communication of the program which when you put it all together creates an entertainment value or for the caption namesake, General Effect.
Before students can provide emotional support for the show, the instructor must determine what the character, role, or identity is that you want delivered to the audience and the judges. Many times, this will come from the music or overall concept that you have layered onto the show. While on the floor they should play this part and make it clear to the audience what they should feel. Your character and emotion will then play a role in the style of your specific show. So, if you are being joyful and moving at a high pace with smiles and laughter or a sad emotional piece where they may be moving through time slowly and offering a style that lends for more lingering extension you will then set the style and identity of your group.
This is sometimes difficult for our younger groups as they are still getting comfortable with putting their lower body and equipment together while remembering set to set responsibilities. As you move through the next 4 weeks into championships make sure to stop and talk about your show with your students and the emotional impact you are trying to make. If your show changes from one emotion to a drastic new one through the music or a change in pace, make sure you and your performers can verbalize that and share how they are feeling to make this work as a delivery method to the audience. The buy-in of your students is most important and having the conversations throughout the show about how they are doing this “chunk” of the show and selling the audience their story is most beneficial. Using a strong emotional performer within your group to have the team watch segments can help other students see or understand what is expected or find videos of other guards that have performed with the emotion you are looking for. This gives you an opportunity to showcase weaker spinners that have great performance qualities as an example to their team as well. It is also a great time to watch other groups at shows and find teams they want to “steal” from and use those facial moments for themselves.
As we utilize the WGI score sheets within the FFCC it is important to know how WGI defines these certain areas that you may hear on your tapes regarding role, character, identity, and the performance effect through emotion.
What is Performance Effect?
– This aspect involves the passionate and emotional investment and commitment of the performers to the emotions they are asked to portray.
– These qualities transcend the pure technical excellence of any given move or spin and layer the skill with “life.”
– These qualities invite the audience “in” to share the experience of the performance, make the performers accessible to the audience, and make the performance effective. How does the guard generate emotion?
– Emotion comes from the feelings of the performers, the depth of their commitment and the consistency of their understanding of the designed feeling they share throughout the show.
How does the guard engage with the audience?
– The more believable and committed the performers, the greater the success of drawing the audience into their performance. They must be confident, secure in their responsibilities and “command” the stage, projecting their show to the very top of the arena.
How does the guard sustain character, role, identity, and style?
– This begins with the specific detailing provided by the instructor. The performers must all understand who they are, what the personality and characteristics of their role is, and possess a consistent understanding/demonstration of the style their show requires.
How does the guard show sustain designed mood?
– This is motivated by the music both in design and performance; it is where the guard understands what they want the audience to feel and projects that successfully. They are the ones who project this feeling through the sensitive demonstration of musical qualities.
We look forward to being wowed by everyone’s performance and emotional qualities as we gear up for week 7! Good skill to all and see you soon!
Jamie Escobar-Dyer
FFCC Education Director
