Motifs
What are the three important motifs called?
Pointing
Silent Scream
Into the Unknown
What type of jobs did the women take up?
Thousands oif women worked on farms doing heavy agricultural labour like milking cows, shearing sheep, driving tractors. Worked on railways, tramways, and buses. And worked in public service such as administration
When does the climax begin?
After the Hiatus
Is Tāwhirimātea the god of the weather, including wind, storm, rain, lighting, and clouds?
Yes
Body shapes and parts:
The dancers use their whole bodies to represent the movement and power of the wind. They perform large arm gestures, reaching, twisting, turning and extending their bodies. Their movements change from controlled to powerful, reflecting Tāwhirimātea's growing anger and the force of the storm. Angular shapes: Bent arms, elbows and knees create strong, sharp shapes that communicate power and tension. Twisted shapes: Twisting through the torso and reaching in different directions represent the swirling movement of wind. Extended shapes: Stretching the arms and legs away from the body creates large, expansive shapes that communicate the power of Tāwhirimātea.
When is the first motif witnessed and what is it?
1minute and 23seconds. Into the Unknown.
How did men and women feel about the war?
Different - men were euphoric and excited. Women were not convinced of the "opportunity"
What is a hiatus? And what is the hiatus in Tawhirimatea?
A pause or break in the continuity of activity. A dance often increases interest towards a climax. A hiatus in dance is a pause in the increasing tension and interest. In tawhirimatea there is a hiatus when the women kneel on the floor watching the men walk in. The men are preparing to leave to war.
Could you relate the movements and climax to the effects of a storm?
Yes
Energy:
The dancers use contrasting energy to communicate the changing intensity of the weather. Strong, sharp and explosive movements represent Tāwhirimātea's anger and the destructive power of a storm. Softer, sustained and flowing movements represent the movement of wind before it becomes more powerful.
At what three time stamps is the pointing motif seen?
2.04minutes, 4.32minutes, 6.45minutes
Why is one of the themes in Tāwhirimātea called "gendered response"
Because the way people responded to war depended a lot on their gender and what kind of experience they expected from the war.
The actual climax is?
The canoned duet of the genders dancing as partners. This includes the pointing motif.
How is the name Tāwhirimātea reflected in the climax?
The name Tāwhirimātea, the Māori atua of wind and storms, is reflected in the climax of the dance through the dancers’ powerful, energetic movements, which represent the increasing strength and intensity of a storm. The dancers use sharp, forceful movements, leaps and changes in dynamics to communicate the power and unpredictability of Tāwhirimātea.
Space:
The dancers use different levels, directions, pathways and formations to represent the movement of the wind. They travel across the stage, extend their bodies into the surrounding space and change between high and low levels.
High levels: Dancers reach upwards, extend their arms and jump to represent the strength and power of the wind. Medium levels: Dancers bend their knees, twist their torsos and perform strong movements to communicate the wind gathering force. Low levels: Dancers crouch, kneel and move close to the floor to create contrast and suggest the impact of the storm.
What is the importance of the pointing motif the last time it is witnessed?
As the female dancers connect with their male partners one by one they continue to show their support, however, they are also pointing to the direction that there is no return from. They separate from their male counterparts in after this point as the length of the time period before the men leaving shortens. There is no other way the women might be heard.
What are repressed emotions and who had them?
Repressed emotions are emotions that are not expressed and are instead pushed deep down, inside, or concealed. Repressing emotions creates internal conflict and tension. Women could not express their emotions freely and this is reflected in the blocked, restricted energy in the dancer's bodies
How might the female and male dancers feel towards each other in this moment?
A sense of trust and inter-dependence. The women in each duet trusts and relies on the man to support her fully in the lift and manage the weight without dropping her. Equally the male relies on the female dancer to release her weight and give her weight fully. The final duet says "we are connected to each other forever", but now the women need to release their men.
How did Shona interpret Tāwhirimātea in her choreography?
Swirling, and shifting floor patterns. This represents the massive social change. She also used the idea of the turbulent and changeable climate in Aotearoa. Our weather shifts fast
Relationships:
The dancers use relationships such as unison, canon and contrasting movements. When they move together in unison, they create a sense of collective power. Their interactions and group formations help communicate the conflict and intensity of Tāwhirimātea's anger.
Into the Unknown is the men's phrase of jumping and launching, with huge leaps and hops. What did Shona say when she generated this phrase?
"I wanted to create a real sense of the New Zealand physicality, how earthy, how airborne and astonishingly energetic are men are here". (Kiwi men were naive).
When did women win the right to vote?
September 19, 1893
What changes to the pointing motif are seen in the climax?
The size of the movement, the quantity of energy, the amount of space, the tempo, and non-unison
How does the climax strengthen the audience’s understanding of the title?
The title suggests that the dance explores not only the physical power of wind but also the spiritual power of Tāwhirimātea. By choosing this title, the choreographer encourages the audience to consider the relationship between Māori mythology, nature and the forces of the natural world. It gives the dance a deeper cultural meaning beyond simply representing a storm.
Time:
The dancers use changes in speed, rhythm and timing to communicate the changing intensity of the storm. Fast, sudden movements create a sense of urgency and chaos, while slower, sustained movements suggest the wind gathering strength. During the climax, faster movements and strong rhythmic accents help communicate Tāwhirimātea's power.