Rhythm and Timing of Movement in Performance: Drama, Dance and Ceremony

Importance is frequently ascribed to rhythm, timing and movement in the arts and they are used to great effect both consciously and unconsciously in theatre, drama, dance, ceremony and ritual. This work explores ideas and theories on the subject of rhythm, timing and movement in performance, employing anthropological, cross-cultural and multi-disciplinary perspectives. Part one provides an introduction to their use, illustrating a range of ideas and theories with quotations and practical examples. In part two the ways in which these ideas may be applied in performance, observation, and practice is explained and the basic factors and elements of the three are described and classified. Suggestions are also made for the development of skills in movement observation, with particular examples from different cultures. The final section explores contrasting approaches and descriptions of rhythm and timing in action, with detailed descriptions of performance events in Britain, Arizona, Mexico and Papua New Guinea.

Table of Contents:
Introduction. Part One: Ideas and Theories. 1. Rhythm in Human Movement. 2. Patterns in Time: Metricity, Flow, Timing and Other Aspects of Rhythm in Performance. 3. Time Elements and Performance Conventions. 4. Contributions to the Study of Rhythm from Observers: Movement Notation and Anthropology. 5. Contributions to the Study of Rhythm in the Theatre. 6. Time and Rhythm in Human Movement: Rudolf Laban's Contribution. Conclusion to Part One. Part Two: Looking and Seeing. 7. Description and Classification of Time Elements in Performance Events - A Synthesis of Approaches. 8. Suggestions for Training in the Observation of Movement-Rhythm and Timing. 9. An Application in Learning and Teaching: Rhythm and Timing in an Approach to T'ai Chi Chu'uan (Tai Ji). Part Three: Performance Events - Time Elements, Rhythm and Timing in Action. 10. Easter in Arizona and Mexico - An Experience of Yaqui Ceremonies. 11. Papua New Guinea - Rhythm and Timing in Traditional Maring Life. 12. For Queen and Country - A British Event: Trooping the Colour. Conclusion. References. Index.

About the Author :
Janet Goodridge holds a PhD in anthropology from University College, London and has other qualifications in drama, music and education from Bristol University, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and in anthropology from the London School of Economics, as well as training in movement and dance. She has had wide experience as a movement practitioner, teacher and choreographer, and has been a Principal Lecturer in dance and related arts at various higher education and theatre training institutions. Her current teaching extends from movement training for actors to leading Tai Ji with older people in Community Day Care Centres.