17. Square

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17.2. Music and movement

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17.1. Square: text and idea

Square, Marieta Stoycheva Square, Stefka Nikolova (follow-up activities)

TEXT

1. Bright is the morn, filled with the fragrance sweet of flowers just born;

2. White pearls of dew, a golden crown her glorious head adorn.

3. All nature sings, all nature now with music rings,

4. Praising the dawn, praising the new born happy dawn,

5. Praising the father-sun, creator of the glorious dawn.

6. All nature sings, all nature now with music rings,

7. Praising the dawn, praising the new born happy dawn,

8. Praising the father-sun, creator of the glorious dawn.

1. Red is the east, God’s loving lips its brilliant forehead have kissed,

2. Filling the morning air with vibrant life and sacred bliss.

Repeat verses from 3 to 8

IDEA

The square is a metaphor for a problem situation, some limitation, difficulty, a task in life. This happens at work, at home, in the relations; affects us intellectually, emotionally, our volition; short-term or long-term. In the language of gesture we stop our free movement forwards along the smooth circle. And we start a movement in a small and limited “angled” space, a square, which we cannot leave no matter how long we walk: the initial and final positions match. Like the characters of a fairytale, who have fallen under the power of evil forces, we have to give everything from us, to activate our internal powers, qualities, capacities and talents at work, so that we can help ourselves. Some examples of Square:

birds in a cage;
animals limited because of insufficient life conditions: drought, hunger;
a prison (literally and metaphorically);
the room as a closed space, when you cannot leave it, for example because of illness;
an assignment at work;
a forthcoming examination in the studies;
difficulties caused by another person.

Exercises 17-21 are related thematically as a group. In 17.Square we have a problem situation, a task. With 18.Beauty and19.Agility we work to solve it using the hard and the mild approach. In 20.Conquering we solve and overcome it. With21.The Joy of the Earth we perform the joy of the achieved.

This exercise teaches us to have the right standard by which to measure everything on earth… The face turns successfully to the four directions of the earth – east, west, north and south – connecting with their energy. The east represents justice, the south – virtue, the north – truth… the west – how truth, justice and virtue benefit man. When the sun sets, then we appreciate its blessing. [Beinsa Douno, Paneurhythmy, p.80]

Square, Lenka Szotkowska Square, Gabriela Jonczy

QUESTIONS

1. Text: Give synonym words or expressions about "problem situation". Write in your own beautiful words a sentence/ essay/ poem about a problem situation/ a serious task you have had.

2. Drawing: Draw an illustration to the exercise. Draw the line we outline with our steps while performing the exercise, in relation to the circle.

3. Questions: What are the main characteristics of the square form and can it be found in nature? Do you like problem situations and why? Why is nature so happy in the poem for Square, provided that you perform a person facing difficulties? How many and what daily tasks did you set up for yourself when you woke up this morning.

4. Experience: Tell us of situations and experiences when you have had a serious task to solve/ a problem situation. What was the feeling?

5. Imagination: Try to outline correctly the square form – not bigger or different. Imagine that the oultined square is: 1. a sheet of paper on which your task is written; 2. the room you work in; 3. the garden you work in; 4. the canvass on which you will paint; 5. the desk on which you study; 6. the textbook you have to stud.

6. Affirmations: Write your own positive affirmation for Square. For example: I can cope with my tasks/problems. I outline correctly the boundaties of my tasks.

7. Quotes: Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it (Michelangelo). Find your favourite quote for Square.

Weaving a nest, Silviya Nedelcheva

Published in 17.1. Text and idea

17.2. Square: music and movement

MUSIC

Measure 3/8

Tonality: E minor

Total: 128 measures, 1 measure = 1 movemеnt

MOVEMENT

SP for the exercise:

The partners face the centre of the circle, one behind the other.

Arms:The arms are folded in the elbows, forearms horizontal and parallel to the body, wrists stretched. The hands are in front of the chest, palms down, fingers together and stretched. The middle fingers of both hands always touch in this position.

Legs: Feet together in standing position

Sequence of movements:

1. In place cycle:

First peak of the square. The partners face the centre of the circle, one behind the other, those from the inside circle are in front.

2. Forwards cycle:

First side of the square. The partners face the centre, one behind the other, those from the inside circle are in front. The movement is in a radius to the centre.

3. In place cycle:

Second peak. The partners have their right shoulder to the centre, and stay one next to the other.

4. Forwards cycle:

Second side. The partners have their right shoulder to the centre, and move one next to the other. The movement is in a line perpendicular to the one in 2.

5. In place cycle:

Third peak of the square. The partners have their backs to the centre, one behind the other, those from the outside circle are in front.

6. Forwards cycle:

Third side of the square. The partners move with their backs to the centre, one behind the other, those from the outside circle are in front. The movement is in a line perpendicular to the one in 4

7. In place cycle cycle:

Fourth peak. The partners have their left shoulders to the centre, and stay one next to the other.

8. Forwards cycle:

Fourth side. The partners have their left shoulders to the centre, and move one next to the other. The movement is in a line perpendicular to the one in 6.

Movements 1-8 outline a square. They repeat from measure 65 to 128 of the music.

FP for the exercise: same as SP but palms forwards. After the exercise is over the arms go by the sides of the body. Correct performance would bring the partners back to their initial positions on the circle (from the beginning of the exercise)!

IN PLACE cycle

SP = SP for the exercise.

Before the first performance palms are down. Before any next performance of the cycle palms in SP are forwards.

Arms:Palms turn down with middle fingers touching (during first performance they are down since SP). Arms unfold in the elbows horizontally forwards and sideways and move to a horizontal position to the sides, stretched, palms down, fingers together.

Legs:The right foot moves sideways to the right with stretched knee, and touches the ground with tiptoes.

Duration:one measure

Arms:Arms retrace their way to SP.

Legs:The right foot retraces its way to SP with stretched knee.

Duration:one measure

Arms:Arms unfold in the elbows horizontally forwards and sideways and move to a horizontal position to the sides, stretched, palms down, fingers together.

Legs:The left foot moves sideways to the left with stretched knee, and touches the ground with tiptoes.

Duration:one measure

Arms:Arms retrace their way to SP.

Legs:The left foot retraces its way to SP with stretched knee.

Duration:one measure

Movements 1-4 repeat.

FP = SP of the exercise, palms down.

FORWARDS CYCLE

Square, forwards movements

SP = SP for the exercise.

Arms:Palms turn forwards with middle fingers touching (below the chin). Arms unfold in the elbows vertically up in front of the face and move to a horizontal position to the sides, stretched, palms forwards, fingers together.

Legs:Step with the right foot

Duration:one measure

Arms:Arms retrace their way to the SP, but with palms forwards.

Legs:Step with the left foot

Duration:one measure

Movements 1 and 2 repeat 4 times, and for the legs 7 and 8 are different:

7:Perpendicular step forwards with right foot. Tiptoes point in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement.

The body begins a quarter turn to the left (90°).

The left foot moves next to the right one (in the new direction).The body finishes with the quarter turn to the left (90°).

SP = SP for the exercise but with palms forwards.

Published in 17.2. Music and movement