Watch film: cannon section from 32 Cryptograms

Downstage right a solo dancer launches into a plie and then travels across the stage to midstage left. Five dancers enter in a travelling cannon (for this particular cannon to work it needs to feature movement material that travels across the stage).The last dancer that joins the cannon has the hardest task in order to reach the starting position for the following sequence that begins in open forth position with one foot extended out on demi-pointe. The five dancers begin the sequence in unison with a head roll movement.

Downstage right couple 1 enter as the five dancers fall to the floor. Couple 2 appear upstage right. Couple 1’s duet features directional lifts and couple 2’s duet features turning lifts. The floor pattern has been seen in clip 1.

The lift motif develops and there is a lift in second that is clearly seen in couple 1 and 2.

There is a theme of lifts; jumps and partnering (sometimes split partnering where the female dancer is passed between the male dancers).The choreography clearly illustrates heights, levels, diagonals and still points.

What to identify

Travelling cannon

Lift motif

Split partnering

Heights and levels

Diagonal floor pattern