How does the use of choreography and movement in a play tell a story??

Question

I recently watched a play that was purely based on movement and choreography, with no spoken text. I was wondering how movement is used to tell a story?

Answer 1

you are referring to 'blocking', or the pre-determined movements of the actors as decided by the director. there are all sorts of ways blocking can convey meaning.

the use of elevation, for example, will give the higher person more power. if two actors face each other, it conveys a sense of confrontation and hostility, but if you rotate each slightly, so their upstage foot is forward, they become neutral.

blocking can be used to define sides, or opposing forces, simply by placing two groups of at least one person far away. if you bring them together, they become conspiritorial.

then you have the way in which the actors move. if an actor springs to his feet and stares square into the face of another, that would convey hostility. if an actor camly stands up, and stares in the direction of his/her fellow actor, you get something else entirely.

in summary, whenever you see a play, pay attention to the blocking, for EVERY single movement, whether it be crossing the room, hugging someone, sitting down, has been thought out and rehearsed to death by the actors and director. every movement has some meaning.

Answer 2

It's called acting. Your question is too vague. I'd hate to see a play with no movement at all.

Answer 3

it is the body language! it speaks to you and tells the story without the use of dialogue

Answer 4

Something like ballet do you mean; ROMEO&JULIET

Answer 5

mime I guess.