Pete Hillier concludes his retelling of the traditional Russian story 'The Firebird' with dances to music from 'Ten Pieces'.
3. The giant Kaschei
Pete Hillier concludes his retelling of the traditional Russian story The Firebird with music from the ±«Óătv's Ten Pieces including Stravinsky's music for the ballet The Firebird composed in 1911.
Resources
Download the audio for this dance session as an mp3 file.
Guidance on using the dance sessions in this unit with your group (pdf)
'The Firebird' - dance the complete final dance with all the music and narration.
Lesson summary
Warm up: Music – The Firebird (Slow section). Stretch out your fingers and flicker your bright, magnificent feathers.Flap your powerful firebird wings with smooth, fluid, flexible arm movements. (Fast section) Travel freely through the spaces - dipping and diving, soaring and whirl-ing, leaping and turning energetically.
Sequence 1: The Giant Kastchei. Music: Britten - Storm. Stamp through the spaces in the biggest, scariest giant shape! Each time the music stops, freeze in a frightened statue shape.
Sequence 2: The Firebird and the Guards. Music in sections: Stravinsky - The Firebird. Hold out your flickering Firebird wings. Dip and dive, soar and whirl, leap and turn freely through the spaces to rescue Prince Ivan. When the music changes, stand tall or hunch forwards in your fierce guard shape. Dance faster and faster with the music until, finally, you fall down exhausted onto the floor to sleep.
Sequence 3: The Firebird and the giant Kastchei. Everyone repeats the Firebird’s movements but more slowly and strongly to hypnotise the giant Kastchei.
Sequence 4: The Firebird and the statues. Half the class lift and lower their magnificent Firebird wings while the other half slowly return to life from their stone statue state.
Sequence 5: Procession home. Music: Mozart - Horn concerto No 4. Everyone skips happily around the edge of the room in a long, class procession.
Sequence 6: The Firebird Finale. Repeat the Firebird sequence with flickering fingers and hands and fluid arm flapping movements – slowly at first but then gradually spreading wings to show a glorious, magnificent array!
Final performance: The Giant Kastchei - The Firebird and the Guards - The Firebird and the giant Kastchei - Procession home - The Firebird Finale.
Cool down: Walk to a space with slow, relaxed steps. Stand up straight and tall. Slowly lower head down towards chest. Continue to roll down through spine, reaching hands down towards the floor – hold stretch for a few seconds then sit down on the floor and relax.
More from Time to Move: Ten Pieces
Planet Mars. 2: Dust storms and two moons. audio
The second of two sessions exploring planet Mars through dance to the ±«Óătv's 'Ten Pieces'.
The Firebird. 1: The Firebird and Prince Ivan. audio
A retelling of the traditional Russian story 'The Firebird' with dances to music from the ±«Óătv 'Ten Pieces'.
The Firebird. 2: The magic garden. audio
More from the retelling of the traditional Russian story 'The Firebird' with dances to music from the ±«Óătv's 'Ten Pieces'.