Thread by @JiminUncut

[Dance Analysis Thread - Black Swan ON:E]

Incorporating both brand new moves and old favourites, Jimin choreographed a stirring solo number for the ON:E concert. Let’s take a closer look at Jimin’s interpretation of Black Swan.
#JIMIN #지민 @BTS_twt

#JIMIN starts this piece by immediately sinking to the ground. Modern dance, and by extension contemporary, is characterized by its use of gravity. Ballet strives to lift up as much as possible, but modern plays with gravity, giving into it one minute & bouncing back up the next.

Here again you can see Jimin use gravity to his advantage, letting it push him down before he curls up under its weight. In this way, gravity becomes a character in the dance, an oppressive force Jimin is constantly fighting. #JIMIN

Watch here as #JIMIN fights it, pushing his upper torso up on one arm. His hips follow, coming off the floor as he brings his other arm around in a beautiful line. Once he brings his foot underneath him, gravity suddenly releases him and he springs up, light as a feather.

This sequence was very unique and incredibly powerful in its delicacy. Jimin combined a forced arch foot movement with his signature in and out knees. The position of his arms suggests holding a violin, or a dance partner. #JIMIN

A forced arch is when a dancer rises up onto their toes (demi or full pointe) and then pliés in the rise (or pliés first and then rises). This forces and stretches the dancer’s foot arch, which improves its flexibility and the strength of the dancer’s ankles.

cr. Tatiana Rooney

In ballet, forced arches are typically only used as a warm up exercise and not as a choreographed technique. After all, ballet values stretched legs, pointed toes and straight lines above all else.

But modern dance looks to break those rules and find shapes and movements that are more expressive, out of the box and unique. Therefore, forced arches are often incorporated into modern choreographies.

And of course #JIMIN brings his own flair and artistry to the movement and integrates his innate ear for musicality. Each step coincides with the plucking of the strings as the black swan dances with himself in his own madness, his ankles shackled by the light.

This is another powerful visual of the black swan’s creeping madness - the fingers crawling up his temples into his hair, as if they are thoughts or suggestions he can’t drown out or fight.
#JIMIN

But fight them he does, even as he’s pulled one way and the next. #JIMIN uses tracing to make it look like his body has turned against him, his knees being “controlled” by his hands as they whip the support and strength out from under him. He’s being torn apart from the inside.

Now the true battle for sanity begins. Jimin’s movements become more frenzied as the black swan spirals more into madness. These turns across the floor are not feather light chaînés en relevé, but more grounded, weighed down and flat-footed. #JIMIN

As a reminder, chaîné turns are typically up on the toes (en relevé) and involve stepping from one foot to the other while maintaining a first position. Notice that, like this dancer, Jimin does continue spotting to the corner with his head to maintain his balance and direction.

The curled contraction #JIMIN does before jumping is also more reminiscent of modern than ballet. Ballet encourages dancers to maintain a straight spine at all times, especially in the lower back. But one of the fundamental techniques of modern dance is contraction and release.

Watch this instructor (Anne Souder) from the Martha Graham Dance Company explain and demonstrate Graham’s pioneering technique which was the foundation for much of her modern dance style.

The top of Jimin’s jump resembles the high release of Graham’s technique, where the chest opens to the sky with the head lifted back.

Jimin uses his arms beautifully to take up space in this sequence as the music crescendos. He staggers, then comes to a sudden stop, before turning quickly and sweeping his arms and leg around in a gorgeous line. #JIMIN

Jimin plays with his speed and milks the movements, showing the erratic nature of the black swan fighting its fate. The slowed down moves give us a brief glimpse of clarity, of beauty, before the whirlwind of insanity takes over again. #JIMIN

This kick is spectacular. Watch how #JIMIN preps to give himself as much momentum as possible. Even when you have the flexibility to get your leg to your ear, it takes a tremendous amount of strength to do so without inertia. And if you want to do it quickly, a kick is best.

Jimin initially pulls back and gives himself enough room to slide his right knee forward and then kicks high with his left leg, perfectly straight. Proving once again that he seemingly has no preference when it comes to flexibility on his right or left side. #JIMIN

This part is chilling. The turning point of the black swan’s fight. Despite all efforts, the wings now grow. And the way #JIMIN brings them to life is masterful. The movements originate from his shoulder blades as he curls back one and then the other, his arms slowly unfurling.

Jimin really unleashes in the end sequence. Up until this point, his moves were carefully choreographed and his timing one night to the next was largely the same. But after embracing the black swan’s madness, his moves become more freestyled as he flies around the stage. #JIMIN

Jimin’s movements become more frantic and he barrels through the music, unrestricted by its pace. The black swan spirals more and more out of control (with gorgeous turns and arms I must say) until finally...he collapses. #JIMIN

This piece is gorgeous not only because of Jimin’s technique, but how he employs it to evoke emotion and to tell a story with his movements alone. He brings the music to life and with it...the Black Swan. #JIMIN