This Day (from Jingle Jangle)
by Usher feat. Kiana Lede
Music: Official ‘Netfilix’ Version on YouTube
*Notes and breakdown videos below. Lyrics at the bottom of the page.
Project Type: Choreography, Improvography, and Improvisation.
Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvUPtjz0iFk (Official ‘Netflix’ Lyric Video on YouTube)
Filming & Sending Footage: In the interest of streamlining the process, please film on your smartphones, or use a friend/family members’ smartphone, if possible. Both iPhones and Androids have excellent cameras, and I’m assuming that all (if not 99% of us) have access to one. Please send videos through the company WhatsApp group chat. In our experience sending videos back and forth to each other we have found the best results (in regard to sending fast AND keeping the best quality, with WhatsApp.
*If you are NOT part of the company, or apprentice, WhatsApp Group Chats - please call/email/message Garrett or Ahkai directly, and one of us will add you right away :)
General Shooting Guidelines & Camera Settings
Set your camera to Full HD 1080p at 30fps (frames per second). There is no need to shoot in 4K at this point. :) *Note: Front side cameras (the one you use on Facetime or Zoom) shoots at this setting. You should be able to adjust this in your camera app.
Make sure to get shots in BOTH Portrait (vertical) and Landscape (horizontal) modes.
For landscape mode, make sure that you get your whole body in the shot the entire time.
For portrait mode, please get takes both with your whole body in the shot, and with 3/4 or 1/2 body in the shot as well.
Be aware of how far up, down, right and left that you can travel once you have established how far away from the camera you will be dancing. *Tip: I film with the ‘frontside’ or ‘facetime’ camera of my iPhone. This way, I can quickly check how far I can move and still be in frame before I begin filming.
Take as many takes as you would like, but please limit what you send to your best few takes of each shot.
Tripods and propping up your phone. If you don’t have a tripod, don’t worry. I have found that propping your smartphone up on a small table, stack of yoga blocks, a chair, etc. will work just fine. I usually rest my phone against a sturdy water bottle, but use whatever is convenient.
Deadline to submit footage:
Sunday, March 14th.
Scenes/Locations
Scenes 1-3 : Featured Dancers (Ahkai/Garrett/Glenda/Katrinka)
The musical intro and first two verses and choruses of the song introduce the audience to our four featured dancers. This montage is to present the confidence, swag, and power in the music, along side a glimpse into the hours put into honing your craft in the studio in a hopes of encouraging our audience to continue pushing forward in their own journeys - and beyond that, to be brave and bold, and take everyday as a new opportunity to make progress towards achieving your dreams and goals.
Locations: Outside, walking (improv) & In Studio (improv & B-roll)
Shots/Filming:
Outside Shot: Dancer walks and dances towards the camera. This is more of a theatrical shot, as if you the dancer are embodying what the singer is saying, and moving rhythmically to the lyrics as well as the instrumentation in the breaks. This shot is
In Studio Shot: Alone in the studio. The dancer vs. the mirror. We all know how freeing being alone in a dance studio can be. Just you, the music, and the mirror, and the chance to dance! This shot is a look ‘into the dancer’s head’ if you will - we are getting a glimpse of you working out your problems and frustrations and equally celebrating your joys.
B-Roll: The ‘non dancey’ part of being in the studio. A few examples or thoughts that come to mind….pacing in the studio, sitting and leaning against the mirror or a wall, putting the music on and grooving out by the sterio, etc. These shots could easily come in ‘the moment before’ or ‘the moment after’ you actually get your shots in - literally capturing your preparation process going into the phrase of movement, and what it looks like to fully finish your artistic thought upon completion, actually seeing you coming ‘back to reality,’ if you will.
Scenes 4-7 : Full Company
The powerful musical composition along with the strength in the lyrics make for a song that makes you want to get up and dance. The movement of the choreography is strongly influenced by the idea of ‘grabbing the bull by the horns,’ (if you will) - however perhaps more simply put of reaching for and pulling your dreams and desires towards you. It is our goal to inspire our audience not just by the strength and boldness in our movement, but by joy, hope, and energy that we feel when listening to the music.
The full company, friends, guests, etc. are all seen together, ‘Brady Bunch’ style, at the top of the bridge in an explosion of choreography. This choreography is in the true Lyrical tradition, but feels funky. I just want to see you living the joy in the music.
The Tap section is going to be split up into clips of the whole body, just the feet, and the top half of the body. These will be mixed and matched to capture the intricacy of the footwork combined of the freedom in the upper body. *See notes with choreography breakdown below.
The Improvography and Improv sections are going to be split into features - solos, duos, trios, and quartettes. Live your lives. ;)
The final choreography moment is a nod to a section in our version of ‘Can’t Hold Us’ by Macklemore. Everyone looks right, everyone looks left - as if to be looking at each other, everyone looks front, everybody dances, everybody hits an end pose together. Pretty straight forward. *See notes with choreography breakdown below.
Locations: Wherever you want to dance. Could be multiple locations. :)
Shots/Filming: See ‘Shooting guidelines’ above. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to message or email right away.
Company Scene Breakdown
Scene 4 - The Bridge | 1:51-2:13 (4-8s)
Simple. Joyous. Optimistic. Hopeful. #LiveTheIdea
Choreography Breakdown:
Scene 5 - Tap Section | 2:13-2:35 (4-8s)
***Make sure to get takes of just your feet - I would say from the side, or from a 45ish-degree angle. I think there is something to be said for a shot that gets your feet and their reflection in the mirror as well.
***Also, make sure to get takes of just the top half of your body.
***Any other creative ways to capture tap dance I am completely open to :) :) :)
Choreography Breakdown:
Scene 6 - ‘Improvography’ Section | 2:35-2:57 (4-8s)
*Make sure to emphasize the dynamics between hitting the counts hard, and smoothly dancing through the ends of each phrase, the 2nd and 4th 8-count.
Choreography Breakdown:
Scene 7 - Improv Section + End Button Choreography | 2:57-END
*SEE ‘Talk through’ video below.
Talking ‘This Day’ Through From Top to Bottom
*OPENING THOUGHTS & TALK THROUGH | 0-5:05
*CHOREOGRAPHY REVIEW | 5:05-6:33
*TAP SECTION REVIEW | 6:34-7:22
*IMPROVOGRAPHY SECTION REVIEW | 7:23-8:03
IMPROV SECTION REVIEW | 8:04-8:40 (I mean, go crazy, live your life)
*END BUTTON choreography 8:41-9:30.
*FINAL THOUGHTS | 9:31-END
*Make sure to follow the company IG account @thbrkthrghmvmntlive - which has additional breakdown videos. Click on IGTV to view the different series available on the channel ;)
Lyrics
1st Verse: Time stand still can’t explain what I feel
If this is really real nothing’s ever gonna be the same
I get to say goodbye to the struggling life
Say hello to the sky, spread my wings and fly away.
Even though life’s been knocking me down I had to figure it out, see my way through the doubt
And when it seems I’m lost, turn and found my way
What I got in my hands could be the spark, turns it all around, could this be happening now
‘Cause all my life I’ve waited for this day
2nd Verse: Tell me what do you do when everyone’s counting on you
The decisions you make, the give and the take
The promises kept, and the ones that you break are the hardest to take
But who will always be standing by you
No, I won’t give up, I won’t give in
‘Cause the day that you run might be the day that you win
Even when life’s knockin’ ya down you always figure it out, see your through the doubt
And when you’re lost I help you find your way
What ya got in your hands could be the spark, turns it all around, is this happening now
‘Cause all my life I knew we’d see this day
(I knew we’d see this day I knew we both would see this day)
The Bridge (Scene 4): You know all your dreams are calling
On this day
It’s out there if you want it
Don’t be afraid
Believe it now your best is yet to come (your best is yet to come)
Cuz all my life I’ve (All your life)
Waited for This Day
Tap Section (Scene 5): Waited for This Day (x6)
(Is the present the gift, or is the present the day)
Improvography Section (Scene 6):
Forget about yesterday (Forget about yesterday)
It’s dead and gone away (Forget about yesterday) (Gone away)
The only thing that matters is right now (The only thing that matters is right now)
Forget about yesterday (whoa)
It’s dead and gone away (whoa)
The only thing that matters is right now
Improv + Big Finish Section (Scene 7):
Forget about yesterday (This is our moment)
It’s dead and gone away (Baby lets own it)
Oh, everything we wanted is happening right now
Forget about yesterday (This magical day)
It’s dead and gone away (Let’s own it)
Baby let’s own it right now (Ohhhh)
All my life (Forget about yesterday)(It’s dead and gone away)
We’ve waited for this day
All my life I’ve waited for this (Forget about yesterday)(It’s dead and gone away)
Big Finish Moment:
We’ve waited for so long, so long we’ve waited for
THIS DAY!