Lesson 2

Aspects of Production for Performing

Arts
COMMON ASPECTS OF PERFORMING IN THE PERFORMING ARTS

Audience, Time, and Space

The performing arts have been presented to various audience at different

venues, and different occasions. This is dependent on the prevalent social norms
at the particular time it is presented.

For the different ethnic groups in the Philippines, most of the performing arts
are heavily integrated to their daily lives. The types and forms of performing
arts are as assorted as the events that they accompany. Theater as well as music
and dance can be done in the privacy of one’s house or can be performed
outdoors such a the fields or while at work. It is also staged during rituals or
formal occasions such as weddings, births, and funerals.
In the urbanized areas, music, dance, and theaters are performed in both
private and public space. Residential house or sometimes the streets
accompanied with a videoke machine serve as mini concert grounds during
celebrations and fiestas. During fiestas, streets are turned into makeshift stages
for singing and dancing competitions as well as beauty contests. Malls and
similar establishments serve as venues for concerts, bands, dance competitions,
and plays.

Churches since the Spanish colonial times are regular venues for songs and
liturgical dramas. More formal performances are staged in more conventional
theaters such as the Cultural Center of Philippines, SM Mall of Asia Arena, the
Philippine Arena in Manila, the International Eucharistic Convention Pavilion in
Cebu, and the CAP Grand Auditorium in Davao.
Awards and Grants

As with the visual arts, awards and grants are given to performing artist as well.
Awards are given to performing artist as recognition for their achievements in a
competition or in their cumulative career. Awards can come in the form of
trophies, medals, certificates or cash. Grants are given to performing artist to aid
them in developing their craft. Grants can come from both public and private,
individuals and institutions. Grants are often given to finance different aspects in
the production of a performance. It can also come in the form of study grants that
give financial support for research, studies, and other academic pursuits related
to their craft. Travel grants serve to augment the expenses in touring and
performing outside their regular venue.
In addition to this aspect, there are also commissions. Commissions are financial
compensations given to performing artist to create a song, a dance, or a play.
Compared to dance and theater, commissioned works are more common in music,
wherein composers would be asked to write a song or a jingle to be used in a
commercial or a show.
Criticism
Criticism in the performing arts pertains to the evaluation and examination
of the creation, expression, and meaning of the particular piece or
performance. The one who reviews and appraises the performance is called a
critic. A critic will review the different aspects of a performance and gives
his/her insights and evaluation. Critics would often publish their appraisal in
different media such a newspapers, magazines, journals, websites, and blogs.

Although almost anybody could call themselves critics, the most credible ones
are those who have been trained or have a background with the particular
performing art that they are reviewing.
Organizations
Performing art organizations are formal or informal groupings of artist and/or enthusiasts
created in order to support and appreciate their chosen craft. Informal groupings can be seen
with the ethnic groups where they come together for one occasion such as a fiesta or a wedding.
Formal organizations are more permanent and stable. Formal organizations have clear cut
division of responsibilities and a hierarchy or role such as chairmanship, members, etc. They
follow written by laws produced and enacted by the members themselves.

UP MADRIGAL SINGERS
Organization can also be categorized according to their base of operations. It can
be a second school-based organization, which means it started and is organized
by a school. As such, its members are students of the school, Examples of school-
based performing art organizations are the UP Madrigal Singers, the Dagyaw
Theater Dance and Company in Iloilo, and the Integrated Performing Arts Guild of
the Mindanao State University in Iligan.

Community-based organizations are performing art groups that serve the

community, these are less formal and often have volunteer performers. They are
usually financed by the wealthy families of the community and the local
government. Professional organizations have members from all over the country.
These groups often have the crème de la crème of the performing artist as they
are given salaries and are employed and trained full-time. Examples of such
organizations are the CCP Tanghalang Pilipino, the Repertory Philippines, and the
now disbanded San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra.
Education
Education in the performing arts is concerned with the transfer of knowledge, the techniques,
and styles. As with the visual arts, it can be transferred through informal settings or formal
backdrops such as the classroom. This aspect of production is one of the most significant since it
deals with the continuing survival and promulgation of the art, through the transfer of the
knowledge, skills, and technique to the next generation.

Informal education is often the type of education seen in the ethnic groups. Music and the other
performing arts are taught to the youth through ‘oral transmission’ and demonstration. Books and
other materials are not needed since the different songs, dance and rituals are ingrained in their
everyday lives. The students learn their community’s performing arts organically. They learn the
art through constant exposure, application and practice.

In the formal education, performing arts are included in the curriculum of the students. The
performing arts are learned through teacher-led instruction in the classroom. Teaching standards
are set per grade level. The students learn art appreciation, art history, and learn and apply
different styles and techniques. Content difficulty starts with the basic and spirals to more
complex subjects and themes as students progress through school.
PARTICULAR ASPECTS OF PRODUCTION TO A
PERFORMING ART

Some aspects of productions are unique to a particular form of performing art,

such as the ones below.
 MUSIC

Composition
Composition is the artistic process in the creation of music. It is traditionally referred to as the
practice of creating a notated score artist and composer can be the same person. According to
Arnold Schoenberg, a renowned Austrian composer, there are three basic steps in music
composition. They are the basic idea, which is often the source of inspiration that is drawn upon a
story, an emotion, or an image. This inspiration is transferred to musical material in which the
music components such as the scale and mode are used. And finally its progression to a musical
form through the creation of a theme or motif. This is a thoroughly Western concept that was
brought by the Spaniards and has since been adapted in the local industry. Popular and notable
contemporary Filipino composers include Ryan Cayabyab, Jose Mari Chan, Lito Camo, Ely Buendia,
Gary Valenciano, and Ogie Alcasid.

Traditional ethnic music is heavily improvised and spontaneous such that the music is not
written on the score sheet but rather the creative process is seen through the ability of the
performers to innovate and invent according to the existing style and rules in their community’s
music tradition.
Recording
Recording is the process of creating multiple copies of music to be
distributed to the public. Professional recording entails the following
steps: first of which is called preproduction, Preproduction is the
process in which producers and their people would decide upon a
concept or music performance. Second is the production phase
wherein the accrual music is created, this is where musical
arrangements are made, rehearsals, the actual performance,
recording, editing, and mixing are done, The last is the
postproduction which is devoted to the promotion, marketing, and
selling of the finished product.
Music Industry

Music industry is the business of selling recorded music. This is collaborative work that entails
different personalities such as the producer, the singer or sometimes called the recording artist,
the composer, the arranger, the recording company, managers, musicians, technicians, record
duplicators, disc jockeys, and the sales team. Sometimes multiple roles can be engaged in by a
single person.

The influence of the music industry to the development of today’s Filipino music is
undeniable. Music is a popular form of entertainment and has been a very lucrative business. Many
recording companies can influence fads and trends through the use of various marketing
strategies. Recording companies can choose which recording artist would be given exposure, often
taking into consideration the marketability of the artists and the song rather than its artistic
merits. They can sway the tastes and preferences of the people to the type of music they listen
to, especially pop music. They can increase the popularity of the song or recording artist through
various methods such as increase of radio or television play, integration with a television series as
a soundtrack, creation of music videos that are uploaded to video sharing sites such as YouTube
and the like.
The biggest problem the music industry faces is music piracy. With
the ease of creating copies of music, many people get their music
from pirated or illegal sources that result in a big loss of income to
the recording companies. Income that would have gone to
investments in the development of their talents or in the research of
new ones. And with the dwindling profits, recording companies are
more careful in producing albums and music. Most of the time they
would rather produce music with the established archetypes and
sure sellers rather than take a risk with new artists and
experimental music.
 DANCE

Choreography

Choreography is a part of dance that arranges and manipulates

movements, formations, words, music, sets, props, lights, and dancers to
express an idea or narration. This definition of composed dance can be
applied to the ritual dances made by the cultural ethnic groups. Indigenous
groups have traditionally invented and taught dance as a community, passing
the forms and movements from one generation to another. Though many of
the indigenous dances appear to be improvisational, some are expected to
follow a set of movements and wear appropriate costumes and props.
Examples of these ritual dances are the Tinguian’s gabbok, which is a dance
to pray for a child’s well-being and the Tagbanua’s pagdidiwata, which is a
dance to implore the spirits for an abundant harvest.
Lahing Batangan
Dance Troupe
performing in
Thailand
A substantial part of choreography are dance steps. Dance steps
are combinations of human actions and movements such as
walking, sliding, running, leaping, hopping, skipping, and jumping.
These controlled body movements can be original or be adapted
from traditional indigenous movements and Western influences. In
local regional traditions, dance steps are distinct, and diverse
from region to region.

In contemporary times, modern dance is closely similar with the

dance forms popular in the West.
Design
Design for dance are visual materials used to suggest,
allude symbolism and illusions. These materials include
sets, props, costumes, and lighting. Sets are backgrounds
that are sometimes constructed or painted. The props and
costumes help identify characters and events and
enhance the movements on staged. Lighting provides
appropriate mood or a sense of time.
 THEATER
Acting and Directing
Acting is the art of embodying a character. It is one of the most basic elements in theater.
Acting in indigenous theater is seen in rituals and dances. Indigenous theater acting can be seen in
their representation and mimicry of animals and daily work. In the contemporary stage, acting has
been heavily influenced by Western styles of acting such as the Stanislavsky method which is
described as understanding the true quality of each emotion through one’s observation. Another
acting style is Strasberg’s method acting, which is described as being the character in and outside
the stage, as well as the Brechtian school of acting , which portrayed the characters in a critical
manner rather than in its emotional state.

Directing is the complete production. This includes the approval and coordination with all the
aspects of a production such as acting, design of the sets, costumes, lighting, and sound. The
person responsible for the final artistic outcome of the theater production is called the director.
The director is the one who interprets the dramatic text for the viewers. From the director’s
interpretation or directional vision will all the other concepts of the production branch out.
Script
Script or the play script is the literal transcription of the play. It
includes stage directions, production notes, and cast list. The
person who writes scripts for plays are called playwrights. A
playwright’s work can go to several modifications and revisions as
the production of the play progresses. These modifications or
changes can be due to budget constraints or directional decisions.
In the indigenous theater, rituals do not have a written scripts,
however they do have established routines and procedures.
Sets, Costume, and Lighting
Sets refer to the scenes and props for the physical representation of the
setting, period, and time. Depending on the interpretation of the play, sets can be
very minimal or it can be very elaborate.

Costume as a theatrical production aspects deals with the distinct attire a

character wears during the performance. The style and design of the costume is a
visual aid to the setting and environment the play is staged in, as well as offering
insights to the characters’ traits. Costumes can also be seen in indigenous
theaters, where performers wear special costumes that are appropriate for the
event or occasion.

Lighting is the use of light in a theater production. Similar with that

mentioned in the aspect of dance, it is used to illuminate the stage, create
ambiance and mood, and highlight and exaggerate character’s movement. Stage
lighting can be achieved through the use of footlights, spotlights, overhead
illuminations, etc.
Translation and Adaption
Another aspects of theater production are translation and adaption.
Translation is the conversion of a foreign play to the vernacular, while
adaption is the reinterpretation of the play according to local cultures
and traditions to make it more relatable to the audience.
 THAT’S ALL THANK YOU FOR LISTENING GUYS 

REPORTER:
MARCHELO BERSABAL
SANCHO EBUEZA
RIELMART JAMES FELICIA