Copy of Strictly Ballroom …

1. Character Listing
Give a brief description of each main character
(suggestion: relationship, description.    E.g.  Fran’s mother.
Quiet and smart, supports Fran in her dreams)

You will come back to this table throughout the film to fill
in this table.

Scott Hastings scott is one of the top ballroom

dancers

Shirley Hastings scotts mum

Doug Hastings scott's dad

Fran beginner dancer (scott's new partner)

Rico he is frans dad

Ya Ya the grandmother of fran

Barry Fife president, australian dance federation

Les Kendall scotts coach and he also owns the

studio

Liz liz was scott's partner during the

performance

Ken Railings is a poop, he blocked scotts

performance blocking him

Tina Sparkle is the partner of nathan starkie

Wayne Burns scotts friend

2. "lm Opening
The film opens with a very famous piece of music, The
Blue Danube by Johann Strauss.
What is the setting of this opening scene?  
Describe the imagery you see accompanying the music.
Circle the appropriate words describing this opening scene
and its use of music.
        The world of dance portrayed is very:             formal 
/  informal
        The steps for this dance would be :        fixed   /  
improvised
        The music is very:                        jazz influenced   /  
orchestral
        The music uses a lot of:         rubato (speeding up and
slowing down)  /  constant and unchanging speed

What style of dance music is The Blue Danube?  this is a

formal waltz
This style of music is known for its use of what time
signature? 3/4

Name some instruments you hear playing the melody:

 violins, flute, french horn
Name some instruments you hear accompanying:
______________________________________________
__

What rhythm do you hear as a basis for the main

melody?        
        (a)

(b)  

(c)  

3. $e Samba
Comment on the difference in dance costume between the
Waltz and the Samba 30:45
the costume looks more exposed in a way other than the
waltz it is more kept in and less showy plus the waltz was
more classy and ‘closed in’ the samba was more ‘open’ and
modern
______________________________________________
_________________________________________

Where do you think the Samba originated from? latin

america

What did Scott do when he and Liz were boxed in? he

started flashing (making his own moves)                

Why was this seen as a scandal by Shirley, Les and Barry

Fife?
because he started to make his own steps instead of the
rules and regulations

The music builds to a crescendo as the action increases in

pace. What is a crescendo? gradually getting louder

Is the audience meant to like Barry Fife?  Why / why not?

The remaining questions are to be completed in
your book.

4. $e Dance Studio A(ermath

(a) We are introduced to Fran at the end of the previous
scene in a brief documentary style interview, and further
      in this scene at the dance studio. What are our first
impressions of Fran? she was waxing the floor to make it
less slippery and she looks nerdy and quite clumsy
(b) The dance class is learning a tango. Describe the mood
of the tango. the dance is quite energetic and passionate
(c) Ken Railings’ dramatic entrance is very funny. How is it
made comedic? he made an unexpecting entrance and a
dramatic entrance towards the children
(d) We see Doug in a private moment, looking through a
photo album. What music is playing in the  
      background?  Why this piece of music? because he
remembers when he was a ballroom dancer and seeing his
son dance makes him proud.        

5. $e Dance Studio Alone –

Try Outs
(a) Scott feels very isolated at this point in the film. How
does the music and visuals reinforce this? the music gives
you a feeling of hope and it's not the end yet
(b) This music is very different from previous music we
have heard. Describe it. because he is dancing in a high
energy tempo and so the music follows on
(c) What is Fran’s advice to Scott in this scene? she says that
he is selfish, gutless and scared

6. Doug’s Tear,l Wal.

(a) This is a waltz, as the Blue Danube was. How can you
tell it’s a waltz?  
(b) This time the emotion is different. How is it achieved?

7. $e Roo(op
(a) What is the name of the song accompanying the
Rooftop Dance? Time after time
(b) How would you describe this style of dancing?  Does it
match the music? not really but it tells you that they're
having a good time practicing their dance
(c) Why choose a more contemporary song for this
moment? their having a good time practicing on the rooftop
(d) This scene is juxtaposed with Doug’s dancing. Describe
this very different music. the music is more modern and
doug's music is more classical

8. State Championships:  New

Partner
(c) Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps is a type of what dance?
(d) How do you think Scott is feeling through this dance?
How is Fran feeling? Fran has felt betrayed because she
thought that Scott was gonna dance with Tina Sparkle but
scot wasn't so scott was just trying to go along but being cut
off.
(e) Why juxtapose this background (unseen) dance with the
public dance of the Championship? they were dancing to
the music back stage
(f) The spell is broken when what happens?

9. $e Paso Doble
(a) Describe the differences between Scott and Fran’s Paso
Doble and Rico and Ya Ya’s Paso Doble
(b) The costuming in this scene is a lot simpler than at the
Dance Championships. Why?
(c) The gold jacket is meant to look like another kind of
clothing style. What is that style?

(d) Write out the Paso Doble rhythm.  Select from the
following choices to make a Paso Doble (needs 8 beats)

♩            
 Your teacher may play this scene to you several
times for you to notate the rhythm.
Write it in here or in your book

(f) What is the message of this scene to Scott?

10. Confrontation:  Barry "fe

confronts Scott
The flashback tells the story of Doug and Shirley, as well as
Les.
(b) How can we tell it’s a flashback?  because in the
background the year was in the 1960’s
(c) What piece of familiar music is playing under this scene?
 Why this piece? the tango,  because the dance consists of
steps perfect for the show
(d) What is Scott’s decision at the end of this scene? he
chose to dance with          l
iz

11. $e Pan Pacific Grand Pr4

Championships
(a) This scene is designed to mimic or look closely like
another scene in the film. Which scene?
(b) What do you see and hear to give you this impression?
(c) Fran is in the beginner’s dance contest. How can we tell
Scott and Fran both feel betrayed?
(d) Scott and Fran get ready to perform. How are their
costumes different to the other competitors’?

12. Doug’s Revelation: Scott

Learns $e Truth
(a) What is the great revelation of this scene?
(b) There is an argument with lots of loud action, and then
once the truth is out, the film cuts to silence.  Why?
(c) What is the sound or music that cuts through this
silence?
(d) Why? What is its message?
(e) This music changes as Scott listens. How? (use musical
words)

13. "nale: Love Is In $e Air

(c) What is the outcome for Doug and Shirley? they end
up joining scott and fran (dancing)
(d) What is the outcome for Barry Fife? he fell and died
:0
(e) What is the outcome for Scott and Fran? they
end up liking each other