Use this checklist to revise and refine your tableau: 

  • Everyone in the group maintains absolute stillness and silence during the pose
  • Our tableau conveys the sense of a captured moment in time. The pose is still, but through gesture/body language, it looks as if action/movement is being captured rather than looking formal/stiff
  • We either do not use any props or make very limited use of props, which are used for a symbolic purpose
  • We have used a variety of levels in our tableau. Students are positioned at least at 2, or at all 3, levels of space (high, medium, and low)
  • We have created a clear focal point (or, area of emphasis) through the use of one or both of these techniques
    • Contrast - the person who is the focal point is different in some way from the rest of the group; e.g., posing at a different level, showing greater/lesser emotion standing somewhat apart from the rest of the group)
    • Leading Lines -  the invisible pathways created by eye contact among us &/or pathways by the “lines” that the viewers’ eyes follow along our body trunks/limbs ◊ We use facial expressions that effectively show the feelings and thoughts of the characters being portrayed
  • All group members start and end in neutral position (i.e., standing with arms at their sides, heads slightly bowed to the ground, downcast eyes)
  • We make smooth transitions (i.e., “melting”) among positions (i.e., from the initial neutral position at the end of the performance) by:
    • Having one of our group members indicate when the group will change its position by quietly and subtly snapping or giving a verbal cue
    • Having a set number of seconds (e.g., 3 seconds) that the “melting” will last so that everyone ends at the same time
    • Having a set number of seconds that we will hold each pose (e.g., 10 seconds) so that the cue-giver knows when to give their cues (e.g., 5 seconds for the initial neutral position, 10 seconds for the pose, 5 seconds for the ending neutral position)