We will have a total of six "compositional assignments" throughout the semester.  Each will present a choreographic problem for you to solve as creative artists.  Each "problem" has been designed for you to develop your understanding of specific compositional elements.  These "compositional assignments" are also referred to as "studies" and are, therefore, not full or complete dances.  Your creative process in these studies involves responding to a problematic situation. 

I will insist that you strive to explore your own "creative voice" and explore movement as though it is new to you.  You will be encouraged to find your own unique solution to each of the compositional problems given to you.  All works will involve accompaniment of some kind this semester.     Each study will involve progressively more people...we will begin small and go from there.  

As a class, we will view one another's work, reflect upon it, and discuss it.  We will be challenged to engage in critical evaluation of one another's work.  Critical evaluation is an essential component to artistic growth.  We will observe, describe, analyze, interpret, and evaluate the success of each work we see.   We will each play a pivotal role in one another's development as choreographers.   We will offer specific suggestions to contribute to each choreographers' development of their works-in-progress.  This process will in turn aid in our aesthetic development helping each student continue to formulate and articulate their own standards of artistic judgment. 

Dance-making is not always an easy or spontaneous process of expressing oneself through movement.  You will sometimes struggle to find your own authentic movement.  You will also find that there will be times that you are not inspired yet you must work through the frustration.  You will recognize early on that your choreography is seen through your dancer(s) which can be a problem if you do not select the best choice for your movement.  Try to relax this semester and trust your creative intuition.  Stress generally hinders the creative process...

The column on the right lists each of the six compositional assignments.  The specifics of these assignments will be discussed in class.    Each assignment has the potential of earning you a total of 100 points. 

Dance Study #1:
Group Collaboration

Dance Study #2:
Motif & Development
Based on Emotional Impulse

Dance Study #3:
Symbolic Space with use of
Prop(s) or Set Design

Dance Study #4:
Human Machine or Life
Cycle Using Vocal Sounds

Dance Study #5:
Traditional Form:  Canon

Dance Study #6:
Use of Chance with Gestural
Abstraction

January 9, 2005
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