Collaboration in Light, Movement, and Clothes
S06
Michael Giannitti, Daniel Michaelson, Dana Reitz
Visual elements are a significant component of performance, whether they are found in theater, performance art, music, or dance. With many performance projects, there is little time to contemplate, rethink, or adjust designs in the actual performance space and little opportunity to understand the impact of visual factors on the performance itself, let alone a chance to revisit movement choice. There is rarely an opportunity to watch a collaborative art develop.

In this class, equipped space is available to give the time to seriously look at and to question the integration of performance elements. Furthermore, this situation is an opportunity to explore equal partnership among the collaborators, whose roles will shift. Students are actively involved in all aspects—making movement, designing lighting, and designing costumes.

Explorations are structured for both formal theatrical contexts and informal studio situations as well as found environments. Time for group project development must be invested outside of class in the Martha Hill Theatre. While some projects are done on an individual basis, most course work requires close collaboration with other students in the class and close observation of the work of others. All work done for the course is viewed and discussed by the class and instructors as a group.