Wrestling With Finding Form in Dance

Course Description

Summary

How do we recognize and make fluid forms in dance? How do we find the structural current?  How do we experience time? How do we compose with care and thought using something that keeps moving?  How on earth do we do this? Looking at forms found in nature, architecture, music, drama, literature, sculpture, 2D art, etc., we search for examples that inspire and help formulate ideas and structures for movement based creation.

 When making new artwork, we are constantly balancing and integrating the need for exploratory freedom and the desire for structural integrity. What is the interrelationship of form and freedom? How can spontaneous impulse help find form, and how can form help find yet more unexpected solutions? How might we find an essential core that supports an investigation? How might we challenge and rigorously expand our ideas regarding form, and discover ways to re-form?

 Students are expected to find, write about, and bring in examples of forms that inspire them (from nature or human-made art). Then, using an example as a base, they will make new movement material, develop work outside of class, teach some of the work to others, and, in return, learn material from others. They will show short compositional studies regularly, respond to the work of colleagues, and draw (while observing or working on their own). Students of performing and/or visual arts or other disciplines are very welcome. This course is designed to support students in finding their own ways of forming thought and art.