Dancing Away

A WebQuest for College Students

There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost.

Martha Graham

Introduction

You are a member of a professional dance company who makes work, based on improvisation. Your job is to research and create a dance to perform to the public. Additionally, you will take responsibility for music, costumes, finding and gaining permission to use the site and publicity.

Genuine beginnings begin within us, even when they are brought to our attention by external opportunities.

William Bridges

Task

You will be working with three other dancers to create a piece based on an overall theme of your choice. In addition, each dancer will be an expert on a particular modern dancer, who has had a profound effect on improvisation. You will produce a history of research through adopting a journal for reporting your notes and displaying your final report on a board, in collaboration with the other dancers in your group. You will also note the processes involved as being joint choreographers, performers and other responsibilities within the group.

Creative work is play. It is free speculation using the materials of one’s chosen form.

Michele Shea

Process

1. Choose a group of four individuals.

2. Decide upon an overall THEME for your dance. Include in your report why you have chosen this theme as well as what characteristics should be observed from your dance.

3. Each of you should choose a different role in addition that will be your area of expertise. You will need to have some background information on either music, costume design, publicity or sites for dance performances before you start. Consider the steps that need to be taken to do this.

4. Each dancer will search for a modern dancer who has influenced improvisation that applies to the group theme and his or her area of expertise.

5. Research dance improvisation and consider the following questions:

A. Start with the Dance Artist, Title, Date, Dance Piece.

B. Where was the piece created?

C. What are the origins of the piece?

D. Why did you choose the choreographer?

E. What are the distinct qualities that you can name about the dance movement?

F. What have been their roles in history?

G. What events in the dance artist’s life may have affected his/her work.

6. Video rehearsals to show work in progress and the end product.

7. Create a display board, showing how each step of the dance was created and the extra tasks involved.

8. Your end result will be a final showing to members of the public.

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss if you will land among the stars.

Les Brown

Below are some general improvisation web-sites and resources. You will have to conduct your own research via the Internet and using alternative resources to find information concerning your responsibility for music, costume design, publicity or sites for dance performances. Please direct your research to answer the questions surrounding a specific dance artist also.

Resources

Useful Improvisation Web-sites

www.movetolearn.com

www.contactcollaboration.com

www.contactimprov.net

www.earthdance.net

Dance Web resources and reviews: http://artslynx.org/dance/education.html

Dance Education resources: http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org

Education World Standards: www.educationworld.com/standards/national/art/dance/k_4.shtml

For further information about the National Association for Standards in Dance (NASD):

http://www.arts-accredit.org/

Articles:

Carter, C (2000) Improvisation in Dance.

The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, 58 (20), 181-191.

Schwartz, P. (2000). Action Research: Dance Improvisation as Dance Technique. The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, 71, (5), 42.

Books:

Blom, L.A & Chaplin, L.T. (1998) The Moment of Movement. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press.

Franklin, E.N (1997) Dance Imagery for Technique and Performance. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Halprin, A. (1995) Moving Towards Life. Wesleyan University Press: Hanonver.

Morgenroth, J. (1987) Dance Improvisation. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press.

Nagrin, D. (1994) Dance and the Specific Image. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press.

NASD (2002) The National Association of Schools of Dance Handbook 2003-4. Virginia: NASD.

Evaluation

Your group will receive a template rubric. You will decide what factors will determine the point scale for each of the following categories:

Written facts about your theme, historic modern dancer, chosen role within the group, and dance piece.

Role as a choreographer and performer examined.

Written observations or opinions of the dance piece.

Resources used

You and your teacher will need to agree upon your final rubric. Below are some guidelines:

	^Beginning ¹	^Developing ²	^Accomplished ³	^Exemplary ⁴	Score
^{Quality of the Theme Developed for Selection}	^{Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a beginning level of performance.}	^{Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting development and movement toward mastery of performance.}	^{Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting mastery of performance.}	^{Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting the highest level of performance.}
^{Breadth of the Items Selected}	^{Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a beginning level of performance.}	^{Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting development and movement toward mastery of performance.}	^{Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting mastery of performance.}	^{Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting the highest level of performance.}
^Creativity	^{Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a beginning level of performance.}	^{Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting development and movement toward mastery of performance.}	^{Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting mastery of performance.}	^{Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting the highest level of performance.}
^{Quality of the Way the Dance Piece is Displayed or Explained}	^{Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a beginning level of performance.}	^{Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting development and movement toward mastery of performance.}	^{Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting mastery of performance.}	^{Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting the highest level of performance.}
^{Level of Research and Responsibility of Job within the Group}	^{Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a beginning level of performance.}	^{Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting development and movement toward mastery of performance.}	^{Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting mastery of performance.}	^{Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting the highest level of performance.}
^{Level of Comprehension of Dance Artist}	^{Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a beginning level of performance.}	^{Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting development and movement toward mastery of performance.}	^{Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting mastery of performance.}	^{Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting the highest level of performance.}

To dance, put your hand on your heart and listen to the sound of your soul.

Luigi

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have completed your own group dance piece, based on a theme of your choice as well as researching dance improvisation and adopting a specific role within the group. Make sure that you keep the video to show to your friends and family.

Credits & References

The Web-Quest Page: http://webquest.sdsu.edu

Design Patterns: http://webquest.sdsu.edu/designpatterns/index.htm

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Last updated on (February 28, 2003). Based on a template from

The WebQuest Page:http://webquest.sdsu.edu/