Through the lens of experimental practice, this course proposes Dance Theater as a container of a choreographer’s making to address their desires, their needs, the realities of their body and of the greater community to which they belong. Artists who are exemplifying the politic of care, of self and of community, will be introduced weekly through readings and viewing material outside of class. We will discuss these artists and practice scores (choreographies) of care. Students will work to devise their own solo performance practices, create scores, texts or compositions, and work collaboratively and instructively to create for and with each other. An important focus of the class will be to locate the precedent of “care work” in disability justice and social justice frameworks in art and dance, as well as the rich lineage of somatic (body-based) practices related to dance.
Learning Outcomes:
*Practice various organizational structures for readying the body for performance, involving movement, somatic, vocal techniques, and self-care
*Learn about contemporary artists, disability justice and social justice activists integrating self and community-based care in their work
*Practice and develop compositional structures that consider care of self, collaborators and audience (accessibility for audience equals care).
*Develop tools for resiliency and self-care that apply to life and theater practice
Delivery Method: Fully in-person
Prerequisites:
Please email levigonzalez@bennington.edu by May 11, 2022 explaining your interest in the course. Priority will be given to students who have Plans related to course material.
Corequisites: Dance or Drama Lab Assignment if students are registered for 4 or more credits in Dance.
Course Level: 4000-level
Credits: 2
W 2:10PM - 4:00PM (Full-term)
Maximum Enrollment: 14
Course Frequency: One time only
Categories: All courses , Dance , Fully In-Person
Tags: care work , choreography , composition , dance , disability justice , social justice