Movement Practice: Contact Improvisation and Performative Presence (DAN4182.01)

Tal Shibi, MFA Teaching Fellow

We each have the desire to be seen and understood and to be accepted for our unique expression. This practice is for any dancer/mover/creative mind-body interested in exploring dance and performance as a way to investigate and enhance presence and self-worth.

In this class, we will support creating and composing solos on the spot, group scores and many possibilities in between. We will dive deep into sourcing materials from our personal inner life, using text, voice, journaling and our imagination.
Students will be invited  into various approaches and potential entrance points into structured improvisation. In order to do this, we will witness each other’s work and process.
We will incorporate:
*Tools from Contact Improvisation to further encourage conscious partnering
*Understanding how skillful touch can encourage and support solo moving
*Opening doorways into our solo bodies (finding our own interest and pleasure in our dancing)
*Uncovering what might block us from showing ourselves, showing up, and allowing visibility
*Creating clear language for practicing presence in movement
*Introducing the use of scores and score making as a fun way to create material for movement and self-expression


Learning Outcomes:
Gain experience in the ability to compose short solos
Experiment with solo and group scores
Become confident in working with various performance strategies while implementing specific tools from the practice of Contact Improvisation




Delivery Method: Fully in-person
Prerequisites: Previous experience with Contact Improvisation and permission of instructor.
Corequisites: Dance or Drama Lab Assignment if students are registered for 4 or more credits in Dance.
Course Level: 4000-level
Credits: 2
T/F 10:30AM - 12:20PM (Full-term)
Maximum Enrollment: 20
Course Frequency: One time only

Categories: All courses , Dance , Fully In-Person , Updates
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