DANC 1800 THE CREATIVE CHOREOGRAPHER

Final projects will be shown in Dance Studio B on Monday, April 20 beginning at 5:00 p.m. This showing is open to the public. Plan to be present on Sunday, April 19 if you wish to select your cyc color and basic light setting. Studio B may be open prior to the exam performance for final run-throughs. You should sign up for a tech slot on my office door. We will tech in program order.

PROJECT DIRECTIONS
• Choose a study from those created for this course to develop into a complete solo dance with music and costume. The dance should be from 2:30 to 5 minutes in length. Any shorter or longer length must be pre-approved by me. Once you have chosen your study, inform me of your choice and I will be happy to burn you a CD of possible music choices at the nominal charge of 25 cents if you wish. You may also listen to music from the 1800 playlist in iTunes on the server in the computer lab.

• Choose a piece of music from the CD I provide to you or from the Choreography I playlist. I will consider other music choices, but you must have them approved by me. You must include an analysis of your music in the written portion of your final.

• Create and perform a dance solo for yourself that uses the choreographic tools and is a complete, individualized statement per the criteria listed in the syllabus.

• Write and type (double-spaced) a paper which addresses the following questions (a paragraph per topic is suggested):
~ Why did you choose the study you chose for developing into your solo?
~ Why did you choose the music selection you chose for your solo?
~ How did you analyze the music’s time and dynamic structures? Did you work with them or against them in structuring your dance? Why did you choose to work this way?
~ How did you address the element of space in your solo?
~ How did you address the element of movement dynamics in your solo?
~ What other artistic choices (e.g. title, costume, props, set if applicable) did you make and why did you make these choices?
~ Specifically how did you accomplish your intent for the piece?
~ Would you do anything differently in retrospect, or were you satisfied with the results?

• Write and attach separately an artistic statement in accordance with the department guidelines posted at the following web site:

Artist Statement

• No later than the technical rehearsal on Sunday, April 19, turn in your program form to me. You may not use "Untitled" as your title.

• You must costume your dance in some fashion and design the hair and make-up if appropriate. No sweats, etc., unless they are appropriate for the content of your dance.

• Written materials must be typed with the exception of the music analysis and are due at the final showing on April 20. Please include a title page. Examples of past projects which received an "A" for the written portion are available for review in my office. The written materials must be turned in at the final performance. If you would like the graded project returned to you, please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope large enough to contain the project and with sufficient postage.

No later than Wednesday, April 15 all students must attend class to show their solo in progress to a classmate and to Whitney to receive feedback. Students who do not show a rough draft by this date will have their final project grade lowered by 0.5. April 8, 13 and 15 will be work days to use as you choose. I will post a sign up time sheet for studio reservations on those dates on the studio doors. You may sign up for one studio slot per day, and you may use any additional unclaimed slots on a given day on a first come-first served basis. Whitney (4-13 & 15) or I (4-8) are happy to view your work and provide feedback on these days. You will be able to reserve additional studio time via the rehearsal scheduling system in the main office. For the weekend before exam week, I will develop a sign up sheet for choreography students to reserve rehearsal time. Watch my office door for further details.

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
   

Jane Baas
Professor and Dance Academic Advisor
Department of Dance
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5417

Office: (269) 387-5845
Fax: (269) 387-5820
jane.baas@wmich.edu