- Denison Dance Company

Catalog description

This four-credit advanced-level studio course in Dance is a hybrid of technique class and rigorous ensemble laboratory for the development of an original piece of choreography by faculty and/or invited guests, created with collaborative input by dancers. The course is designed for students who want: a) to deepen their understanding and embodiment of intermediate-advanced and advanced Contemporary Dance technique, and b) to apply that learning and their evolving physical, expressive, and artistic expertise to participating in the creation and performance of a new dance work. This new work or works will be performed publicly during, or at the end of, the semester. The creative approach in this course emphasizes whole-self engagement—body, mind, and spirit—through a movement vocabulary characterized by spirals, flow, and articulate gesture. In the four-day per week format, dancers will delve into a focused dance practice that blends active movement learning and repetition, ensemble building, and body care for dancers. Outside work is minimal, however students are expected to schedule one-hour of solo or small group studio time to review, practice and advance their capacity to self-coach. Additionally, students will be expected to carve out time for 1-3 special weekend rehearsals with faculty and any designers or guests (costume, lighting, etc.) plus all required technical and dress rehearsals, and Department of Dance Fall or Spring Concert showtimes.