This studio course will introduce students to choreographic processes and questions of movement vocabulary, structure, pacing, orchestration and meaning. Through completing a number of short dances and a substantial final project, the class will explore choreographic forms and innovations found in contemporary dance, musicals and music videos. Readings and viewings work in tandem with students’ dance-making to fuel debate and analysis of today’s choreographic work and the power of movement to engage in current artistic and political issues such as, identity, gender, race, power and control. Acclaimed guest dance artists will visit the class.
Sample reading list:
Barbara Stratyner, Ned Wayburn and the Dance Routine
Susan Leigh Foster, Reading Dancing
Shannon Jackson, The Way We Perform Now
Janet Wolff, Reinstating Corporeality: Feminism and Body Politics
Jonathan Burrows, The Choreographer’s Handbook
Yvonne Ranier, No Manifesto
Reading/Writing assignments:
Ongoing choreographic assignments (approx. 2 hours outside class/week); reading, viewing live and videotaped performances; (approx. 2 hours outside classes/week); several short response papers and a final project; and participation in an end of semester showing.
Other information:
If you can’t enroll due to the class capacity limit, please email Prof. Marshall (sm9@princeton.edu). Enrollment may be possible.
