Embodied Movement Practices / Fall 2024

  Unit: Afro-Moves Theme:  Dances of the Orishas    I     Capoeira Circle Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian cultural practice – simultaneously a fight and a dance – that can be interpreted as a tradition, a sport and even an art form. Capoeira players form a circle at the centre of which two players engage with one another. The movements require great bodily dexterity.       Introduction Cultural retention, such as capoeira, is the act of retaining the culture of a specific ethnic group of people, especially when there is reason to believe that the culture, through inaction, may be lost . Many African-American cultures experience cultural retention as a result of the influx of Africans into the Americas during the slave trade. The larges group brought to Cuba, for instance, was the Bantu (colloquially referred to as Palo Monte, or the rule of Congo), then the Yoruba (colloquially referred to as Lukumi). While the Bantu imported the...

  I   Unit: Elements of Dance Theme: Flow   Introduction Flow in dance is how smoothly or restricted your transition from one movement to another is throughout the dancer's routine . This word is often interchanged with a variety of other words; some of the more common ones are elegance, grace, or fluidity.   II Learning Objectives   Understand the meaning of flow Explain the difference between free flow and bound flow Gain awareness of the use of bound flow in dance Experience the qualities of bound flow in dance     III Warm Up IV   Main Lesson   1   [FREE vs BOUND moment] freestyle dance moves    2 CONCEPT Flow As a factor, flow is about emotion, stability, durability, evolution and emotional immersion.  Flow is the starting point of effort. It is in charge of the ongoing stability of all motions.  Without any flow movement will be contained to one area or space. It will be contained to only one motion.  ...

  I   Unit: Space and Relationship Theme: Laban's Cube Introduction   Dancers interact with space in myriad ways. They may stay in one place or they may travel from one place to another. They may alter the direction and level.  The use of space in a dance is considered the design of the movements and choreography, and also pertains to its location onstage . Laban cube laban icosahedron. This very precise geometry is also the supporting structure for our personal interactions, defining personal space and body. -------------------------------- II Learning Objectives   Understand the meaning of the kinesphere within Laban's cube Explain how the design of movement within the cube influences your movement abilities and choice Gain an awareness of the possible  locomotive advantages generated by the cube Experience movement language through a choreographed movement phrase III Main Lesson 1 Movement Exploration  Question 1 Write a reflection on your e...

   Unit: Extra-daily Techniques   Theme: Weight    I   Introduction Weight is about sensing one’s body mass in relation to the pull of gravity.  Using this experience to explore its expressive potential within a dance or movement proposition allows the dance/movement artist to diversify the choreographic frame. Using Rudolf Laban’s Effort concepts as a springboard, we will explore three weight qualities: Resiliency, Strength, and Lightness. II  Learning Objectives   Understand the fundamental principles of weight Explain the necessity of weight to move Gain an awareness of the role that weight plays in dance making   III  Main Lesson     1 Warm Up/ Stretching   Relenti / Philip Glass Music   2 Concepts     Resiliency   Sensing one's weight in relation to the vertical point of gravity. It is releasing the center of weight into gravity, registering it at the bottom of your demi-plie a...

  I   Unit: Space and Relationship Theme: Tension Introduction   Dancers interact with space in myriad ways. Last class we explore energy by creating lots of movement and stopping. We use the drum to keep moving and to then stop suddenly on a louder bit. The overflowing filling of self-contained energy ready to burst out our bodies gives a sense of how much energy we have. However, the best way to illustrative energy is when we turn it into action. -------------------------------- II Learning Objectives   Understand the meaning of effort Explain how the use of effort permeates our movement abilities and choices Gain an awareness of the possible  locomotive advantages generated by effort  when moving on stage Experience effort through a choreographed movement ensemble phrase III Main Lesson 1 Isolation WarmUp   2 Movement Exploration   Based on an exercise learned with Odin Teatre taught by Iben Nagel Rasmussen,  Belts or straps are ...