Making Dances

Making Dances is a Humanities, Arts and Cultural Studies course taught by Daphne Lowell.

This course satisfies Division I requirements.

Course Description
This beginning dance composition course will introduce the choreography. Students will: learn how to generate and play with movement; practice composing it; and develop ways of discussing choreography (including their own) in constructive and productive ways. Class activities will include structured improvisations, composition exercises, and showings of studies for discussion and analysis. Outside of class, in addition to composing their movement studies, students will practice describing, analyzing, interpreting and evaluating works of professional choreographers. Throughout, we will examine expectations (What is dance? What do I/you want to see in a dance?), cultivate personal movement style, and voice, and work toward creating a fruitful balance between the playful maker and the discerning analyst. Previous study of dance technique is helpful, and concurrent study of it is strongly advised, but this is a beginning level class, and beginners are most welcome.

Learning Goals

 * Expressive
 * Project-based
 * Presenting
 * Reading