| Unit name | Choreography for Theatre |
|---|---|
| Unit code | DRAM20051 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Kate Elswit |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None. Students with all levels of movement experience are welcome. |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of Theatre |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit introduces students to choreographic strategies for working with movement for performance: from sourcing everyday movement material to arranging these building blocks in more complex ways, for instance involving theme and variation, and refining that arrangement. It will explore movement that supports theatrical productions (as in physical theatre), as well as more dance-theatre styles in which the movement is primary. Although student practice is at the core of this unit, the student will also become familiarized with a range of contemporary practitioners and the strategies they use in staging bodies. No prior experience with choreography or dance is necessary.
On successful completion of this unit students will have:
(1) developed knowledge and critical understanding of contemporary European choreographic strategies and practices at the intersections of theatre and dance;
(2) understanding of the theoretical and theatrical concerns that guide the development and direction of movement for theatre;
(3) demonstrated the ability to analyse and evaluate the use and effect of various choreographic strategies in theatrical contexts;
(4) conceptual and practical understanding of the forms and functions of movement on stage;
(5) demonstrated the ability to source and develop choreography for a set purpose through a process of feedback and revision.
One 6-hour workshop/seminar per week; screenings; field trips to shows.
The duration of the group performance will depend upon the nature and complexity of the choreography. See handbook for detailed criteria for performances and workfiles.
Jonathan Burrows (2010), A Choreographer’s Handbook
Valerie Preston Dunlop (1998), Looking at Dances: A Choreological Perspective on Choreography
LizLerman (2003), Liz Lerman's Critical Response Process
Andre Lepecki, ed (2012), Dance
Meg Stuart and Jeroen Peeters (2011), Are We Here Yet?
Anna Sanchez Colberg (1996), Altered States and Subliminal Places: Charting a Road Towards a Physical Theatre
