The Ohio State University
College of the Arts
Department of Dance
Dance 847 Creative Process
and Choreography
Dance 847 - Creative Process and Choreography
G 3
One quarter course, 3 1.5-hr classes per week including one lab session
Pre-requisite: Graduate standing or permission of instructor
This course investigates creative process in relation to choreography, with an emphasis on
identifying creative strategies as the contextual framework for choreographic content.
I.
Objectives
At the successful completion of the course the student will be able to:
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II.
Find and articulate the contextual ideas at the core of their choreographic work
Find multiple strategies and approaches to arrive at content
Demonstrate an expanded range of movement
Modulate the tone and articulation of the body in response to context
Develop improvisational scores that serve their explorations
Successfully direct others and communicate one's goals
Articulate the movement/dynamic/spatial details particular to one's context
Course Content and Procedures
Students will act as choreographer/directors for solos and small groups, and as performers in
each other’s works, showing work throughout the quarter. Coursework will focus on the
development of improvisation scores as source material, video viewings, discussions and
demonstrations of choreographic strategies and contextual research, with outside readings and
self-reflective work. One class session per week will serve as studio/laboratory time. Weekly
journal entries will be the basis of a final paper.
III.
Requirements
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IV.
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Draft of a 3-5 minute solo for another dancer
Completion of a 5-7 minute final group project
Full participation in class activities
Final 3-5 page paper drawn from class journal, with further elaboration and
contextualization of creative process
Evaluation
Contribution to class discussions and activities
Completion of choreographic assignments
Effective incorporation of selected readings into choreographic process
Written work
V.
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Grading
Depth and originality of choreographic assignments
Depth and quality of contributions to class work and discussions
Quality and perceptiveness of written work
40%
35%
25%
Absence from more than 10% of classes will affect the final grade by lowering it a half a grade
for each additional absence.
Grading Scale
95-100
92-94
89-91
86-88
83-85
VI.
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A
AB+
B
B-
80-82
77-79
74-76
71-73
68-70
65-67
C+
C
CD+
D
D-
Required Texts
Alexander, Elena. Footnotes: Six Choreographers Inscribe The Page. London: Routledge,
1998.
Albright, Ann Cooper and David Gere. Taken By Surprise: A Dance Improvisation
Reader. Middletown: Wesleyan University Press, 2003
Forsythe, William and Roslyn Sulcas. William Forsythe: Improvisation Technologies.
CD-ROM. Frankfurt Ballet, 2000 (on class reserve at the Music Library).
Additional articles and essays TBD.
Academic Misconduct
It is the responsibility of the Committee on Academic Misconduct to investigate or establish
procedures for the investigation of all reported cases of student academic misconduct. The term
“academic misconduct” includes all forms of student academic misconduct wherever committed;
illustrated by, but not limited to, cases of plagiarism and dishonest practices in connection with
examinations. Instructors shall report all instances of alleged academic misconduct to the
committee (Faculty Rule 3335-5-487). For additional information, see the Code of Student
Conduct (http://studentaffairs.osu.edu/info_for_students/csc.asp).
Disability Services
Students with disabilities that have been certified by the Office for
Disability Services will be appropriately accommodated, and should
inform the instructor as soon as possible of their needs. The Office for
Disability Services is located in 150 Pomerene Hall, 1760 Neil Avenue;
telephone 292-3307, TDD 292-0901; http://www.ods.ohio-state.edu/.
The escort service is available for students enrolled in evening courses. The phone number is
292-3322
TOPICAL OUTLINE
WEEK ONE
Orientation
Identify your studio practice
Begin gathering support materials for emerging ideas and constructs
WEEK TWO
Improvisation scores: focus on movement vocabulary
Begin solo choreography: find performer, identify strategy
Video viewing: RAIN (1989) by Bebe Miller; VERGE (2001) by Bebe Miller Company
Readings: Taken By Surprise: A Dance Improvisation Reader
WEEK THREE
Open lab process: shared rehearsals
First draft of solos
WEEK FOUR
Critique and discussion of solo process, choreographic systems
Media viewing: William Forsythe: Improvisation Technologies. CD-ROM
WEEK FIVE
Final draft of solos
Improvisation scores: focus on ensemble
WEEK SIX
Gather support materials; begin group projects
Improvisation scores: focus on context
Open lab process: shared rehearsals
Readings: Footnotes: Six Choreographers Inscribe The Page
WEEK SEVEN
First draft of group work
Critique and discussion of choreographic drafts
Media viewing: works by Tere O’Connor, Donna Uchizono
WEEK EIGHT
Discussion of directing methods and practices
Open lab process: shared rehearsals
WEEK NINE
Second draft of group work; critique and discussion
WEEK TEN
Review solo and group projects for final showing during exams
Submit final paper
Bibliography / Videography
Alexander, Elena. Footnotes: Six Choreographers Inscribe The Page. London: Routledge, 1998.
Albright, Ann Cooper and David Gere. Taken By Surprise: A Dance Improvisation Reader.
Middletown: Wesleyan University Press, 2003.
Albright, Ann Cooper. Choreographing Difference: The Body and Identity in Contemporary
Dance. Hanover, NH, Wesleyan Univ. Press, 1997.
Bogart, Anne. A Director Prepares, London: Routledge, 2001.
Driver, Senta, ed. “William Forsythe.” Choreography and Dance, an International Journal, v.5
part 3, 2000.
Forsythe, William and Roslyn Sulcas. William Forsythe: Improvisation Technologies. CD-ROM.
Cologne: German Dance Archive, 1999.
Goldberg, Roselee. Performance: Live Art Since 1960. New York, NY, Harry Abrams, 1998.
Gottschild, Brenda Dixon. The Black Dancing Body: A Geography from Coon to Cool. New
York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003.
hooks, bell. Art On My Mind, New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1995.
---. Outlaw Culture: Resisting Representations, London: Routledge, 1994.
---. Yearning: Race, Gender and Cultural Politics. Boston: South End Press, 1990.
Miller, Bebe. Going To The Wall. Video. New York: Bebe Miller Company, 1998.
---. Rain. Video. New York: Bebe Miller Company, 1989.
---. Verge. Video. New York: Bebe Miller Company, 2001.
O’Connor, Tere. Frozen Mommy. DVD. New York: Tere O’Connor Dance, 2004.
Rethorst, Susan. “Stealing, Influence and Identity.” [unpublished essay] October, 2000.
---. “Dailiness.” [unpublished essay] October, 2000.
Uchizono, Donna. Butterflies From My Hand. Video. New York: Donna Uchizono Company,
2003.
---. Low. Video. New York: Donna Uchizono Company, 2002.
---. State of Heads. Video. New York: Donna Uchizono Company, 1999.