Dance History 237/Dance History I

Donna Faye Burchfield

Spring 2004

Overview

This course is designed as thematic in nature, allowing the themes to reveal the ideas/concepts and traditions on which the history of dance is built.  Artists, works, periods, styles are all addressed as a way to "read" dance.  Readings, class discussions, and viewings will be used as methods of learning to open pathways to understanding how dance (art) both shapes & reflects diverse human experiences.  Students will work to connect viewings with readings, readings with discussions, and writings with all research.

Required Texts

This course is designed around a "reader" which is compiled with a bibliography and must be purchased from Candy Phillips in the dance department.  Students must supply their own three ring binder to store the readings.

Viewings in the Botetourt Reading Room will be assigned weekly

Course Goals

To look broadly at the definition of dance and performance throughout history and across the globe.

To work to identify elements of style and "body culture" through dance as a moving language.

To begin to define the essential elements of dance and performance,and how they relate/correspond to time/culture/societies.

To consider dance's place in the history of the world.

To reimagine the canon old dance history by "digging" beyond the obvious source materials into the oral/body history of a form.

To consider the importance of dance's language in today's culture and its link to the history of form.

To consider through class discussions varied approaches to writing about dance from the theoretical and critical to the personal.

Themes

February: Ritual/Spirituality/Performance

March: Dance as Cultural Identity and Social Dance

April: Politics of the Body

April/May: Storytelling

Dance History 239/Dance History II

Donna Faye Burchfield

Spring 2003

Overview

Enter a time when artists like Isadora Duncan were breaking into the art scene, when Nijinsky's choreography would cause riots and Diaghalev would bring together visual artists, composers and dancers to create some of the world's most memorable dances. We will examine dance at the turn of the 20th century and trace its many routes through the last millineum, ending somewhere near "now". You will have an opportunity to engage in both creative and critical writing, from placing yourself in the imagined position of the critic on the scene for Nijinsky's "Rite of Spring", to researching and writing a research paper with assistance from the Writing Center and the library.

Course Goals

To consider the position of dance as a window on culture in the contemporary world.

To consider dance's place in history by discussing key issues to its development.

To reflect on how dance is analyzed and interpreted.

To broadly trace the evolution of dance from the turn of the 20th century to today.

To look at the relationships between ballet and development of modern dance.

To consider the importance of dance language in today's culture and its link to the history of the form.

To consider what we see when we look at dance and what we remember.

To consider through class discussions approaches to writing about dance from theoretical
and critical to personal.

To become aware of current research materials and methods made available by our library.

Required Text:  Moving History/Dancing Cultures: Edited by Ann Dils and Ann Cooper Albright