Dance Performance Reflection

ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES: The bulk of your paper should focus on describing, analyzing, and evaluating TWO specific pieces you select from all of the concert’s pieces. Here are some things to take note of and questions to ask yourself as you watch the two specific dances: Description = WHAT DO YOU SEE? General information about the dance: What is the title? Who are the performers (dancers, choreographer, etc.) What is the music? (If you do not know the exact selections, describe the quality.) How many dancers are performing? Are all the dancers on stage at all times? Does the dance have different sections? Does the dancing tell a story or is it abstract? Choreographic Elements: How is space used? (floor patterns, levels, focus, directions, shape, points in space, etc.) How is time used? (do the dancers follow the music, go against it, pause, use breath phrasing, move quickly or slowly, etc.) How is energy used? (dynamics like sharp, sustained, percussive, etc and qualities like flowing, jagged, shaking, seamless, etc). Production Elements: How is lighting used to enhance the piece or direct the audiences’ focus? What do the costumes look like? How do the costumes “fit” the dance? Analysis = WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU? How do different parts of the dance mean different things? What emotions are portrayed and how are they portrayed by the dancers faces, bodies and interactions? Can you formulate a storyline or the essence of one? Does the dance bring concrete images to mind? How do you relate to this dance in relation to your life experiences and beliefs? (personal aesthetic) Evaluation = DO YOU RECOMMEND IT TO OTHERS? WHY OR WHY NOT? What is the quality of this dance? Does it meet your expectations in terms of what you have learn about dance? Would you watch this again? Are you interested in seeing more of this choreographers dances? Put an emphasis on describing movements that you best remember. Use movement action words such as: swinging, walking, running, leaping, turning, falling, twisting, bending, shaking, balancing, etc. Reference the “descriptive words” list that is provided for you in each module in relation to the discussion assignments. WRITTEN REQUIREMENTS: Format/Content: Your paper should be written in essay/paragraph form, 1,500 words minimum. NOTE: double-spacing is preferred, but sometimes it is difficult to copy and paste double-spaced documents into Canvas, so you will not be penalized if your paper is single-spaced. Your paper must incorporate: An introduction paragraph, in which you guide your reader into what you will be discussing in your paper (you can start broad, discussing dance in general, and then home in on the particular performances you observed). This paragraph is also where you can give a little background information about the performances/companies that you observed. Be sure to site sources if you do outside research on said performances/companies, etc. The last sentence of your introductory paragraph should be your thesis statement, in which you state exactly what you will be discussing in your paper. Thesis example: I will be describing, analyzing and evaluating (Piece A) and (Piece B) in depth to investigate how the two pieces used the elements of dance to convey a message. (Do NOT copy and paste this example into your paper! Come up with your own thesis statement.) Following your thesis statement, the bulk of your paper will consist of several body paragraphs discussing the two pieces you were most interested in (see ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES) You should describe, analyze, and evaluate each piece individually (i.e. 23 paragraphs dedicated to one piece, then transition into discussing the 2nd piece in 23 paragraphs) When referring to specific pieces, include the title, choreographer, and music, if available. If not, name the piece/section by its defining attributes (i.e. “the slow duet” section) You paper should finish up with a conclusion paragraph that summarizes everything that you discussed in your paper. (The conclusion is an inversion of the introduction; it starts off specific/reiterating the thesis, and then finishes broad) Grading: The paper will be graded using the QEP rubric (see Week 1 Module) at it will be worth 200 possible points (20% of your final grade) DUE DATE: SUNDAY, MAY 8, at Midnight If you opt to view the first Livestream on 4/8, it is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED that you turn in your paper within one week of the concert, while the dances you have seen are still fresh in your mind. Late submission: Your paper will be penalized one letter grade (from your earned grade) for every day that it is late. I will not accept late work one week past the due date. You must email me your paper if you are turning it in past 5/8. Now, regarding the performance, I already bought a ticket, it’s online, and I can provide you with a link to be able to watch it.

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