Table of Contents
Preface vi
Acknowledgements viii
Introduction: Dancing and composing dances 3
Dance as art
The nature of composition
The material elements
Methods of construction
The nature of dance composition
Teaching dance composition
Section 1 The material content - movement and meaning 17
The basic language of movement
Analysing the language
Choice of content
Literal movement into dance content
Exploring a range of movement
Movement and meaning
Stylising the material content
Section 2 Methods of construction 1 - the beginnings 29
Stimuli for dance
Types of dances
Mode of presentation
Improvisation
Methods of construction 2 - motif into composition 41
Arrangement of material
Form
What is a motif?
Development and variation of a motif
Repetition as a constructional element
Types of motif
The dance design in time
The dance design in space
Motif in composition
Methods of construction 3 - motif into composition for a group 55
The group as an expressive element
Motif, development and variation
The time aspect
The space aspect
Methods of construction 4 - the dance form 66
Design in time
Organisation of the form
Methods of construction 5 - elements of construction 73
Motifs
Repetition
Variation and contrasts
Climax or highlights
Proportion and balance
Transition
Logical development
Unity
Methods of construction 6 - style 81
Understanding the term style
Factors affecting the style of a dance
How to stylise a dance
Methods of construction 7 - improvisation in the process of composition 89
Meaning of terms - improvisation and exploration
Free and limited improvisation
Improvisation in framework compositions
Guiding improvisation visually
Improvisation as process in composition
The role of evaluation in improvisation
Methods of construction 8 - alternative and experimental approaches in dance composition 102
Meaning of terms
Alternative movement contents and eclectic trends
Themes and reading of themes
Alternative and experimental approaches to dance composition
Section 3 The creative process in dance composition 123
The creative process
Phases in creativity
The creative process in dance composition - an example
Phase 1 - the impulse to create
Phase 2 - working with the medium
Phase 3 - realising the final form
Phase 4 - presentation and performance
Phase 5 - response and evalution
Summary and conclusion
Section 4 Resource-based teaching/learning - dance composition 143
Resource-based teaching/learning
New technologies
Differences in use of DVD and CD-ROM/DVD-ROM technologies
A CD-ROM resource: Chorographic Outcomes - improving dance composition
The accompanying DVD
Resource-based teaching/learning - practical assignments using the DVD
Resource-based teaching/learning using new technologies
Section 5 Resource-based teaching/learning - dance performance 177
Performance to deepen understanding of composition
Aims of this section
Methods of improving dance performance
A DVD-ROM resource: Vocalise - improving dance performance
Resource-based teaching/learning - practical assignments using the DVD
Section 6 Standing back from the process - evaluations 211
The composer's freedom
Imagination and intuition
Imagination in relation to the stimulus
Imagination during composition
Intuition
Knowing and feeling
Evaluations
Conclusion 231
References 235
Technology resources 241
Index 243
