Roehampton University

School of Arts – Dance

DAN020X321Y: The Resourceful Choreographer

Autumn Term 2009

Course convenor: Erica Stanton

Course tutor: Simon Ellis (simon.ellis@roehampton.ac.uk, x3209)
Time and venue: Friday 2pm – 5pm Michaelis Theatre Mi029

General aims
In this module we will consider the development of choreography as an
exploration of the senses – for the dancer, choreographer and viewer. The focus
will be on developing a palette of movement, time and light-based resources as
the basis for the students' experimentation. In addition, we will consider in detail
the creative process as a form of exchange and communication. Students will
work alone and in small groups to develop a range of projects for performance
and discussion.

Specific objectives/Learning outcomes

At the end of this module students will have:
• the ability to generate choreographies that tightly integrate light, time and
movement, and that are considered as sensory experiences
• a deeper awareness of the experiences of audiences in performance
• developed a personal approach to movement investigation
• acquired skills in the planning, direction and organisation of solo and
group choreographic works
• contributed to performances as dancers, choreographers, directors and
operators/technicians
• developed their critical and communications skills and their ability to work
autonomously and as part of a team
• developed a reflective practice/dialogue involving online multi-modal
materials

The Resourceful Choreographer (DAN020X321Y) Simon Ellis (simon.ellis@roehampton.ac.uk x3209) Page 1 of 5

Teaching and Learning Methods
The delivery of this module will consist of:
• workshops • critical feedback sessions
• laboratory investigation • tutorials
• performances and sharings • online archive/blog

Syllabus
Students will explore contemporary choreography and performance using a
range of choreographic methods designed to develop complex and idiosyncratic
movement. At the same time, students will experiment with using conventional
and alternative lighting sources as part of the choreographic decision-making
process. The aim here is to consider the integration of light (in particular) in the
emergence and shaping of choreographic ideas, and to examine choreography
as a sensory meaning-making process (rather than merely a process of making
up movement).
Students will produce a portfolio of studies (including a significant directed group
project) as evidence of their experimentation with movement, light, space, time
and sound. In this work they will be encouraged to deeply consider the
experiences of their dancers, collaborators, and audiences. The work – including
processes, questions, research, influences and issues – will be documented in
an online archive/blog.
It is expected that students will attend Dance Diary events, and dance and
performance works outside of Roehampton.

Assessment
An overall pass is required.

Portfolio of studies 40%

There will be two assessment studies in the early part of the course, presented in
Week 3 (16 October) and Week 5 (30 November). AS1 will focus on
choreographing light in relation to the audience's experience of the performing
body. AS2 will focus on movement detail and complexity in relation to the
senses. In addition the portfolio will include an online blog developed and
maintained throughout the module. These archives will be assessed (remotely)
on 21 December.

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Directed Group Choreography (60%)
The module's final assessment will be at 6:30pm on 17 December 2009 in
Michaelis Theatre (Mi029). The form-content of these works will reflect the
module's focus on movement, light, time, audience and the senses.

Criteria for assessment

Portfolio of studies
• Physical and intellectual contribution to classes through reflection,
coursework tasks, observation and verbal participation
• Ability to tackle choreographic problem-solving in workshops and ongoing
work in progress
• Evidence in practice/choreographic studies of considering and
understanding the experiences of audiences, and their role in meaning-
making in dance/performance
• Evidence of curiosity and experimentation in workshops, in the
development and performance of assessment studies, and in the reflective
blog/archive
• Breadth of research, thinking and creativity in online archive/blog, with a
particular focus on the development of ideas in relation to the wider
professional dance and performance communities
• Ability to manage resources and time effectively

Directed group choreography

Students should demonstrate competence in the following areas:
• experimentation: evidence of imaginative and rigorous form-content and
choreographic/performance ideas
• directing/management: skilful communication and collaboration with the
creative team
• movement: idiosyncratic and complex movement pathways that show
thoughtful development and attention to detail, and that are sympathetic to
the work’s form-content
• audience: appropriate, sensitive and well-thought engagement with the
experience of the audience
• idea: emergence of a well-conceived, complex and provocative
choreographic idea (or ideas)

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Bibliography
Bainbridge Cohen, B. (1993). Sensing, Feeling and Action. Northampton Mass.:
Contact Editions.
Blom, L.A. & Chaplin, L.T. (1982). The Intimate Act of Choreography. Pittsburgh:
University of Pittsburgh Press.
Blom, L.A. & Chaplin, L.T. (1988). The Moment of Movement: Dance
Improvisation, London: Dance Books.
Campbell, P. (Ed.) (1996). Analysing Performance. A Critical Reader.
Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Huxley, M. and Witts, M. (Eds.) (1996). The Twentieth Century Performance
Reader. London: Routledge.
Steinman, L. (1986). The Knowing Body. Boston: Shambhala.
Tanizaki, J. (2001). In Praise of Shadows. London: Vintage.
Tufnell, M. & Crickmay, C. (1990). Body, Space, Image: Notes Towards
Improvisation and Performance. London: Virago.
Tufnell, M. and Crickmay, C. (2004). A Widening Field: Journeys in Body and
Imagination. London: Dance Books.

Weekly Schedule

Week 1, 2 October
• Introduction to course, workshop (what are the possibilities?), light
sources, set Assessment 1 (moving light)

Week 2, 9 October
• Workshop – movement/stillness ideas, time, watching/audience, feedback
on studies in progress

Week 3, 16 October (Note: 2 – 4pm)

• Assessment Study 1 (moving light)

Week 4, 23 October
• Workshop & Set Assessment Study 2 (spotlight on movement)

Week 5, 30 October
• Assessment Study 2 (spotlight on movement)

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Week 6, 6 November
• Commence directed choreographic project

Week 7, 13 November (Note: No class due to 'reading' week)

• Michaelis Theatre closed this week

Week 8, 20 November
• Studio time, feedback

Week 9, 27 November
• Studio time, feedback

Week 10, 4 December

• Studio time, feedback

Week 11, 11 December

• Studio time, feedback

Week 12, 16 & 17 December (Note: Thursday 17th @ 6.30pm)

• 16 December: Directed choreography technical
• 17 December: Directed choreography assessment

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