Choreography: A Basic Approach Using Improvisation

Front Cover
Human Kinetics, 2007 - Performing Arts - 165 pages

Choreography: A Basic Approach Using Improvisation is the complete guide to understanding the entire process of choreography, from concept to stage production. Thousands of dancers and dance instructors have used the first two editions of this book to solve common challenges in choreography, improvise movement phrases, expand movements into dances, and organize dances into complete productions and concerts.

This updated edition includes examples of how today's multimedia technology can be used to enhance choreography with special lighting effects, slide and PowerPoint projections, virtual dance performances, video conferencing, and motion capture. Each chapter contains movement exploration exercises, review and reflection questions, and application challenges that will help readers develop a better understanding of the choreographic concepts provided. And more than 70 high-quality photos provide a visual frame of reference and clarify key concepts.

Choreography: A Basic Approach Using Improvisation bridges the theoretical and practical aspects of the choreographic process. It is an excellent reference for serious dancers, choreographers, dance instructors, and teachers who want to understand the creative process of transforming movement into dance.

 

Selected pages

Contents

Designing and Shaping the Dance
31
Identifying Choreographic Form
73
Staging the Performance
99
Appendix A Choreography Resources
131
Dance and Technology Web Sites
142
References and Resources
156
About the Author 165
Copyright

Common terms and phrases

accompaniment audience audition begin body shape changes chapter choreographer's choreographic form color computer-generated contact improvisation costume creating movement creative process cues dance concert dance form dance movement dance space dancers move dancers perform described Developing Your Skills direction discover downstage effect elements energy energy quality example figure floor pattern focus framework gestures ground bass imagery images inspiration jazz Jerome Robbins kinesthetic lighting designer lighting instruments lyric dance manipulation ment Merce Cunningham motion capture motivation motivation for movement movement materials movement phrases movement sequences National Dance Association nonliteral Observing and Responding onstage organization pathway Paul Kaiser piece of choreography pools of light position postmodern postmodern dance projected props record rehearsals relaxation sculpture Select sounds specific stage area stage space style tape technical rehearsal theater theme tion transitions Troika Ranch Unitards upstage various vary videotape visual watch

References to this book

About the author (2007)

Sandra Cerny Minton, PhD, was professor and dance director at the University of Northern Colorado from 1972 to 1998. She is now a dance specialist in the public schools. Her other books include Modern Dance: Body & Mind (1991), Dance Mind & Body (2003), and Preventing Dance Injuries (2005), on which she served as a coeditor. Dr. Minton's research has focused on dance teachers' behaviors, the role of imagery in teaching dance, and the effects of dance on students' self-esteem and creative thinking. This research has been published in several juried journals. In 1999, Dr Minton was selected as the National Dance Association Artist/Scholar, and in 2001 she taught in Finland as a Fulbright Scholar.

Bibliographic information

TitleChoreography: A Basic Approach Using Improvisation
AuthorSandra Cerny Minton
Editionillustrated
PublisherHuman Kinetics, 2007
ISBN0736064761, 9780736064767
Length165 pages
Subjects ›  › 

Performing Arts / Dance / Choreography & Dance Notation
Performing Arts / Dance / General
  
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