DAN 190-H / Improvisation / Spring 2026

  Unit: The Body Theme: Body Shapes   I Introduction Body shapes, as a tool of improv dance, is one of the easiest ways of creating movement vocabulary. Today we will cover different ideas to generate body shapes at random.The idea is that the dancer does not stop generating dance movement since all dance is a non-stop sequence shapes. II   Learning Objectives   Understand the connection between body and shapes Explain the creative process involved when using geometric, gestural and other abstract shapes Gain awareness of the use of movement to transition from shape to shape Experience ensemble movement when integrating multiple shapes Reflect on the creative process at the end of the process   III Warm Up  Stretching   IV  Main Lesson   1  Body Storming lines, triangles, squares, circles (feet, legs, arms)   2 Videos    SHAPES     Question 1   Write your reflections on the above videos.  ...

  Unit: Narrative Theme: ICE Riots   I Introduction Every semester the Improvisation class chooses a significant social event to create an improv dance. Spring 2026 has had already an abundant array of events that can inform the creative dancer. Today we will address the situation in Minneapolis with the ICE riots as a piece of narrative. Bellow you will see the elements of plot while the link shows the narrative arc. II   Learning Objectives   Understand the connection between narrative and movement Explain the creative process involved in dancing using the ICE situation Gain awareness of the use of movement when embodying a narrative Experience ensemble movement when creating a dance improvisation Reflect on the creative process at the end of the process   III Warm Up   Stretching    IV   Main Lesson  1   Narrative in Dance Improvisation   Read the Link: Improvisation in Dance   Question 1 What is the me...

     Unit: The Body Theme: Animal Movement   I Introduction Humans have always imitated animal movement in dance. Early human societies embodied animal characteristics and behaviors in a symbolic way to empower themselves. Currently, dancers research animal movement in a studio by interpreting the movement qualities of different animals as an aesthetic response. Today, we will see several examples of how this can be done. II   Learning Objectives   Understand the connection to animal behavior through movement Explain the creative process involved in the study of animal movement Gain awareness of the complexities of animal movement when embodying them as a dance Experience the abstraction of animal movement by creating a dance improvisation Reflect on the creative process at the end of the process   III Warm Up Stretching IV Main Lesson   Videos 1 Heron Dance     2 3 Deer Dance     4 I . Wat...

 

    Unit: Creative Dance Theme: Names   I Introduction   Names have meaning. In modern times most people are not aware of their name's meaning. However, names are a very personal source of inspiration to create dance. Today's class uses the students' names to generate stories. Each story is told in expressive movement as students move deeper into the significance of the name given to them at birth, during their life time, as a result of a quest.    II Learning Objectives Understand the meaning of names Explain the usefulness of finding the story in the name Gain awareness of the potential names have as a source Experience the connection between your own name dance Reflect on the work done in class.     III Main Lesson   1 Warm Up  2  Name Dance   3   Review directions, levels and space   3 Ideas Alphabet Dance. https://fb.watch/pDxSC0oEBX/ 4 Read Introduction (Page x) The Movement of Movement   https:...

  Unit: Creative Dance Theme: The Classic Elements   I Introduction  According to Shannon Dooling Dances, dance improvisation is spontaneously creating movement, without pre-planning any steps or choreography. Dancers move freely, without relying on set movement patterns. In improvisation, dancers may aim to create new, original movement, or to use familiar movements in unique ways.    II Learning Objectives Understand the meaning of dance improvisation Explain the usefulness of the classical elements Gain awareness of the creative movement process Experience the freedom of expression allowed by dance improvisation Reflect on the work done in class     III Main Lesson    1 ACTIVITY   Introductions / Getting to Know Each Other   Briefly introduce yourself to the group and post your introduction on Blackboard (name, where you come from, dance experience if any, what you expect from the course). ------------------------  ...