Week 1 / Meeting 1 / The Classic Elements

 

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).

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2

The Classical Elements

Classical elements typically refer to the concepts of earth, water, air, fire, and aether, which were proposed to explain the nature and complexity of all matter in terms of simpler substances.

 

 

IV

 

A Note to Remember

   

Dance improvisation can help students to:

• Apply dance concepts, steps, and skills in their own ways, helping them to more deeply understand dance technique;
• Develop self-awareness as they explore movement that works best for their own bodies;
• Improve their understanding of musicality and develop stronger musical expression;
• Work on performance skills such as embodying a mood, emotion, character, or story through personal movement choices;
• Learn how to recover from mistakes, falls, or flubs in performance;
• Discover their own style, expression, and perspective as a choreographer;
• Experience meaningful self-expression and emotional release, helping to improve their well-being in and out of the studio;
• Develop greater levels of confidence as they become comfortable moving in their own ways;
• Become empowered through the process of making movement choices, learning to trust their own instincts as a dancer and performer;
• Be freed from the expectation of perfection that is so common in dance training, enabling them to find joy and a greater sense of self through movement.
  

 

V

 

Case Study 

 

VIDEO

 

 

3rd Annual National Water Dance / 2018

 

 According to Alonso Paisley, Dale Andree has made "a deep dive into the creative and connective possibilities of water as a vital and imperiled element."One takeaway from Alonso's article expressed by Andree was the notion of "shared gestures."

 

 VI

 

Discussion Questions 

 

1. What is dance improvisation?
2. What do we consider classical elements? 
3. Summarize in your own words how dance improvisation benefits students.
4. Write a brief response about the water project shown in the video above. Post your response on Discussion Board
5. Which would you say are the creative and connective possibilities of the classical elements.
   

 

 VII

 

 Activity

 

Expressive Improvisations

1. In class we will address the four elements: earth, air, water, and fire as references to create different individually improvised movements. 

 

2. The group will be divided in ensembles. Each group will embrace a different element to express its main qualities in movement. 

 

3. The whole group will manage to integrate the four elements through collective improvisation. 

 

Closing 

At this point students would still be in the process of getting to know each other better, developing rapport and embodying the qualities of the elements.

 

 

VIII

 

Glossary

 

• Classical elements: In reference to simpler substances, the classical elements typically refer to earth, water, air, fire, and (later) aether which were proposed to explain the nature and complexity of all matter.(2)
• Shared gestures:  developmental pathways of different gestures that are grounded in different forms of shared routines.(3)
• Movement choir: A collaborative process to establish deeper connections between bodies, landscapes and public spaces. (4)
  

 

IX

 

Sources

1. Alonso Paisley, Helena (2022). Art meets environmental action in Dale Andree’s National Water Dance. https://www.artburstmiami.com/dance-articles/art-meets-environmental-action-in-dale-andrees-national-water-dance

2.  Ball, P. (2004). The Elements: A Very Short Introduction. Very Short Introductions. OUP Oxford. p. 33. ISBN 9780191578250.

3. Carpendalle, Jeremy I.M. et al (2023).  A Genealogy of Gestures: On the Nature and Emergence of Forms of Gestural Communication within Shared Routines. https://karger.com/hde/article-abstract/doi/10.1159/000533645/862169/A-Genealogy-of-Gestures-On-the-Nature-and?redirectedFrom=fulltext

4.  The Movement Choir Guide: Caring for Cities through a Human Movement Infrastructure. https://futurearchitectureplatform.org/projects/ee33ba5c-bf2e-4b4c-bf96-fab80f7677cf/

5. Your Ultimate Guide to Dance Improvisation. https://shannondoolingdances.com/2018/07/11/danceimprovisation/

 

X

Students' Work 

 1

 

Xuanrui Peng

 

 

1. What is dance improvisation?

Dance improvisation is the impromptu creation of movement without a predetermined choreographic structure.

1. What do we consider classical elements? 

the concepts of earth, water, air, fire, and aether

1. Summarize in your own words how dance improvisation benefits students.

Dance improvisation helps students embody emotions, characters, and develop performance skills through individualized movement. Go to help increase self-awareness by exploring movements that work for your body.

1. Write a brief response about the water project shown in the video above. Post your response on Discussion Board

By watching the video, I noticed how relaxed each dancer was. The movements were also smooth and natural, as if they were one with the water. Every dancer enjoys the process. Let me enjoy improvised dance.

1. Which would you say are the creative and connective possibilities of the classical elements.

Classical elements tend to be natural. It makes the dancer feel very relaxed and free to play and create. Blending with the elements makes the dance even more beautiful.

 

 2

Claudia Crespo Marhuenda

DANCE

1. What is dance improvisation?

- Dance improvisation is when dancers create and perform movements spontaneously without a predetermined routine.

2. What do we consider classical elements?

- Classical elements usually mean basic ideas like earth, water, air, fire, and aether. 

3. Summarize in your own words how dance improvisation benefits students.

- Dance improvisation helps students enhance their creativity, adaptability, and self-expression. It encourages them to think on their feet and develop a deeper connection with their body and movements.

4. Write a brief response about the water project shown in the video above. Post your response on Discussion Board

- I have never seen something like that, I think its really amazing how they can describe with movements the classical element of water

5. Which would you say are the creative and connective possibilities of the classical elements?

- The creative possibilities of classical elements in dance involve using them to create new and expressive movements. Additionally, these elements connect dancers by providing a common language, making communication and collaboration easier among them.

 

 Elements

Lauren Tedesco / Water

I joined this class on the 23rd. However, I researched water as an element. I feel as if water would move very lightheartedly and on its toes. It would be big and smooth movements. 

Sofia Kauderer / Fire

I enrolled in the class later, therefore, I missed the first two days of class, however I went ahead and researched the element fire, and when it comes to dancing I believe that to reflect the movements of fire, you would need to follow a combination of slow side-to-side movements and large outburts of movements as well. 

 Tomi Frame/Water

I enrolled into this class because I heard the class was fun and ir really relaxes you. I enrolled a day later and I was very happy that i was able to enroll. After doing the reading the element i want to talk about is water. I feel like using the element water would give yourself a feeling of being flimsy. you can make yourself into a wave. This will help let yourself loose.

Nadia Chan/ Fire

I chose the elelment fire as I felt it was most unnatural for me and I wanted to explore wiht this prompt. The first things that come to mind when I think of fire is the vibrancy of the colors, the fuel, and oxygen. I noticed that my movements were 'airier' than i expected, perhaps due to "oxygen" as one of the words linked in my mind. The bold colors and fuel allowed my movements to be bigger, covering more surface area and I gradually travelled away from my starting point.