4/8/2026 - Week 13 / Meeting 22: Blanche Evan's Improvisational Methods / Rehearsing

 

 

Unit: Blanche Evan's Improvisational Methods

Theme: Rehearsing

 

I

Introduction

Continuing with our unit on Blanche Evan's methodology, today, we will explore rehearsing. For the dancer in general, rehearsing means to practise a play, a piece of music, a dance, etc. in order to prepare it for public performance.

 

II 

Learning Objectives

 

• Understand the ideas behind rehearsing while improvising
• Explain the ideas, memories and feelings expressed during rehearsing
• Gain awareness of the use of rehearsing when using ideas, memories and feelings while improvising
• Experience group dance improv using the concept of rehearsing
• Reflect on the creative process at the end of the lesson

III

 

Main Lesson

 1

Rehearsing

Rehearsing refers to an improvisation in which alternative responses are created and practiced in order to prepare for dance and movement changes outside the studio.

Question 1

After reading Evan's ideas about rehearsing, briefly describe in writing which have been the alternative responses that you have created and practiced for the final?   

 

 2

Activity

Today we are addressing  rehearsing, which is about creating and practicing alternative responses to the movement choices you have explored so far.

So, now let us again delve fully into body movement and creative dance improvisation using the alternative responses to the movement choices you have made so far.

Follow the following order:

Explore: Movement exploration to begin to feel feelings (2 min)

Identify: Identify those feelings when they are felt (2 min)

Express: Express these feelings in movement metaphors (2 min)

Connect: Find the connection between your movement metaphors
               and the theme you chose (2 min)

Choose 8 moves and create your dance or movement phrase.

 Question 2

a) Write a brief reflection of your creative process.

b) Record and post your movement phrase for today. 

 

3

 

Dancing Age: Rethinking Age(ing) in and through Improvisation Practice and Performance

Approaching Dance Trough Improvisation (Page 20) 

Susanne Martin

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Dancing_Age_ing/bggxDgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Dance+Improvisation&printsec=frontcover

Martin Susanne (2017). Dancing Age: Rethinking Age(ing) in and through Improvisation Practice and Performance. Transcript Verlag

 

Question 3

Summarize the content on page 20.

IV

 A Note to Remember

 For the dancer in general, rehearsing means to practise a play, a piece of music, a dance, etc. in order to prepare it for public performance.

 

V

 Case Studies

1

Kelli Forman's UCSB Improvisation Rehearsal

Question 3

Write a brief response to this video. 

 

How does it relate to your own experience as a dancer rehearsing  alternative ideas and responses.

  

 2

Inspirational Video

https://youtu.be/lwcHNHyJMyo?si=gSP1XC4AYyf4ywti

 

Waves - Contemporary Dance Improvisation

 

  Question 4

a) Which movements in this dance resonate with you? Why?
b) Would you use them as alternative movement choices to your dance improvisation? Why?

VI

Journaling

 

VII

Glossary

 

VIII

Sources

 

IX

Students' Work Sample from Previous Semester

 Lauren Trentacoste

Question 5

 

How do you think the site-specific improvisation dance Lauren Trentacoste created affects her movement choices?

 

  X

Students' Work