Hi Class -

Your assignment this week is to watch these THREE videos (less than 20 minutes).  I have included interviews with my great teacher Deborah Hay and two other dance artists I admire, Meg Stuart and Simone Forti.  Each of these women discuss important ideas about improvisation and performance that really resonate with what we are working on in class.  After you've watched these videos (do it sooner rather than later) your second assignment is to pay attention to the world around you.  Listen. See. Notice. Let go and notice something else.  Put your ipod and iphone away and give the world your attention.  Pay attention to the way the world around you moves and the way you move within the world around you.  You can do this assignment anywhere and everywhere.  As you walk to and from class, on the bus, at the store, while you brush your teeth...we'll talk/play with these ideas in class on Monday.  Bring your sneakers!!!

Meg Stuart Interview @ YBCA

Otis Visiting Artist: Simone Forti

An Interview with Deborah Hay - Up Until Now

Merce Cunningham Video

Hi Class -

I found this great mini-documentary about Merce Cunningham.  Some great old footage of both Merce Cunningham and Martha Graham to give you a little context for understanding "modern" dance.  Please watch (17 minutes), enjoy, gather your own questions/thoughts, and we will discuss Monday.

Before, During, After

Cunningham - thoughts/questions about dance

Hi Class -

The assignment that was given Oct. 5 and is due Oct. 10th is:

Write a paragraph or two (up to a page printed on paper and turned in to me in class Monday) reflecting on your own personal movement history.  In your life, what type of movement has your body experienced?  Is it related to dance, sports, running, playing, standing, sitting, cooking, flying, walking...?  What stands out to you as familiar in your body?  What stands out as unfamiliar?  I'm simply curious to know how you relate to the "dances" that you've been doing all your life.  Or do you often forget that you have a body and give priority to your brain/mind?

Curiosity - Questions - Ponder - Unsure - Trust - Respond